My father died just over two years ago. I’m still struggling with it. One thing that helps, however, is making good on the things I know he wanted to sort, but never did.

Over the years my father compiled several folders on Mackworth-Praed family history; including letters, email chains and original documents, as well as his own findings and notes. He also printed every article I ever sent him, and I’m glad he did – much of what is in those folders is no longer available on the Internet.

For over one hundred years, since 1715, the Mackworth-Praed coat of arms were described thus:

These are the Arms I grew up with – my father had this very painting on display in our living room, and there was always more than one unicorn motif in our house. I recently learned, however, that the Arms the family had been using since William Mackworth’s (1694-1752) adoption of the name Praed in 1715 were never official – when Herbert Bulkley Mackworth-Praed (1841-1921) was granted a Royal Licence in 1909 to continue to use the name of Praed, there was no mention of Arms. Indeed, as I learned during my recent correspondence with the College of Arms, there is little to suggest that the Praeds were entitled to bear Arms at all.

“Praed of Trevethow in Lelant became extinct, after several descents, by the death of John Praed, Esq. in 1717. He left his estates to William Mackworth, Esq., a younger son of the family of Mackworth, of the Gnoll in Glamorganshire, on condition of his assuming the name of Praed.” – British History Online

The Arms of my great (x3) grandfather, Winthrop Mackworth-Praed, and of his descendants are pictured below – the same as those granted privately in 1404 to Thomas Mackworth of Derby and to his brother, John. The Arms were granted by John Touchet, lord Audley, for loyal services rendered to the Audley family and for the brothers’ valour at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356:

One thing my father always planned to do was update the family pedigree. When he died, I re-established contact with the College of Arms and finally did so, even though (as things currently stand) I have no right to pass my inherited Arms on to my children. This is a separate issue, one which I’ve already written to The King, the Prime Minister, my MP, and the College of Arms about. If men can pass Arms on to their children without alteration, and inherit lands and titles, women should be able to, too.

In the meantime, I’ve begun the process of registering the Mackworth-Praed Arms here in Belgium, where inheritance laws are more equal. I feel it’s my responsibility to ensure my children also have the right to enjoy the Mackworth-Praed Arms, or at least enjoy the opportunity to enjoy them; however important they may someday end up finding heraldry or not.

Lastly, my father spent many years wondering if the original 1404 Mackworth grant of arms was still in existence. So I’ve been using The Peerage to track down 9th cousins once removed and ask if anyone happens to know anything about where the 1404 grant might now be. Because it would really be quite lovely to know it’s intact in the world somewhere, and to see it, in memory of my father.