Hickson Genealogy

The HICKSON Crest

Heraldry and the Coat of Arms

This crest was first awarded to Thomas S Hixon, the Keeper of the King's Wardrobe, then to James Hickson, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Brewers, then to two Robert Hicksons who were both High Sheriffs of Co Kerry.

Heraldry.

The Hickson arms were originally confirmed by Camden, in 1617, to Thomas Hixon, of Greenwood [Greenwich?], keeper of the King's Wardrobe, who descended out of Cambridgeshire, and now duly registered in the Office of Arms, Dublin Castle.

Coat of Arms

• Or, two eagles' legs, erased à la quize, sa., in saltire sable, the dexter surmounted of the sinister, in the centre chief point a trefoil, vert.
• Crest - Out of a crest coronet, or, a griffin's head, sable beaked of the first.
• Motto - Fide et Fortitudine.

The Epitaph of James Hickson. citizen & brewer of London. On the S. side of the Church, a spacious white Marble Monument adorned with Columns and Entablature of the Corinthian Order, and an open Pediment whereon lye 2 hyrids, this Inscription; "Near this Place lyeth the Body of James Hickson Esq; who died 16 of June, in the Year of our Lord 1689. of his Age 82. Who in his Life time built an Almshouse for six poor People in the Parish of S.Mimms, in the County of Middlesex, and at his death Endowed the said Almshouse with a Salary of 24 l. per Ann. with some other advantages. "He also Founded a School in Plough-yard in this Parish, for the Educating 20 poor Children; to the head Master of which he appointed 20 l. per Ann. his dwelling House and two Chaldron of Tea Coal, and to a Writing Master 8 l. per Ann. [this is a brief extract of my notes]

and various drawings that I have seen:

There were four people who were each awarded the Hickson Coat of Arms. They all came from the same area.

• James Hickson (1607-1689) was born in or near Melton Mowbray. He was a Citizen and Brewer of London who, in his lifetime, built an Almshouse for six poor people in the parish of South Mimms which was then in the County of Middlesex. In memory of him a spacious white marble monument was erected adorned with columns and entablature of the Corinthian Order. Still in existance in 1880 it was heavily bombed in the first world war and there is now no trace of the inscription and memorial.
• Thomas S Hixon. The Hickson Arms were confirmed by Camden, in 1617, to Thomas Hixon of Greenwich, Keeper of the King's Wardrobe, who descended out of Cambridgeshire and were duly registered in the Office of Arms, Dublin Castle. Or, two eagles legs erased á la quize, sa, in saltier; the dexter surmounted of the sinister, in the centre chief point a trefoil, vert.
• Robert FitzJohn Hickson (1749-1844), High Sheriff of Kerry in 1794
• Robert Conway Hickson (1812-1878), High Sheriff of Kerry 1855-56

Both the latter were descendants of the Rev. Christopher Hickson (before 1553-1638) who moved from the County of Cambridge to County Kerry in December 1553.

There are many living descendants of Rev. Christopher Hickson all over the world, but no-one has been able to discover who were his parents. Little is know about the relatives of James Hickson who is thought to have married at least twice. His Will mentions the children of his last wife by a previous marriage and her brother. Thomas Hixon married Margaret Manley and they had (at least) eight children, however none of their descendants have been found.