The Weston-Neville Connection
The descent of Sir Richard Weston from the Nevilles via the marriage of John Weston and Cecily Neville was extensively documented in the 17th century by Henry Lilly of the Royal College of Arms and certifed by William Segar, head of the College. Nevertheless, this genealogy has sometimes been claimed to be a fabrication, based on one 19th century book which quotes an 18th century genealogist, but no evidence has ever been provided to contradict the authority of the College of Arms. The entire controversy, has recently been put to rest,1 but is described here.
Skepticism about the Weston-Neville marriage is probably based on doubts that the granddaughter and sister of an Earl would marry a mere country squire, even one from an old and established family. There are two possible answers to these doubts. First, one should note that both Cecily's father and grandfather married the daughters of mere country squires. Second, Cecilys father, heir to the Earldom, died when she was only 10. Her brother, heir to the title and family fortune, was only 2 at the time, and only 8 when she married. At that time, the family assets were under the control of his guardian, the Duke of Buckingham. Unless a marriage was arranged, and a dowery committed before her father's death, which is quite possible but not at all certain, Cecily may have had no dowery, which would have made a more advantageous marriage very unlikely.
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1- Shawn Henry and Lois Carol Potter, Weston Pedigree Reconsidered, Renatus press (2022)