De La Warr and West families

De La Warr, or Delaware, an English barony, the holders of which are descended from Roger de la Warr of Isfield, Sussex, who was summoned to parliament as a baron in 1299 and the following years. He died about 1320; his great-grandson Roger, to whom the French king John surrendered at the battle of Poitiers, died in 1370; and the male line of the family became extinct on the death of Thomas, 5th baron, in 1426.

The 5th baron's half-sister Joan married Thomas West, 1st Lord West, and in 1415 her second son Reginald succeeded his brother Thomas as 3rd Lord West. After the death of his uncle Thomas, 5th Baron de La Warr, whose estates he inherited, Reginald was summoned to parliament as Baron La Warr, and he is thus the second founder of the family. His grandson was Thomas, 8th baron (d. 1525), a courtier during the reigns of Henry VII. and Henry VIII.; and the latter's son was Thomas, 9th baron. The younger Thomas was a very prominent person during the reigns of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. After serving with the English army in France in 1513 and being present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold, he rebuilt the house at Halnaker in Sussex, which he had obtained by marriage, and here in 1526 he entertained Henry VIII. "with great cheer." . .... more

A short History of Virgina Colony


Thomas West, 12th Lord De La Warr, governor of Virginia

  • A1. John La Warr of Brislington;
    • B1. Jordan La Warr of Brislington;
      • C1. John La Warr of Wickwar and Brislington, Sheriff of Herefordshire, lvd:1275, m. Olympia de Fokinton;
        • D1. Roger La Warr of Wickwar, 1st Lord, d:1320, m. Clarive le Tregoz;
          • E1. John La Warr of Ewyes, 2nd Lord, lvd:1347, m. Joan de Gresley;
            • F1. John La Warr, m. Margaret de Holand;  ==>  Holand family
              • G1. Roger La Warr, 3rd Lord, lvd:1326/1370, m. Alianore de Mowbray;  ==>  Mowbray family
                • H1. Joan La Warr, d:1404, m. Sir Thomas West of of Oakhanger;
                  <=========
    • I1. Sir Reginald West, 6th Lord La Warr, lvd:1395/1451, m. Margaret Thorly;
      • J1. Margaret West, m. Sir Thomas Echingham;  <==  Echingham family
      • J2. Sir Richard West, 7th Lord De La Warr, b:1430/1476, m. Catherine Hungerford;  ==>  Hungerford family
        • K1. Thomas West, 8th Lord De La Warr, d:1525, m. Eleanor Coply;
          • L1. Sir George West, d:1558, m. Elizabeth Morton;
            • M1. Sir William West, 10th Lord De La Warr, d:1595, m. Elizabeth Strange;  ==>  le Strange family
              • N1. Thomas West, 1st Baron De La Warr, lvd:1555/1602, m. Anne Knollys;  ==>  Knollys family
                • O1. Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, Governor of Virginia, the State of Delaware was named after him, lvd:1577/1618, m. Cecily Shirley;
                • O2. Capt. John West, Governor of Virginia, lvd:1590/1659, m. Anne Percy;  ==>  Percy family
                  • P1. John West, b:1632, m. Unity Croshaw;  ==>  Croshaw family
                    • Q1. Anne West, lvd:1660/1708, m. Henry Fox;

Back to Main Page


Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr arrived at Jamestown in June 1609. followed later by his younger brothers John and Francis. Captain John West arrived on the Bony Bess in 1618.