The Heralds’ Visitations, Peerage Records & Holt Pedigrees
This page contains three distinct categories of Holt / Holte pedigrees. These are:
The Heralds’ visitations are official pedigrees recorded by the heralds mainly between the 16th and 17th centuries. They document families entitled to bear arms and were conducted to regulate the use of those arms. The pedigrees record the main line of descent and relevant offshoots, showing how quartered arms were acquired through marriage and inheritance.
These pedigrees are drawn from published works such as Burke’s Peerage and
The Complete Baronetage. They trace noble and titled Holt / Holte lines,
often extending beyond the period and scope of the visitations and including later
generations and collateral branches.
These genealogies are compiled from parish registers, wills, legal records, and
private research. Although not officially recorded by the heralds, they shed light
on untitled Holt families and regional lineages that may connect to, or diverge from,
the armigerous branches shown in the visitations and peerage sources.
The Heralds’ Visitations
The visitation of Lancaster and a part of Cheshire
made in the 24 year of the reign of king Henry VIII
AD1533. Edited by William Langton 1876-1882 2v.
(Chetham s. v. 98,110) 78 pp 53-54
Robert Holt of Stubbley
Married an olde woman by whom he hadd no issue and therefore he wold not have her name entered p. 47. Two mistakes occur in
the arms of the Holts, at page 47 and page 53 ; in each case the arms should have been described as a bend and not as a
fesse, the Museum and Office copies agreeing.
Thomas Hoult of Gresillhurst
Married Dorothy, daughter to Sr Raffe Loneford Knight,
and they have issue Fraunces, Raffe and Ric. pp. 53-54
ARMS quarterly of five
SECOND argent (A) three boars two and one sable (S) in the mouth of each a piece of gristle. (GRISTLEHURST)
THIRD argent (AR) a chevron sable (SA) between three towers gules (G) (ABRAHAM)
FOURTH ermine on a chief indented azure (B); two lioncels rampant or (OR)
FIFTH vair argent and azure (A)(B); a bend gules (G). (MANCESTER of Warwick)
The visitations of Suffolk made by Hervey, Clarenceux, 1561, Cooke, Clarenceux, 1577, and Raven,
Richmond herald, 1612, with notes and an appendix of additional Suffolk pedigrees, ed. by Walter C. Metcalfe, F.S.A..
John Le Roos, Knight married (not named) descendants
Raph Hoult, of Gristlehurst, in com. Lancaster, ar. married Helene, daughter and heyre of John Sumpter.
From the Narrative Visitation of Suffolk, 1561.
Ralfe Howlte, of Grystelhurste, in the countie of Lancasshier, Esq., maryed Ellen,
daughter and heire of John Sumpter and Margery his wyffe, wch Margery was daughter
and heire of John Lerose, Knight, and they had yssue James, sonne and heire, and
Allyn, with others.
Allyn Howlte, seconde sonne to Ralfe, maryed Agnes, daughter of John Searle, and
by her had yssue John, eldest sonne, Robert, seconde, William, thirde sonne.
John Howlte, of Bury, eldest sonne and heire to Allyn, maryed Anne, daughter of
Richard Coote, of Norton, in the countie of Norff., Esquire, and by her had yssue John
sonne and heire.
John Howlte, of Burye, sonne and heire to John, maryed Anne, daughter of William
Roper, of Cheshier, and hath by her yssue Anne, maryed to Henry Collen, of Norwich,
Elizabeth maryed to Anthonye Buttler, brother to Sir John Butler, of Hertfordshier.
The visitation of the County Palatine of Lancaster
made in the year 1567. Edited by F R Raines 1870
(Chetham s, v.81)
p.13. Mention of Robert Holt of Whitwall. A note mentioned it is evident that this Robert is wrongly attached by Glover
to this descent. He was cousin, not brother to Robert, and must be printed separate, but in a line with his cousin.
R.S.
Holt of Gristlehurst (Harl. MS fo. 24b Chetham
MS. Fo. 11)
James Howlte of Gryselhurst, co. Lancaster, ar.
married Isabell, daughter and heire of John Abraham of
Abraham, co. Lancaster, gent.
ARMS: quarterly of five, viz:
FIRST Argent, on a bend engrailed sable, three fleurs-de-lis of the field, a creascent for difference (HOLT)
SECOND Argent, three boars passant sable, each bearing in his mouth a billet paleways. (GRICEHURST)
THIRD Argent, a chevron sable between three castles triple towered, gules (ABRAHAM)
FOURTH Ermine, on a chief engrailed azure, two lions rampant, or
FIFTH Vaire, argent and sable, over all a bend gules.
The visitation of the county Palatine of Lancaster made in the year 1613 Edited by Rev F.R. Raines
The heralds of 1533 and 1613 appear alike to have waged war with the wealthy family of Holt of Stubley and
Castleton, who could fairly boast of high local rank and influence. At the first named visitation Tonge recorded
that " Robart Holt of Stubley had marrd an ould woman and woud not enter" his pedigree, which, notwithstanding,
was entered by somebody in 1567, and "the ould woman" had certainly female issue. Robert, the nephew and heir
male of Robert Holt the elder, had, also, only surviving daughters, the eldest of whom, Mary, married her kins
man, Charles Holt, and continued the line. This Charles Holt's father is called a "yeaman," and in the estimation
of a herald of that day such he might be ; but he was assuredly "descended out of the house of Stubley," and
had a very considerable estate in the parish of Bury, although he might lack the advantage of the education and
social position of his cousin, the head of the house in Rochdale parish, who was an active justice of the peace
in the reign of Henry VIII., and connected by descent and marriage with some good knightly families. This
is an instance of the arbitrary manner in which country gentlemen were sometimes treated by the kings of arms.
Charles Holt of Stubley, jure uxoris, and related to her in the third degree of consanguinity, was
not an illiterate man, as he wrote a fair hand; intelligently defended the just rights of the poor chapels of
Saddleworth and Milnrow in 1561; boldly opposed the wrongful dealing of Sir John Byron with church property
promoted the principles of the Reformation; and was one of archbishop Parker's correspondents on the
founding of Rochdale grammar school. It is to be noticed that the herald styles the family in 1613, "but
yeamen " and having " noe coat at all," and yet Charles Holt himself had arms allowed by Flower in 1567.'
(from the introduction p. x-xi)
Raufe Holt of Grisslehurst, co. Lancaster married Ellyn, daughter and sole heire of Sir Geffrey Brockhole of Brockhole, knt. (Harl. MS 1437 fo. 38)
Charles Holt of Whitwall married, daughter and coheire of Holt of Stubley (Harl. MS 1437, fo. 92)
Charles Holt could not prove himself decended from the house of Stubley until his marriage. He came from a family of yeaman and thus had no coat of arms.
William Holt of Gristlehurst, com. Lanc, a younger branch married Magdalen, daughter of Standish, com. Lanc.
ARMS: Argent, on a bend engrailed sable, three fleurs-de-lis of the first, a mullet within a crescent for difference
CREST: An arm erect, couped at the elbow, habited per pal Azure and Gules, in the hand Argent, a pheon Sable.
Holt one of Judges of the Common Pleas
Lawrence Holt submitted the pedigree.
The visitation of the county Palatine of Lancaster made in the year 1664-5 Edited by F.R. Raines 1872-1873 3v. (Chetham5, v 84,85,88) 150
SALFORD HUNDRED - Ashworth: Mr.Richard Holt ; Birkle: Thomas Holt of Grislehurst Esq.
Holt of Ashworth Manchester 13 March 1664
Oliver Holt of Ashworth, co. Lancaster married Daughter of Ruston of Pontaugh, co. Lancaster. Given by
Richard Holt of Rochdale for Richard Holt of Ashworth.
ARMS: Quarterly
FIRST and FOURTH, argent, on a bend, three fleurs-de-lis on the first,
SECOND and THIRD paly of six, argent and vert.
CREST: A pheon, sable
Holt of Gristlehurst Manchester 11 March 1664
Thomas Holt of Gristlehurst co. Lancaster, esq married Constance, daughter of Sir Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall, co. Stafford, knt.
ARMS: Argent, on a bend engrailed, sable, three fleurs-de-lis of the first. On an escocheon of pretence, checky, argent and gules, on a fess, azure, three sinister hands of the first.
Holt of Bridge Hall Manchester 11 March 1664
Roger Holt of Bridge Hall in the parish of Bury, co. Lancaster, decended by a younger son from the Holts of
Gristlehurst, co. Lancaster, as appeareth by a testimonial of Thomas Holt, now of Gristlehurst, esq. Married Mary,
daughter of Shaw of High, Bullock co. Lancaster. Given by Roger Holt.
ARMS: Argent, on a bend engrailed, cotised, sable, three fleurs-de-lis of the first
Holt of Stubley Manchester 9 September 1664
John Holt wife not named at the root of the tree. Given by Robert Holte.
ARMS: Argent, on a bend engrailed, sable, three fleurs-de-lis on the first
CREST: A pheon, sable.
Ralph Holt, Esq of Gristlehurst, co. Lanc (2nd husband) married Ellen Sumpter, daughter and co heir of John Sumpter of
Essex, by Margaret, daughter and sole heir of Jeffry Brokhull.
The 1561 visitation.
The pedigree appears in the 1622–34 Visitation of Hampshire
This Descent here delineated is truly Collected out of ye bookes of ye vistiation
of Lancashire remaining in ye Colledge of ye Kinges & Heraulds of Armes
Continued downe to ye Person, & Posterity of Mr Henry Holt of Portsmouth in уe
County of Southampton vpon good Proofe by him exhibited to bee Manifestly
descended from thence.
Attestor hoc: 26° die Decembris John Phillipott Somersett.
The Holt and Fisher pedigree appears Country of Warwick 1619 HARL. 1167 by William Camden
Includes Sir Thomas Holte.
ARMS: Quarterly of six. 1. Azure, two bars and in chej a cross patee riichee or. 2. Gules, three towers
argent. 3. Azure, a cross crosslet or, in chief, a label of three points throughout argent. 4. Argent, four bars
engrailed and a canton gules. 5. Or, a sallire vair. 6. As first.
CREST: rst, a squirrel séjant argent cracking a nut; Second, the stump of a pine tree eradicated and erect
sprouting a branch fructed.
Holt of Claypole, 1903 HARL. by Canon Maddison
ARMS: Argent, on a bend engrailed sable three fleurs-de-lis of the field.
Francis Holt of Whitwell, co. Lancaster [?2nd son of Roger Holt of Whitwell].
Holt of Abingdon, 1664-6 Visitation made by Elias Ashmole for Sir Edward Bysshe, Clarenceux
John Holt of Lanc.
Peerage Records
Holt of Cheetham taken from Peerage and Baronetage
Holt of Sefton Park taken from Burkes Landed Gentry 1894
Holt of Stubbylee taken from Burkes Landed Gentry 1852
Holt of Orleton Hall in Shropshire formerly of Mount Mascal in Kent.
Pedigrees from other sources
Holt and Beaumont of Little Mitton taken from Baines
Holt of Standish and the City of London taken from Lancashire Family History Society Magazine
Holt of Mosside taken from Fishwick, The History of Rochdale
Holt of Lower Place part 1 taken from Fishwick, The History of Rochdale.
Holt of Lower Place part 2 and
Holt of Lower Place part 3
Holt of Balderstone taken from Fishwick, The History of Rochdale
Holt of Liverpool. taken from Blue Funnel; a history of Alfred Holt and Company including Durning Holt, Lord Mayor
of Liverpool and George Holt of Sudley House
Holt of Tottington: From a family bible
Holte of Aston Hall from Alfred Davidson, A History of the Holtes of Aston. The Holte of Aston family
is distinct from the Holt of Stubley family. This family are from the Birmingham area.
Holt of Wimboldsley, Cheshire.
Holt of Whitby.
David 'Quaker' Holt, Manchester.
John Holt of Liverpool.
Stirnet (stirnet.com) is a long-established, independent online genealogy resource specializing in detailed pedigrees (family trees/ancestral lines) for British and Irish families. It covers thousands of families, with extensive coverage of gentry, noble, landed, and armigerous (coat-of-arms bearing) families, as well as many lesser-known ones. The pedigrees are compiled by pulling together and cross-referencing data from a wide range of published secondary sources (e.g., Visitations, Burke's Peerage, county histories, older genealogical works, and similar compilations). There are four Holt familes documented on the site
- Holte of Aston Stirnet Holt 01
- Holt of Ashworth, Holt of Castleton, Holt of Chesham, Holt of Stubley, Holt of Whitwell Stirnet Holt 02
- Ralph Holt of Grisslehurst, Lancashire Stirnet Holt 03
- Index links to: Lead / Letter Families covered: Holt of Brampton, Holt of Enfield, Holt of Holt, Holt (Newton) of Newton, Holt of Wimbaldesley Stirnet Holt 04
