MySource:Robinca/College of Arms ms 5.D.14, 108: 'The Pedigree of Adam Askew, Esquire, of Newcastle upon Tyne'

This 'Pedigree of Adam Askew of Newcastle-upon-Tyne' was officially recorded at the College of Arms in 1760 and was drawn up to occupy three pages in a large book held there, which also contains other family pedigrees. It is illustrated with both the crest and the armorial bearings – "granted on 9 May 1760 to Adam Askew of Newcastle upon Tyne M.D, J.P, for Northumberland, lord of the manors of Ellington, Linton, Hetherslaw and Crookham in that county, and 'possessed of several other considerable estates' in Westmorland, Lancashire and the Bishopric of Durham, and the advowsons of the Rectories of Greystock [Greystoke], Plumbland and Bolton in Cumberland." This official pedigree is identified as: 'College of Arms ms 5.D.14, 108.'

It includes two affidavits - one by Anthony Askew of London, Doctor of Physick, who was the eldest son of Dr. Adam Askew of Newcastle, which records that "this Deponent saith that the Pedigree above is collected from his family evidences, church registers and other good authorities." It was signed: Antony Askew and sworn before Arthur Collier, (Doctor of Laws) at Doctors' Commons on May 8th 1760. This – together with the second affidavit by Bridget Lickbarrow, who was the daughter of Dr. Anthony Askew's great-uncle, John Askew of Birkby Hall, near Cartmel, Lancashire, which was sworn before John Moore, "one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for (the) County of Westmorland" on October 31st, 1759 – were examined by both William Oldys, Norroy King of Arms, and Ralph Bigland, Somerset Herald.

As no photographs of these 'official' Pedigrees are permitted, I was granted access and permission to transcribe this Pedigree, under supervision of the archivist at the College of Arms on 18 July, 2013 – and as authorised by Timothy Duke, Chester Herald, who had carried out a search of the official registers of arms and pedigrees held at the College of Arms with respect to my Askew forebears at my request.

I have now drawn up an adapted chart of this Pedigree from my transcription notes - but also with the aid of a photographic copy in my possession of an 'unofficial' draft for it - the original of which is also held at the College of Arms in London. As Mr. Timothy Duke described this in his report to me:

"One of the unofficial collections of the College of Arms – manuscripts compiled by former officers of arms in the course of their private heraldic and genealogical practices. The unofficial manuscript ... is volume XVI of Bigland’s Miscellaneous Pedigrees, part of the collection of Ralph Bigland (1711-84), who was appointed a herald in his mid-forties, ultimately becoming Garter King of Arms. The Askew pedigree in this volume is precisely contemporary with the grant of arms and the registered pedigree, since it was certified in 1760 by Bigland’s colleague William Oldys (1696-1761), Norroy King of Arms. His attestation stated that the pedigree was taken 'from The Office Books [that is, the official registers of the College], and other Authorities, mention’d in the Draught' [draft], these 'other Authorities' apparently including two or three affidavits and other manuscripts."

However, I have attempted to the best of my ability (in reading my own transcription notes!) to be as faithful as possible to the text contained in the original 'official' Pedigree. But as I wanted it to fit on printable A4 paper, I have had to modify its layout somewhat. Instead of only three pages, there are four, and this has required adjustments in the distribution – between these now four pages – of the various individuals and their lines of ascent and descent. But none of these adjustments have affected the actual connections. In fact, with the additional page, it has proved possible to keep more of a particular family branch on one page. There are significantly less lines that need to cross over to the adjacent page than there are in the original three pages.

Although I used 'Corel Draw' to create this new version, I have converted it to a PDF file (of 489 KB). And I would be willing to share this with any interested and serious family historian - always provided he or she undertakes not to publish it themselves in any shape, form or media.

—Robin Cary Askew (18 August, 2013)