Condor of Cornwall
[1] The first known mentions of Condor are from heralds and antiquarians in the late sixteenth century, who recorded claims that he had been earl of Cornwall at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, and paid homage to William the Conqueror to keep his position.
[5] Early nineteenth century Cornish historian Richard Polwhele calls Launceston, Tintagel, and Trematon castles the residences of Condor and the ancient earls of Cornwall.
[6] Hooker, Carew, Williams, and Hals all write that Cadoc had one daughter and heir, called Hawisia, Avicia, Alicia, Amicia, Agnes, or Beatrix,[note 3] who married Reginald de Dunstanville.
[7][11][12][2] Williams and Hals say that through her, Reginald claimed the title Earl of Cornwall,[12][2] which he was later formally invested with by his half-sister Empress Matilda, after it was taken by Alan of Richmond during the Anarchy.
[21] Hals wrote that the name Condor was in all probability taken from a place in St Clement called Conor or Condura, which Davies Gilbert says means 'the King or Prince's Water'.
[23] William Pryce suggests the meaning of the name Cadoc derives from Cad 'war', Cadwr 'a soldier' or 'a champion', and Cadgur 'a man of war'.
[23] The Names of the Gentlemen of Devonshire and Cornwall, with their Arms, a sixteenth century armory, lists: Condor, Erle of Devon: Sa: besanted or.
[9]Robert Glover's manuscript "De Ducibus Cornubiæ"[26][27] (c. 1568–1588[28]) mentions: Hawisia, the only daughter and heir of Candor from the royal blood of the Britons, count of Cornwall at the time of the Conquest, and who rendered homage and fidelity to King William the Conqueror for the said county.
This note I borrowed out of an industrious collection, which setteth downe all the noble mens creations, Armes, and principall descents, in euery Kings dayes since the conquest: but master Camden, our Clarentieulx, nameth him Cadoc, and saith farther, that Robert Morton, brother to William Conquerour, by his mother Herlot, was the first Earle of Norman blood, and that his sonne William succeeded him; who taking part with Duke Robert, against Henry the first, thereby got captiuity, and lost his honour, with which that King inuested the forementioned Reignald.
[12]In his History of Cornwall (c. 1750), William Hals wrote: In this church town [St Clement's] is the well-known place of Conor, Condura, id est, the King or Prince's Water (viz.
Be it as it was, certain it is he married and had issue Cad-dock (id est, bear or carry-war), his son and heir, whom some authors call Condor the Second, who is by them taken for and celebrated as Earl of Cornwall.
His chief dwelling and place of residence was at Jutsworth, near Saltash and Trematon, where he married and had issue one only daughter named Agnes, as some say, others Beatrix, who was married to Reginald Fitz-Harry, base son of King Henry I., by his concubine Anne Corbett, in whose right he was made Earl of Cornwall, after William Earl of Cornwall aforesaid had forfeited the same, by attainder of treason against the Conqueror and his sons, and was deprived thereof.
This Earl Caddock, or Condor the 2nd, departed this life 1120, and lies buried in the chancel of St. Stephen's Church, by Saltash, and gave for his arms, in a field Sable, 15 bezants palewise, 4, 4, 4, 2, 1.
"I have received information (he says) from one averring eye witness, that about fourscore years since, there was digged up in the parish chancel, a leaden coffin, which, being opened, shewed the proportion of a very big man.
