(The article below I originally wrote for Featherstone Findings many years ago while doing family genealogy research).
In a small secluded vale, near the confluence of the Hartley Burn and South Tyne rivers. against the backdrop of the heath moor lands of Northern England, sits the eventual destination of all who find themselves tracing the family surname of Featherston (1) .Even today, more than 7 centuries after the central tower was first constructed, it stands watch over the haugh (a local term for valley) it protected for so many years. The tower. said by many, to be the loveliest in the county. was even the subject of a picture by the English artist. T.M. Richardson. The place of which I am speaking is. of course, Featherstone Castle.
Featherstone Castle is located in the county of Northumberland, near the Scottish border. It can be found 3 miles southwest of the tiny village of Haltwhistle. along the road to AIston. This attractive castellated mansion. with its luxuriant covering of English ivy. is an amalgam of architectural styles from over the centuries. The main building and an old square pele tower (which serves as the nucleus of the castle), both part of the original structure, were built no later than the year 1200 (2) .Over the centuries other buildings. towers, and battlements were added (3) .Each addition and renovation was skilfully blended with the existing structure so as to complement the whole. One renovation, the dining hall, which boasts ~ beauty- fully timbered roof with heraldry, included some 15th century woodwork taken from the choir of Carlisle Cathedral. While no longer belonging to a member of the Featherstone family (4), the halls still echo with the legacy and tales of they who lived and died within this great castle.
The Featherston family is considered to be Saxon in origin, and the sur- name to be a topographic (5) .The land was part of the county allotted to a Saxon officer for his bravery and gallant conduct against the Britons. The first house the family was said to reside in was built upon the high ground. On this high ground were two stones. referred to as Fetherstones or Feuder- stones. It was around these stones that the feudal tenants of the manor would be assembled. In time, the residence began to fall into decay (or perhaps was destroyed in the many battles with the Scots) .A new tower, the central piece of what is now Featherstone Castle. was built in the haugh (valley) below the high ground, thus the name Featherstonehaugh.
The earliest recorded occupant of Featherstone Castle was one Helios de Featherstonehalgh in the year 1212. The Featherston name continues to appear in the early history of this area. A century later. there is a record of a Thomas de Featherstonehaugh in the year 1330. He was said to hold great power in the area. being the guardian of Hexham, Wark, and the barony of Tindale. 200 years later another resident of the Castle. Sir Albany Fetherstonehaugh, was immortalized in a famous poem by R.S. Surtees. Sir Albany was High Sheriff of Northumberland in the year 1530. ~He was killed by Nicholas Ridley of Unthank. Hugh Ridley of Harden, and others during a border feud at Greenshilhaugh. near the farmhouse of one Wydon Eals. on the 24th of October, 1530. The ballad could still be heard in the 1800’s and was said to be “sung at merrymakings till the roof rang again”.
| The Ballad of Albany Featherstonhaugh |
| “Hoot awa’ , lads, hoot awa’ . Ha’ ye heard how the Ridleys, and Thirwalls, and a’ Ha’ set upon Albany Fetherstonhaugh, And Taken his life at the Deadmanshaw? There was Willemonteswick, And Hardriding Dick, And Hughie of Hawden, and Will of the Wa’, I canno’ te II a’ , I canno’ te II a’ , And mony a mair that the de’il may knaw. |
| The auld men went down. but Nicol his son, Ran away afore the fight was begun; And he run, and he run, And afore they were done, There was many a Fetherston gat sic a stun, As never was seen since the world begun. |
| I canna’ tell a’. I canna’ tell a’ , Some gat a skelp. and some gat a claw; But they gar’ d the Feathel”stons haud their jaw– Nicol and Aleck and a’Some gat a hurt, and some gat nane. Some had harness, and some gat staen, Ane gat a twist 0′ the craig; Ane gat a bunch 0′ the wame; Symy Haw gat lamed of a leg; And syne ran wallowing hame. |
| Hoot, hoot. the auld man’s slain outright! Lay him now wi’ his face down:–He’s a sorrowful sight. Janet, thou donot, I’ll lay my best bonnet, Thou gets a new gude-man affore it be night. |
| Hoot away, lads, hoot away, Wi’s a’ hanged if we stay; Tak’ up the dead man, and lay him ahint the bigging; Here’s the Baily 0′ Haltwhistle, Wi’ his great bull’s pizzle, That supp’d up the broo’ and syne–in the piggin.” |
| R.S. Surtees |
| The Featherstone Castle lineage again made a mark upon English history with Sir Timothy Fetherstonehaugh, great grandson of Sir Albany Fetherstone- haugh (6) .During the civil wars under King Charles I, Sir Timothy was a royalist, and contributed liberally to the royal cause raising troops at hisown expense, as well as fighting in the field of battle himself. On the 26th of August, 1651, at the battle of Wigan Lane, Lancashire, Sir Timothy was captured and taken prisoner. He was tried by court-martial in Chester and be- headed for treason on the 22nd of October, 1651, causing great turmoil for the Featherstonehaugh’s (7) .The families losses were said to exceed 10,000L. Due to these losses, two of Timothy’s sons (Philip and John) petitioned for and were granted places as pages to the queen in 1661 to help lessen the charges of their mother. In the chancel of Kirkoswald Church, County Cumberland, is a monument to the memory of Sir Timothy, erected by his grandson Thomas. /
No story about a castle would be complete without the requisite legend of a ghost. Featherstone Castle holds its own in .this case, with not just a ghost, but an entire bridal party of ghosts! According to legend, there lived at one time a baron of Featherstonehaugh, whose daughter, Abigail, was the last of the line. Abigail was deeply in love with Ridley of Hardriding. Unfortunately the baron rejected Ridley as a suitor for his daughter due to an ancient family feud (8) .Instead, the baron promised his daughters’ hand to his distant “cousin, Timothy Featherstonhaugh. No amount of pleading or tears from his beloved daughter would sway the baron, so blinded was he by the ancient feud. Thus, the wedding day was set. Abigail was married to her cousin Timothy in the small chapel of Fetherstone Castle. Afterwards, a hunting expedition took place in honour of the occasion. As the end of the day drew near, the wedding party started its return to Featherstone Castle through the gloomy glen of Pynkinscleugh. As the hunting party approached a bridge on the road, they found the way blocked by Abigail’s reject lover, Ridley of Hardriding. Standing alongside Ridley was a well-armed band of vassels. A battle ensued, and the young bride, while attempting to stop the battle, was herself struck down and killed. Her lover, stricken with grief over what had transpired, took his own life. According to legend, Ridley’s hearts blood ran into a hollow stone. Huge black ravens then came, and drank from this stone, filling the forest with vile croaking’s of their feast (9). While all this transpired, the baron and his wife remained at the castle, awaiting the return of the wedding party. At the stroke of midnight, the doors burst open to reveal the ghastly bodies of the wedding party, their faces with the look of death and their bodies still showing the open wounds of the days battle. A chill ran through the baron at the sight. He rose to his feet, and instinctively crossed himself, calling to God Almighty. As he did this, a mighty gust of wind blew through the castle, sweeping the ghostly party away. It is said that every year, on the anniversary of that fateful day, the bridal party once again travels that same road, and enters the castle gateway at the stroke of midnight.
|
| Footnotes:(1) There are a multitude of variations on the Featherston surname, including Featherstone, Fetherston, Fetherstone, Fetherstonehaugh, Featherston- haugh, Featherstonhalgh, to name a few. In all probability, they can all trace their origins to this location in the north of England
(2) This is based on the architectural style of the doorways in this part of the castle. (3) Including a gothic chapel with an attached mausoleum (4) The last Featherston of record to reside in Featherstone Castle was Sir Henry Fetherstonehaugh,—Only son of Matthew Fetherstonehaugh and Sarah Lethieullier. Sir Henry inherited the castle upon his father’s demise on the 24th of May, 1774. (5) Topographics are surnames that refer to or describe,a locality that the family came from. (6) Timothy was sired by Henry Fetherstonehaugh of Kirkoswald. Henry was the 2nd son of Albany Fetherstonehaugh of Fetherstone Castle. Albany was sired by Albany Fetherstonehaugh, of whom the ballad speaks. (7) It was at this time that the first known branch of the Fetherstonehaugh clan migrated to Ireland. Cuthbert Fetherstonehaugh, Esq of Hethrege- Cleugh, County Durham, removed to Ireland after the execution of his cousin, ‘Sir Timothy. Cuthbert is the ancestor of both the Fetherston’s of Bracklyn Castle (Ireland) and the Fetherston’s of Ardagh (Ireland). (8) This feud could have basis in the killing of Albany Fetherstonehaugh, as the names Ridley and Hardriding show up in the ballad. ., (9) This stone is refered to as the Ravens-stone and is still shown in a wood near the castle. |
| Sources:The Castles of Northumberland by Frank Graham; Published by Frank Graham, 1976; Entry on Featherstone Castle, Pgs. 159-164
Tourguide of Northumberland; 1897; Entry on Featherstone Castle, Pgs. 175-178Burke’s Peerage and Baronetage; 1835 Edition, 1842 Edition; Entries on Fetherston & Fetherstonhaugh Lineages Dictionary of National Biography; Edited by Leslie Stephan & Sidney Lee; Vol. VI; Published by McMillan Co., 1908; Entry on Sir Timothy Fetherston- haugh, Pgs. 1258-1259 |
This is really fascinating. I am a new geneaologist (emphasis on NEW), and I’ve hit a major wall trying to find my family before they emigrated from Ireland. I may never be able to track the family back this far, but it is really interesting to see where I “came” from, even if I don’t know what happened for much of the middle.
Glad you enjoyed it. Tracking from Ireland is a challenge. I started doing genealogy almost 15 years ago, and still struggle there. I found the castle trying to come from the other direction. I did find when a branch from the castle moved to Ireland (picked the wrong side in the Cromwell wars, one branch fled to Ireland. They supplied horses to the King’s army. This fit will old family stories about being accused of being horse thieves. Winners write history – lol). Still haven’t made the final connection.
Thank you for this. I have traced my family back many, many generations, and included among my ancestors is Cuthbert Fetherstonehaugh. I love reading anything and everything I can find about my family from so long ago.
My pleasure. LIke you, I love reading and learning about my ancestors. Would love to go visit the castle someday and see it. Have numerous pictures a distant relative in England took for me, but would love to see it first hand.
My wife and I will be visiting there this September. it appears that even though I’m a Featherstone, it is not possible to visit the interior of the castle? We will be staying in Haltwhistle and look forward to walking the grounds. This will be near the end of a 3 week tour of Scotland
This is really interesting. I’ve been researching for a while and have confirmed Cuthbert Featherstone as my 10th Great Grandfather. I actually traced back to the eleventh century, but information becomes space at that point. Thanks for this.
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my ancestry Dna shows that Edward Parkinson of inch Down Ireland 1693 is the furthest back ancestor on the Dna results, There was only 2 Parkinsons on Featherstone castles ownership list;Edward 1693 and also Edward Parkinson B 1783 Northern Ireland, I wish I could find sketchings of them and also who their wives and children were. I have traced my back as far as William Parkison/Parkinson of Carlisle Pa 1802. I cant make the leap to across the pond here, so far as documentation, All I know is that those Parkinsons of Featherstone show up through other members results as my familys ancestors, is there anyone that has knowledge of the descendants. I am on fb and also my email is Uneak2@yahoo.com Thank You Gerri Parkison Reddin
I did not read where it should have mentioned William the Lion giving the castellation to Elias upon the marriage to one of his William’s daughters.
Hello, My ggrandmother was Frances Louisa Featherstonhaugh, born Dublin 1837. Her parents were Theobald Fetherstonhaugh and Mary Kelly married 1836. Believe he was part of the Carrick House branch, Westmeath, but not sure. Can anyone shed any light please. thank you Ros
Thanks for sharing this information. I have read it before, or most of it, but some new details are always helpful.
If you would like to have a photo of TM Robinson’s portrait, c1790, of Sarah Featherstone in Ireland please let me know. She married (an army major) in Dublin called Thorpe;
my grandfather (Robert Thorpe Ozanne, b1862, in Bedford) is/was his grandson; his grandmother was born Rose Ann Thorpe.
Thomas Featherstone-1834-1918 is my great grandfather. He married Eliza Birkinshaw in Kegworth, Leicestershire, England on 18 Apr 1831. I would appreciate any pics or info you might want to send.
Please email me at jantzonn@btinternet.com and I will reply, with a photo of the portrait that an archivist/academic in Belfast told me that Robinson probably painted in Co. Longford.I made a mistake in my earlier post today: Rose Ann Thorpe was the mother (not grandmother) of my grandfather Robert Thorpe Ozanne. I would be very pleased to hear about your ancestors – not least because I cannot work out whether Sarah Featherstone was the grandmother – or mother – of Rose Ann Thorpe. (Also have photos of Rose Ann (?Irish) portraits.) Thank you again.
James Robert Ozanne.
My wife Julie and I visited Scotland last fall and then went to Featherstone castle for several hours. Mr Clark was home but I didn’t want to bother him. A groundskeeper let us tour the property from outside except garden area since it’s private. It was wonderful to be there.we stayed at a B&B I. Haltwhistle the owners of which were friends of the owner, Mr Clark. In fact their daughter had been recently married at the castle.
I had heard that Mr Clark was working on a history of the castle, and our hosts gave me his number as well as the number to a Gary Fleming who I’d John’s Assistant. I plan to call some day to ask about it. Maybe this gives me the push to do so.
I am related to Albert and Jimmy Featherstone who developed the Featherstone bicycle in the late 1800’s and had their factory in Chicago and sold to Schwann. They were from upstate New York however. I don’t know much history before that
Don Featherstone
Bigfork,Montana and Oro Valley, Arizona
I need to update my email address….thanks
Linda Burton
Hello to you all. I am on a constant search to verify my great great grandfather Theobald Featherstonhaugh. We believe he was born at Carrick House Westmeath, however, there is no record of him. He married Mary Kelly in 1836 and died circa 1844 in British Guinea or South Africa. Does anyone have any information please. Kind Regards Roslyn.
What a wonderful find on a quite Sunday afternoon in Santa Fe New Mexico!
I am researching my maternal great-great grandfather James Featherstone.
Born 1813 Athy Westmeath Kildare Ireland
Died 1886 Wilkes-Barre Pa USA
Question ” Are all Featherstone in England”?
When did they come to Ireland?
Any info is greatly appreciated!
Bonnie Bohn Joseph
Hello Bonnie, My relatives were the Cuthbert Featherstonhaughs of Northumberland, second son (of the castle). They went over to Ireland and fought with Cromwell in 1654. They were rewarded with vast land holdings in Longford and Westmeath. Cuthbert married and had 6 sons and a few daughters. It appears most of or nearly all of the Featherstonhaughs in Ireland come from that family. They were scattered around the countryside and also very prominent in Dublin, i.e. parliamentarians, barristers, magistrates, keeper of the kings horses etc etc.(that is if they worked most were gentlemen of private means esq.) My great great grandfather was Theobald of the Mosstown House family, 1810.9 (26 children). They were very wealthy and all the children married well or were given land holdings I have done a lot of research as I am writing a novel about them. Hope this helps there is many sites online if you are interested. Kind Regards Ros
Hi Ed, my mother is an American Featherston. I’d like to converse with you about our line’s possible origins. Please email me if you’re willing to try to help. My email is ashleychrisandrews@gmail.com. Thank you so much!
Dear Ashley,
My Featherstone’s came to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 1870.
My grandmother Mamie Featherstone Flanagan wrote a family history and I believe she mentioned Earley’s as relatives!
Let know if there is a connection!
My best, Bonnie
My family were the James Featherstones of Kildare Ireland!
Immigrated dirt to Lancastshire, (1860’s)England then to Pennsylvania in 1870.
I would like to know more about the Featherstone’s in Ireland. When, where, why??? Catholic and Protestant branches of the family also interests me. Any help appreciated! My best, bonnie Joseph
Bonnie,
So nice to hear from family on this site. I am afraid that I am no help whatever though as I do not even show Ed at all. The best person I know of to contact is LeeDrew in Lehi Utah. He is totally amazing. His site is LineagekeeperGen.
Judith
Dear Ros,
What a delightful suprise to receive your informative email!
I will go back to Cuthbert in my research
Questions:
1. The Cuthbert line were Protestant in Ireland. James Featherstone was a devout Catholic.Do you know when the religious split occurred in Ireland or were James and his family outliers?
2. My grandmother does not list James’ parents but she does write that he had relatives whose estates were Grouse Lodge and Temple Oran or Templelorn.
3. James’ was married to Kathryn Finley who was half sister to John Judge, a magistrate.
Any information or links would be deeply appreciated!
Thank you for sharing your ( and mine??) family history!
My best,
Bonnie
Hi Bonnie,
My Featherstone line is through William and Elizabeth Slater. Wm, b-1709 in Woodhouse, Derbyshire. Don’t know anything else to help out. Judith Joy
I hope I am not intruding re: Judith Wright Joy and Bonnie Joseph’s interesting conversation but it might be useful to know of a good contact (last contacted by me in 2019) in Dublin who is tasked – officially – with opening up all manner of family records in Dublin/Ireland: Louise Kennedy – lkennedy@nationalarchives.ie – located in Bishop Street, Dublin D08 DF85. Somewhere I have a copy of family notes collated from the National Archives’ Registry of deeds, Dublin, Vol III, to 1832; edited by Eilish Ellis and Beryl Eustace, published by the Irish Manuscripts Commission, 1984.(Cannot put my hand on it at the moment, alas)
Thanks, Jack!
I still can’t find James Featherstone’s
parents and family line in Westmeath Ireland.
Your contact in Dublin may be able to help me and I will get in touch.
One positive aspect of the pandemic is that this is the time for many of us to works on our family histories!
My best, Bonnie
Hello Jack,
My email to Louise at National archives bounced back.
Do you have another address?
Thanks!
Bonnie
hello Bonnie, the official website currently (2022) suggests contact via email:
query@nationalarchives.ie
I hope this is successful. The website says, re: its free-of-charge assistance:
Assistance will be available during regular office hours: 9.30am-5.00pm [Irish Standard Time], Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays), until further notice. Emails received outside of those hours will be dealt with over the next 5-7 working days.
The service is run on behalf of the National Archives by an external panel of professional genealogists, all holding credentials from Accredited Genealogists Ireland (AGI). Please note that there is only one genealogist working each day and so the speed of response will depend on the level of demand.
[I have received good-value assistance from a professional genealogist in Dublin whose surname is Owens – I can provide his contact detail(s) if you are interested.] Regards, Jack, jantzonn@btinternet.com
Hello ,
Many thanks for your help. I will contact Louise Kennedy perhaps she can shed some light on this conundrum. The dates I am searching for are: Theobald Featherstonhaugh birth certificate born approx 1810 or death certificate approx 1843.
Marriage Theobald Feathersonhaugh to Mary Kelly Westmeath 1836;
Birth certificate of Frances Louisa Feathersonhaugh Dublin 1838/39.
If you can assist me I would be most grateful. Kind Regards Ros
Hi, My grandmother was Featherstone and I would like to know if any of you have information on Veda Viola Featherstone? I am new in searching for relatives and I find it very exciting. Hope everyone is well.
Thank you,
Linda
Charles Featherston, born 1637, England came to Virginia in 1653 and his descendants first lived near Chester Va. They spread to Georgia, Tennessee, and later to Iowa, Philadelphia and Texas and other places. There was a Richard Featherston that was part of the Capt John Smith’s crew. He was killed in an Indian attack on the Rappahannock River, below what is now Fredericksburg Virginia.
Hello fellow Fetherstons!
I am back out my investigations!
Still searching for the people of my great great grandfather James Featherstone. He was born in 1813 to James Fetherston and Elizabeth White. He was baptized Catholic. His father could have been James Fetherston who was married to Mary Malone. He died in 1814. The family were located in Westmeath. My question is could the James Fetherston who died in 1814 be a son of Cuthbert Or Theobold Fetherstonhaugh?? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
My best, Bonnie Joseph
Hello Bonnie, Great to hear from you. We have just returned from Ireland to Australia and I have been looking for my great great grandfather Theobald Featherstonhaugh of Westmeath, but unfortunately we have no further news (what a trail it was to find any information). We believe he was born around 1810 although no records seem to exist and died around 1844. He is listed on his son Williams birth corticate in county Tipperary as “Sugar Planter” and there are records of a Theobald Featherstonhaugh in the local paper in Georgetown British Guinea around 1840. I believe he was Theobald Featherstonhaugh of Mosstown then Tipperary (son of Theobald Feathersonhaugh) and he was supposed to be ‘married’ to my great great grandmother Mary Kelly in 1836 Westmeath. They had three children my great great grandmother Frances Louisa b.? 1837/38 Dublin, another son name unknown one year later and William Featherstonhaugh b.1840. We are now surmising that Mary was his mistress although she lists him as her husband on many documents, however, one stumbling block is that the children were all baptised with the surname Featherstonhaugh which doesn’t make sense although we have been told when we were in Ireland that at this time this was done by the wealthy gentry. So the plot thickens however bearing in mind that you have relatives in Westmeath around that time perhaps he was just another branch of the family. The family history here says he was born at Carrick House but there is no Theobald attached to that family. Although the children’s names seem to be from that family. Sadly the mists of time seem to cover all the detail required to track these people down. Hope you have more success than us and if you hear of anything that might relate to our branch of the family we would be grateful to hear from you. Kindest Regards Roslyn