Remarks on Ancient Seals – reference to Stapleford Tawney – by H. W. King

The Seal of Lucas de Tany and the de Tany Family of Essex

Source: Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society, Old Series, Volume 1 (1858), p. 205.

The Discovery of the Seal

By the kindness of Mr. Roach Smith, we are enabled to engrave two seals from his museum, of very great interest. They were both found in London.

The first is most satisfactorily identified as the personal seal of Lucas de Tany, Justice of the King's Forests south of the Trent, in the reign of Edward III, and one of the great baronial family of de Tany, which gave their name to the parishes of Stapleford Tany and Latton Tany.

For a full account of this family, I must refer the reader to the first volume of Dugdale's Baronage, p. 509.

The de Tany Family in English History

Robert de Tany was one of the witnesses to the charter of William the Conqueror, on the foundation of the Abbey of Selby, in Yorkshire, and the name is of repeated occurrence in the history of Essex.

I may just mention that John de Tany sat in the Parliament of the 33rd year of Edward I, and again in the 35th year of the same reign.

Sir John de Tany sat in the Parliament of the 4th year of Edward II, and in the 31st year of Edward III.

Peter de Tany was Sheriff of Essex in the 20th year of Henry III, and Richard de Tany in the 31st and 45th years of the same reign. In the 51st year of Henry III, Richard was made Governor of Hadleigh Castle, Essex.

Lucas de Tany – Justice of the King's Forests

Lucas de Tany, to whom the seal pertains, was constituted Justice of the King's Forests south of the Trent in the 9th year of Edward III.

But in the next ensuing year, says Dugdale:

"Being a valiant soldier, and in that expedition then made into Wales, upon a skirmish with the Welsh, who were too strong for him, endeavouring to pass a bridge begun by the King, but not finished, had the fate to be drowned with many others in that retreat.

Others say that it was passing the river in boats, which, being overladen, sunk them."

The Heraldry of the de Tany Family

The arms upon the seal of Lucas de Tany are a shield charged with three bars, and a label for a difference.

The arms commonly assigned to the de Tanys of Essex are:

Or, six eagles displayed sable, arranged three, two and one.

But the various members of the family seem to have adopted different arms for distinction; for we find:

• Or, seven eagles displayed: arranged three, three and one.
• Another John de Tany: Azure, three bars argent.
• A fourth variation: Azure, three bars or, which agree with the arms engraved upon this seal.

Historical Significance

The de Tany family played a prominent role in medieval English history, holding positions in Parliament, royal administration and the governance of Essex.

Their association with the parishes of Stapleford Tawney and Latton Tany demonstrates the influence of Norman landholding families on the development of local place names.

The personal seal of Lucas de Tany is an important surviving example of medieval heraldry, illustrating how different branches of the same family adopted variations of their coats of arms to distinguish themselves.

Source and References

• Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society, Old Series, Volume 1 (1858), p. 205.
• Dugdale, William, The Baronage of England, Volume 1, p. 509.
• Collection of Charles Roach Smith, antiquarian and archaeologist.