The Magna Carta

_{[cover image credit:  "national archives magna carta" by Matt Wade is licensed under CC By-SA 2.0]}

William Clopton of York County, Virginia (b.abt 1655; d. bef 1732) is descended from several Sureties (enforcers) of the Magna Carta.  This is supported by proof in the 1939 and subsequent editions of Lucy Lane Erwin's book, The Ancestry of William Clopton of York County, Virginia.  Gene Carlton Clopton reprinted verbatim and credited her research in his 1982 book, The Clopton Family:  Ancestors and Decendants of William Clopton.

Those who can prove their line of descent from at least one of the Magna Carta Sureties may wish to explore membership in The Baronial Order of Magna Charta and/or the National Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons.

_{["Magna Carta Relief at the United States Supreme Court" by Matt Popovichis marked with CC0 1.0.]}

Our Magna Carta Surety ancestors' names and dates of death given below are as shown on pages 37-43 of Lucy Lane Erwin's book (her references are on p. 43):

1. Roger le Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, d. 1220
2. Hugh le Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, d. 1225
3. Henry de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, d. 1220
4. Richard de Clare, Earl of Hertford & Gloucester, d. 1218
5. Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Hertford & Gloucester, d. 1229
6. William d'Aubigny, Lord of Belvoir Castle, d. 1236
7. John FitzRobert, Lord of Warkworth Castle, d. 1240
8. John de Lacie, Lord of Halton Castle, Cheshire, d. 1240
9. William Malet, Lord of Curry-Malet, Somersetshire, d. 1224
10. Saire de Quincey, Earl of Winchester, d. 1219
11. Robert de Roos, Lord of Hamlake Castle, Yorkshire, d. 1226
12. Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford, d. 1221

Sources:  

• _{Erwin, Lucy Lane. (1939). The Ancestry of William Clopton of York County, Virginia , pp. 37-43.}
• _WikiTree.com
• _{Brookfield Ancestor Project}

There is an additional ancestor not named in L.L. Erwin's book - William de Huntingfield, Keeper of Dover Castle - which makes thirteen Sureties from which our line descends.  This Huntingfield line is as follows:

• William Clopton of York County, Virginia, d. 1732, is the son of
• Rev. William Clopton of Boxted, Essex, England d. 1671, is the son of
• Walter Clopton of Groton, Suffolk, England, d. 1622, is the son of
• William Clopton of Groton, Suffolk, England, d. 1616, is the son of
• Richard Clopton of Groton, Suffolk, England, d. 1558 in Long Melford, Suffolk, England, is the son of
• Thomasine (Knyvet) Clopton of Essex and Suffolk counties, England, d. 1538, is the daughter of
• Thomas Knyvet, Esq. of Essex and Kent counties, England, d. 1479, is the son of
• John Knyvet, Esq. of Essex and Kent counties, England, d. 1480, is the son of
• Thomas Knyvet, Esq. of England, d. 1459, is the son of
• Robert Knyvet of Southwick, Northamptonshire, England, d. 1419, is the son of
• Alinore (Basset) Knyvet of Northamptonshire, England, d. 1388, is the daughter of
• Ralph Basset of Huntingfield Manor, Blything, Suffolkshire, England, d. 1341, is the son of
• Joan (Huntingfield) Basset of Huntingfield,, Suffolk, England, is the daughter of
• Roger Huntingfield of Suffolk and Lincolnshire counties, England, d. 1302, is the son of
• Sir William de Huntingfield of England, d. 1290, is the son of
• Sir Roger de Huntingfield of Huntingfield, Suffolk, England, d. 1257, is the son of
• Magna Carta Surety, Sir William de Huntingfield, Keeper of Dover Castle, d. 1221 in the Holy Land.

["Faversham Market during Magna Carta celebration" by Roger Button is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.]	["Magna Carta Monument" by bekrais licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.]
["national archives magna carta" by ThatMattWadeis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.]	["Magna Carta plaque in Bury St Edmunds" by Matt From Londonis licensed under CC BY 2.0.]