History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and ...

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INTRODUCTION.
probable that the Boveney branch left the main stem, after the year
1300 and before the year 1400, or between those dates, for their
Coat of Arms was not in existence until adopted by Sir Simon Mon-
tacute A. D. 1300, and had they separated previous to that date, their
Arms should have been "Azure a griffin segreant, Or." Again the
Arms of the Montagues, after A. D. 1400, who were descended from
the 3d Earl of Salisbury, have been quartered with those of the
Monthermers, which were "an eagle displayed, vert," while the
Boveney branch retains the ancient shield of Sir Simon Montacute
There are several places where such separation seems possible.
At Simon (9th generation from Drogo), who married Hawise de
St. Amand and had a son William Montague.
Again at the third and youngest son of the first Earl of Salisbury,
namely Robert Montague, of whose history nothing has been found.
The pedigree is clear and perfect from the American branch (1634)
back to A. D. 1500 and lacks (from there) two generations, possibly
three, to make a perfect record back to the conquest of England,
A. D. 1066.
Montagu, a Royal Name.
Many branches of the Montagues in America, have the tradition
that the name Montague is a " royal " name. There is some truth
in the tradition. The name in England, however, has not only been
descended from royalty, but it has a higher and more lofty signifi-
cance, for the Montagues were the parents and ancestors of Kings.
As it way be of interest to many of the name and blood, to know
exactly how the name has been connected with royalty in ancient
times, the following has been carefully compiled, and will be found
sufficiently complete to justify the tradition.
Sir Simon Montagu, the 8th in lineal descent from Drogo, (the
first, of the name in England) married Aufricia, dau. of Fergus, King
of the Isle of Man, descended from Orry, King of Denmark. He
became in her right King of Man, and both the isle, and the title as
King of the isle, descended to his son and grandson.
Sir Edward Montagu, one of the grandsons of Sir Simon, was a
great warrior of his day, was Governor of the Castle of Werk, when