An Anglian, Liberi homines

The Shelley family lineage may appear to originate in the Germanic north. This is supported by DNA sample. They may have arrived in Britain before or during the Roman period. Interestingly, the family may originate in the area of Schleswig Holstein located on the Jutland Peninsula. This being very close by Angle (the birthplace of the English). The family name being derived word given to these people of the Schlei (Anglicised to Shelley).

I proudly am a chartered freeman of Sudbury in Suffolk. This is inherited through the lineage of my family continuously dating back beyond existing records but emanating from early charters. ‘Sudbury’ the word is derived from its originally being the southern Burgh (borough) of the Eastern Anglians. This predates the 6^th century Mercian Kingdom of King Offa.

The Shelley inheritance to ‘freedom’ applies to both trading within the borough and also free access and enjoyment of all commons (land and practices). Freedom is recognised by early charters and most significantly from the Norman De Clares who gained ownership following the Norman conquest. Details of this can be found within my website and my family history.

Sudbury is a small country town with several ancient rights including a chartered market open on Thursday and Saturday, Sudbury is also famous for being the birthplace of the artist Thomas Gainsborough and as a heritage centre of the silk industry.

Back in 1958, I spent a couple of months on a working study in Denmark of their agricultural practices. Most enlightening was their similarity to English activities and attitude. They are highly democratic and consistently fair in practice. Of course this is similarly the case with most Scandinavians. For many years England was ruled under ‘Danelaw’. Canute is considered to be among our most considerate of kings. It is a far cry now from the menacing ‘scourge’ of the Viking ‘Heathen Horde’.