Genealogy
of Bufords of Reynolds County Takes Family Back to Kings of England
By Kathryn
Vickery
William the Conqueror, the sixth duke of Normandy, marched into England
and came out victorious in the battle of Hastings in 1066--and was crowned
king of England. His predecessors go back to the first duke of
Normandy, who was Rolf or Rollo (he and his men from the North were
gigantic and strong, called Vikings). By conquest they were given
the north part of France, named Normandy in 911 A.D., granted by the King
of France, Rollo married the King's daughter.
William the Conqueror and his successors, including all the kings and
queens, have graced the throne of England, even down to the present.
King Edward III took for his badge the shield with the crown as the crest,
two quarters of the shield with the Fleur De Lis, the other two quarters
with the three Lions, the Fleur De Lis denoting French people, the three
Lions, the English throne. The motto: "I scorn to change or
fear." This is the same coat of arms the Bufords have today.
John of Guant, duke of Lancaster, a most gallant nobleman and heroic
soldier, was the third son of King Edward III, and named his beautiful
castle and estate in Anjou, France, "Beaufort", from which his
children by Catherine took their surname. It was later changed to Beauford,
and about 1775 to Buford. It is easy by English history to trace the
kinship both ways. He being the third son it was not his good
fortune to wear the crown of England, but many of his descendants
did. His eldest son by his first wife, Blanche of Lancaster, was
King Henry IV. From him to the present time there have been 22 kings
and queens who belong to this line. Some of the kings were in their
minorities. John of Guant was their protector and guardian.
The records of the Buford family are of a most remarkable people of
unparalleled history. Perhaps there is none greater or more honored
than the Bufords who crossed the ocean and came to America. Their
descendants will be found scattered in every state of the United States
occupying high places of honor, and engaged in most every calling and
pursuit of life common to mankind.
