It’s an interesting branch with the Cary Family found living in Kari Castle in Domes Day Book - 1086. For centuries the castle has existed only in history, but the town where it was located is known today as Castle Cary. It is in Somersetshire and twelve miles southeast from Wells. Cari was the family seat of the baron, a fortified place in the time of the Saxons. During the reign of Stephen (1136-1154) the barons were divided into two parties, the Lord of Cari opposed to the king. He made so much trouble that Stephen turned his whole attention to Castle Cari and took it. In 1153 it was besieged again and nearly ruined. The place is marked by an entrenched area of about two acres, called the camp. Implements of war and other relics have been dug up there. The church of All Saints is of the time of Henry VI, is built upon a hillock and is quite unique. Oliver Cromwell hacked away at it. The manor house stands on the east side of the street - a stately edifice. During the wanderings of Charles II after the battle of Worcester, 3 Sep 1651, when his army was defeated by Cromwell, the disguised king slept at Castle Cari on the night of September 16th.
As we follow the names and dates of this line we arrive at John Cary who was knighted: b abt 1350 Holway, Devonshire, England. He owned Cockington & Clovelly which he bought in 1390. On 5 Nov 1357 he was made Judge & Chief Baron of the Exchequer by King Richard II. He opposed the proceedings for procurators, in regard to his oath, to take King Richard’s resignation. When Richard II was put to death by Henry IV, Sir John’s lands and goods were confiscated. He was banished to Waterford, Ireland, for four years where he died about 1404. His offspring had careers of interest - one, James was a Lord Bishop and -
Robert Cary, who earned rank and arms from King Henry IV.
“In the beginning of the reign of Henry V a certain knight-errant of Arragon, having passed through diverse countries, and performed many feats of arms, to his high commendation, arrived here in England where he challenged any man of his rank and quality to make tryal of his valor and skill in arms. This challenge Sir Robert Cary accepted; between whom a cruel encounter and a long and doubtful combat was waged, in Smithfield, London. But at length this noble champion vanquished the presumtuous Arragonois; for which King Henry V. restored unto him good part of his father’s lands, which for his loyalty to King Richard II, he had been deprived of by King Henry IV; and authorized him to bear the arms of the knight of Arragon.[The descendants of Robert now wear the arms of the Knight of Aragon - a silver shield with 3 roses on a bend sable, and take the swan for a crest, thus combining the two. "Arms -Argentum. Three roses of the field on a Bend sable. Crest - a swan ppr. Motto - Virtute Excerptae.
One of his grandsons was William Cary: a knight who fell in the battle of Tewkesbury, 1471, War of the Roses fighting under the banner of Lancaster.
The Carys were always staunch Royalists, even at the cost of their liberty, fortunes and lives. The Cockington Church & the Old Tor Church contain many tombs of the family.
And five generations later we meet JOHN CARY, the first to reach New England shores.
[to be continued]
