Arms.—Gules, on a chief argent two mullets pierced sable. This coat was borne by Sir Edmund Bacon, in the reign of Edward II., and by M. Bacon in that of Edward III. (Rolls.) A brass circa A.D. 1320, at Gorleston church, Suffolk, supposed to represent one of this family, bears five lozenges in bend on the field, besides the mullets in chief: see Boutell's Brasses, p. 36.
Present Representative, Sir Henry Hickman Bacon, 11th Baronet.
Jerningham of Cossey, Baron Stafford, restored 1824, Baronet 1621.
The ancestors of this ancient house were seated at Horham in Suffolk in the 13th century, "knights of high esteem in those parts," saith Camden, and traced to Sir Hubert Jernegan of that place. Somerleyton, in the same county, derived from the heiress of Fitzosbert, afterwards became the family seat, and so continued until the extinction of the elder line. Cossey was granted to Sir Henry Jerningham, (son of Sir Edward Jerningham, by his second wife,) in 1547, by Queen Mary, "being the first that appeared openly for her after the death of Edward VI." He was the ancestor of Lord Stafford.
See Weever's Ancient Funerall Monuments, p. 769; Blomefield's Norfolk, i. p. 660; Wotton's Baronetage, i. 450; and Suckling's History of Suffolk, ii. p. 46.
Arms.—Argent, three buckles gules.
Present Representative, Henry Valentine Stafford Jerningham, 9th Baron Stafford.
Townshend of Rainham, Marquess Townshend 1787; Baron 1661; Viscount 1682.
