From J. L. Chester to G. H. Darwin? 22 December 1879

My Dear Sir

I cannot but think that Darmin & Dawnwin in the College of Arms records really mean Darwin. There is no grant recorded. They merely occur in an ordinary of arms as having been used by persons of the name, but when, or specifically by whom, there is nothing to show. The entries are of the same value—no more & no less—as those in the printed volume "Burke's Armory".

I should have attached but little confidence to the modern use of the arms but for one reason, & that is that they are really on the seal of the will of Mary Darwin of Cleatham, widow of William. I was of course delighted when I found this to be the case. In his will the seal is missing, but she probably used his, for it is not the coat of her own family, the Healeys, which is entirely different. So far, my researches lead me to suppose that William of Cleatham was the first gentleman of the family, & I think he must have obtained or assumed the Coat, although no record of it exists, which is a very common circumstance.

If I am right in my conjectures, his ancestors were respectable yeomen. I hope that the rest of the wills to come from Lincoln may enable me to clear up the whole matter satisfactorily, but of course this is still uncertain.

Your brother (or was it your father?) was disposed to smile at the description of your ancestor as "Steward of the Peverel". If you have heard nothing more about it, you will be interested to know that it was an office not only that a Gentleman might hold, but which was held only By Gentlemen, it being the Stewardship of the Royal Manor of Peverel in Derbyshire. (It has nothing to do with ""Peveril of the Peak""!). I will give full particulars hereafter.

With the best wishes of the season, believe me | Very truly yours | Jos: L. Chester