_Arms._--Arg., on a chevron az., between 3 martlets sa., as many crescents or. _Watson._
_Supporters._--Two griffins az., ducally gorged or.
Lewis Watson (born 29th December 1655, died 19th March 1723) was the son of Edward Watson, Baron Rockingham, and succeeded to the Barony in 1689. In 1681 Mr. Watson represented Canterbury in Parliament, and afterward Higham Ferrers. In 1703, Lord Rockingham was Master of the Buckhounds, and he was also Lord Lieutenant of Kent. In 1714, besides other dignities, Baron Rockingham was created Earl of Rockingham. He also held the posts of Vice-Admiral of Kent and Deputy-Warden of the Cinque Ports. He married twice, his first wife being a daughter of George Sondes, Viscount Sondes and Baron Throwley, besides other titles, and these two peerages were revived in 1714 in the person of Lord Rockingham when he was created an Earl.
_Arms._--Erm., on a pale gu., 2 roses ppr., on a chief indented az., 2 leopards' heads erased arg. _White._
_Crest._--A falcon, wings extended erm., charged with a rose ppr., holding in his beak an escutcheon, bendy indented gu. and arg.
[STERNHOLD AND HOPKINS. _The whole booke of Psalmes collected into Englyshe Meter._ London, 1564.]
Richard Samuel White may have been a descendant of Captain Samuel White who married Edith, daughter of John Watson of Charlton House, Dorset. I do not find his name in any of the ordinary lists, but some of the bearings in his coat-of-arms are similar to those used by the family of White of Charlton.
Dexter: Az., an archiepiscopal staff headed with a cross pattée or, surmounted of a pall arg., charged with 4 crosses pattée fitchée sa., fringed and edged or. _See of Canterbury._
Sinister: Arg., on a cross flory sa., 4 bezants. _Whitgift._
[_Dionysii Lebei Batillii Reg. mediomatricii Praesidis Emblemata._ Francofurti ad Moen[=u], 1596.]
John Whitgift (born 1530, died 29th February 1603) was the son of Henry Whitgift of Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire. He was educated at Cambridge and took orders in 1560. He was an eloquent preacher and quickly made his name famous.
In 1567 he was made Regius Professor of Divinity, and took much interest and effected many reforms in the Government of the University. In 1571 he became Dean of Lincoln. Dr. Whitgift was made Bishop of Worcester in 1576, and in 1583 Archbishop of Canterbury. Archbishop Whitgift was a rich man, and was also a great favourite of Queen Elizabeth's. He was an excellent organiser and ruled church matters with a strong hand. He left a number of sermons and tracts, several of which have been published by the Parker Society, and others still remain in manuscript at Lambeth, the Bodleian, the Record Office, and the British Museum.