MOUNTFORD

Hugh de Montfort, commonly called "Hugh with a Beard," son of Thurstan de Bastenburgh, accompanied William from Normandy, and aided that prince's triumph at Hastings, for which eminent service he obtained divers fair lordships; and at the time of the General Survey was possessor of twenty-eight in Kent, sixteen in Essex, fifty-one in Suffolk, and nineteen in Norfolk. The descendant of this fortunate soldier, PETER DE MONTFORT, living temp. Henry III., became one of the moat zealous amongst the turbulent barons of the era, and, after the battle of Lewes, was of the 'Nine' nominated to rule the kingdom; in which station he enjoyed and exercised more than regal power, but of short duration, for he fell at the subsequent conflict of Evesham, so disastrous to the baronial cause. His male line terminated with his great-grandson, Peter de Montfort, third lord, who died s.p. in 1367, leaving an illegitimate son, SIR JOHN MONTFORT, Knight, whose posterity flourished in the male line for several subsequent generations at Coleshill, co. Warwick, until the attainder of Sir Simon Montfort, Knt., temp. Henry VII., whose descendants continued at Bescote, co. Stafford.

--(This name appears on the Battle Abbey Roll).