The Roddam Family of England

The Roddam family is one of the oldest in England. They were granted land by King Athelstane, the first King of England (927-939). Roddam's remained on that land until at least 1833.

I Koing Athelstane
giffis heir to Paulane
Odiham and Roddam
als gude and als fair
als ever ye mine ware
and yair to witness Maud my wife.

William de Roddam was born about 1260 in Alnwick, Northumberland, England. He married Lady Maud Stanhope and in 1296 built Roddam Hall. William died about 1327. Sir Robert of Roddam was born about 1284 in Roddam, Northumberland, England. He married Lady Cecilia Houghton and died in 1304.

Sir John Houghton Roddam lived at Roddam Hall from his birth in 1312 to his death in 1337. His son was Sir William of Roddam, born 1332. William's son was also named Sir William of Roddam, born 1356 in Roddam. He married Emma Espley and died 1422. His son Nicholas Roddam was born in 1400 and died in 1451. Nicholas was the father of Sir John Roddam.

Sir John Roddam was born in 1435. He married Ellen Houghton and had a son named William Roddam in 1460. John died March 29th, 1461 at Battle of Towton, a decisive battle in The War of the Roses. Towton is described as "the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil." The House of York with 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers defeated the House of Lancaster with 30,000 to 35,000 soldiers. The battle resulted in as many as 28,000 casualties and a resounding victory for the House of York. It led to Henry VI leaving the throne and the beginning of the rule of Edward IV.

William Roddam left a son named Sir John Roddam born 1522 at Roddam Hall. He married Lucy Swinborne and died in 1560. His son, Robert Roddam was born in 1553 in Roddam. He married Barbara Forster and died in 1606. Robert left a son named Edmund Roddam born 1589 at Roddam Hall. Edmund was the last of our Roddam ancestors to live his whole life in England. He married Margaret Grey and they had a son named Mathew Rodham.

The circumstances of Mathew's immigration are not fully known, but some genealogists speculate that he was sold into indentured servitude by his older brothers so they could increase their shares of the inheritance when their father died intestate in 1632. Mathew was first recorded in America in 1634. From his humble start Mathew did very well in the New World. He acquired large land holdings in the Northern Neck and served in Northumberland County as a Justice and a vestryman. His grandson Rodham Kenner would go on to serve in the House of Burgess.

The Visitation of Northumberland, 1615

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Sources:

  • Burke, John, 1787-1848. A Genealogical And Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain And Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank: but Uninvested With Heritable Honours. London: Colburn, 183638.
  • Wikipedia contributors. "Battle of Towton." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Jul. 2018. Web. 9 Aug. 2018.

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Curabitur mattis purus ornare augue finibus, sed tempus ex eleifend. Maecenas vitae volutpat diam. Curabitur sollicitudin porttitor nisi. Nulla rutrum facilisis quam, sed bibendum magna consectetur sit amet. Fusce nulla turpis, efficitur eu tempus eu, accumsan malesuada sem. Morbi vestibulum libero et metus porttitor, vel ultrices lorem facilisis. Donec maximus ultrices ex ac tincidunt. Praesent vel enim laoreet, pharetra massa feugiat, iaculis neque. Nunc volutpat, nibh a laoreet venenatis, sem augue sodales nunc, eu commodo quam nisi vitae nunc. Nullam tristique placerat quam quis ornare.

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Curabitur mattis purus ornare augue finibus, sed tempus ex eleifend. Maecenas vitae volutpat diam. Curabitur sollicitudin porttitor nisi. Nulla rutrum facilisis quam, sed bibendum magna consectetur sit amet. Fusce nulla turpis, efficitur eu tempus eu, accumsan malesuada sem. Morbi vestibulum libero et metus porttitor, vel ultrices lorem facilisis. Donec maximus ultrices ex ac tincidunt. Praesent vel enim laoreet, pharetra massa feugiat, iaculis neque. Nunc volutpat, nibh a laoreet venenatis, sem augue sodales nunc, eu commodo quam nisi vitae nunc. Nullam tristique placerat quam quis ornare.