According to Burke's Peerage, early records show familes bearing the name of RUSSELL established as landowners in different parts of Dorset. In 1189 mention is made in Ancient Deed A6708 of the Russells of Mappowder.
In 1436 William Russell, late of Mappowder, was styled Gentleman. About 1210, at Kingston Russell, Dorset, John Russell held Kingston as half a hide by the Serjeanty of being Marshal of The King's Buttery on Christmas Day and at Whitsuntide, a service which had originated in the time of the Conqueror.
His direst male descendants continued to hold Kingston until 1432, when the Russell lands were divided between Isabella and Margaret, daughters and co-heirs of Sir Maurice Russell, of whom Margaret married Sir Gilbert Denys of Gloucestershire.
In 1544 their descendant Maurice Denys sold the Manor of Kingston Russell to the Crown.
In March, 1559-60, the Crown in its turn sold it to Francis (Russell), 2nd Earl of Bedford.
In 1312, at Chilfrome, Dorset, James Russell brought a plea as to tenements there.
There were other Russells associated with the coastal district, particularly Melcombe and Weymouth, who were prominent in local affairs throughout the 14th century.
William Russell represented Melcombe Regis in the Parliament of 1340; Thomas Russell was MP for the same borough thrice between 1384 and 1390.
When Stephen Russell represented the borough of Weymouth in 1394 it was Thomas Russell who had stood surety for him.
THE ancestry of the RUSSELLS, Dukes of Bedford, cannot be strictly proved by documentary evidence beyond Stephen Russell, but from him the succession has always been from father to son or grandson.
Stephen was living in the time of RICHARD II and HENRY IV, and owned property in Dorchester and Weymouth and lands at Maiden Newton.
He was Bailiff of Weymouth in 1388-89.
In 1433 he was chosen, together with his son Henry, as one of the "potentes et valentes" men of Dorset who were to swear the oath to keep the peace in accordance with the decree made by the Parliament of that year.
He married, about 1400, Alice, granddaughter and heir of Cecily de Blynchesfield, who was holding the de Blynchesfield property in Shaftesbury and Stour Provost in 1382; and heir-general of Gregory de Turri, or de la Tour, who was holding the Manor of Berwick in Dorset before 1221.
In July, 1427, at the Dorchester Assizes, Stephen Russell claimed this manor in the name of his wife, Alice, as sole heir to the de la Tour family.
The claim was allowed, and the reversion of the Manor granted to Stephen and Alice, since when it has been held without a break by the head of the Russell family.
He died between June and October, 1438, leaving a son,
HENRY RUSSELL, born ca 1401, who was returned as MP for the Borough of Weymouth to the Parliaments of 1425, 1427, and 1441-2.
Within the county of Dorset he held at different times various important offices.
He wedded Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of John Herring, of Chaldon Herring, Dorset.
Henry Russell died 1463-4, leaving a son,
JOHN RUSSELL, born about 1431, who married, about 1449, Alice or Elizabeth Froxmere, probably of Droitwich, Worcestershire; and died in 1505, leaving an heir,
SIR JAMES RUSSELL, either son or nephew of John, who espoused Alice, daughter of John or Thomas Wyse, of Sydenham Damerel, near Tavistock, and died 1505, leaving a son,
JOHN RUSSELL (c1485-1555), of Berwick-by-Swyre, afterwards 1st Earl of Bedford, who married, 1526, Anne, daughter of Sir Guy Sapcote.
This John, 1st Earl of Bedford, acquired many thousands of acres round Tavistock, Devon, and Thorney, Cambridgeshire; Covent Garden and Long Acre in London; and Chenies in Buckinghamshire.
He was succeeded by his son and heir,
FRANCIS, 2nd Earl (c1527-85), KG, of Chenies, Buckinghamshire, and Bedford House, near Exeter, Devon, who married and had issue.
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| Bedford House, Strand, London (Image: eBay) |
WILLIAM, 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Bedford (1616-1700), KG, wedded, in 1637, Anne (born in the Tower of London, 1615), daughter and sole heiress of Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, by whom he had issue, seven sons and three daughters, of whom
WILLIAM, styled Lord Russell, married, in 1669, the Lady Rachel Wriothesley, second daughter and eventual heir of Thomas, Earl of Southampton, owner of the lands at Bloomsbury, London.
Lady Rachel was widow of Francis, Lord Vaughan (through this marriage the Duke of Bedford represents the younger branch of the house of Cheyne of Chenies, Buckinghamshire).
Thus the Bloomsbury Estate came through marriage into the Russells, Dukes of Bedford, thereafter becoming known as the Bedford Estate.
It’s thought that the present Duke owns twenty acres in Bloomsbury.
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