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Percy (Name of a noble family)

the name of a noble family who went to England with William the Conqueror Conqueror, and whose head, WILLIAM DE PERCY, obtained 30 knights' fees in the N. of England. A descendant, also named WILLIAM, who lived in the early behind him two daughters, the elder of whom died childless, and the younger, Agnes, married Josceline of Lorain, brother-in-law of Henry I., who assumed the surname of Henry Percy (Hotspur), fell; and again at Bramham Moor ( Feb., 1408), where he himself fell. His titles were forfeited, but were revived in favor of his grandson HENRY, who was appointed lord high constable of England, and who fell fighting in the Lancastrian cause at St. Albans (1453). For the same cause his son and successor shared the same fate at Towton (1461). The 4th earl was murdered during dered during a popular rising, caused by ordered by the avaricious Henry VII. The 6th and 7th earls fell by the hands of the executioner in the reigns of Edward VI. and Elizadied a violent death in the Tower, where he was conin favor of Mary of Scotland. ALGERfined on a charge of taking part in a plot Scotland . ALGER- NON, the 10th earl, took part in the civil war against Charles I., and afterward Restoration. JOSCELINE, the 11th earl, used all his influence to bring about the died without male issue; his only daughter married Charles, Duke of Somerset, and became the mother of ALGERNON, DUKE OF SOMERSET, who was created Earl of Northumberland, with remainder to his son-in-law, SIR HUGH SMITHSON, a Yorkshire baronet of good family. The latter succeeded to the earldom in 1750, assuming the name of Percy, and in 1766 received the ducal title.

The present uke thus represents the female line the ancient historical house. line of born in Bridgenorth, Shropshire, April