| Notes |
- From Norfolk Families by Walter Rye (1911):
Clere of Ormesby and Blickling, a Visitation family (see Harl. Visit, p. 74), used arms in 14:60 Arg. on a fesse az. three eaglets displayed or.
The first nine generations of the early Heralds’ pedigree, which begins with......“Cleremonte, assistant to William Duke of Normandy, 1066, father of the Lord Clarrey, alias Clere, alias Claremont, who by his wife, the d. of Godfrey, Earl of Patele, was father of Sir Edmund Clarrey, or Clere, who came over with the Conqueror,” are all pure invention of some Elizabethan herald, and I think were first put forth on the altar tomb of Edward Clere of Blickling. I commented at length on this in the “Genealogist,” vol. iv., p. 97, and came to the conclusion that the matches with the Earls of Patele, Martell, Ambefield, Molyns, Ormesby, Sneck, Westless, and Somerton were all imaginary.
It is not, however, impossible, and indeed I think it highly probable, that this family may be descended from the noble family of de Clere.
In 1166 Ralph de Clere held Filby (the next parish to Ormesby) of John, s. of Robert Fitz Walter, i.e., de Clare.
John de Clere in the Henry III. Roll bore Arg. a fesse az., and in chief a lion passant gu.
The first undoubted ancestor of this family was Robert Clere, alias Cleriz of Stokesby, in 1316, who had considerable land in Runham, Herringby, Stokesby, Filby, Somerton, and Winterton.
From An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk by Francis Blomefield (citation details below):
Clere and quarterings as before, impaling Filby, arg. an inescotcheon in an orle of martlets gul.
This Robart, in 1340, was escheator of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, and Huntingtonshire, was elected one of the knights in parliament for the county of Norfolk, in the 18th of Edward III. anno 1343, and with Bartholomew Bateman his partner, had 10£. 8s. for 26 days attendance, allowed him. In 1345 he was again returned with John de Berneye, and again in 1347. He served again in the parliament held in 1351, with John de Ratlesden; and in 1356 attending only 24 days, he had 5£. for his expenses, whereas the other member, John de Berneye, attending 32 days, had 6£. 8s. for his expenses.
In 1360 he was guardian of the temporalities of the see of Norwich during Bishop Percy's absence beyond sea. It seems that he and his wife rebuilt the church of Ormesby St. Margaret, for their effigies remain in the north window next the rood-loft, with this,
Nos precibus Matris, salvet Sapientia Patris.
Orate pro animabus Roberti Clere, et Alicie Uroris eius.
They are buried under the tomb, without arms or inscription, by this window; they had also William, who married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Thomas Newton, and another son, who married a daughter and heir of Charles, and a daughter Sarah, married to Somerton by whom she had Beatrice, who married Clememt Paston.
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Nielsen Hayden genealogy
- Aft 1360
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