The Golden Falcon

The Golden Falcon

Chapter XI/6 - Cavalier

28.6.1683: "After the Popish Plot there was now new and (as they call'd it) a Protestant Plot discover'd, that certain Lords and others should designe the assassination of the King and the Duke as they were to come from Newmarket, with a general rising of the Nation, and especially of the Citty of London, disaffected to the present Government upon which were committed to the Tower the Lord Russell, eldest son of the Earle of Bedford, the Earle of Essex, Mr Algernon Sydney, son to the old Earle of Leicester, Mr Trenchard, Hampden, Lord Howard of Escrick and others.  A proclamation was issued against my Lord Grey, the Duke of Monmouth, Sir Thos. Armstrong and one Ferguson, who had escaped beyond the sea; of these some were said to be for killing the King, others for onely seizing on him and persuading him to new counsels, on the pretence of the danger of Popery should the Duke live to succeed, who was now again admitted to the councils and cabinet secrets.  The Lords Essex and Russell were much deplor'd, few believing they had any evil intentions against the King or the Church; some though they were cunningly drawn in by their enemies for not approving some late councils and management relating to France, to Popery, to the persecution of the Dissenters &c.  They were discovered by the Lord Howard of Escrick and some false brethren of the club, and the designe happily broken; had it taken effect it would, to all appearance, have expos'd the Government to unknowne and dangerous events, which God avert!"  ("The Diary of John Evelyn").

 

On 13.7.1683 Evelyn was told the Earl of Essex had cut his throat with a razor whilst in prison and Lord Russell (Frances Howard's grandson) had been condemned to death.  He was beheaded on 21.7.1683 at Lincoln's Inn Fields.

 

Lord Petre died on 5.1.1684 in the Tower and James, Duke of York insisted on Powis, Arundell and Belasyse being brought before Judge Jeffries and allowed out on bail.

 

On 10.5.1684 Oates was arrested in the Amsterdam Coffee House for referring to the duke as "that traitor James, Duke of York" when dining with the Bishop of Ely in April 1680.  James was awarded £100,000 damages and Oates thrown into the debtor's prison for non-payment.  On 28.10.1680 and 12.1.1680 he was accused of perjury in his evidence against Ireland in 1678.  Charles II died on 6.1.1680 and Oates was arraigned on the 8th.  His case opened on 8.5.1680, the jury declared him guilty, he was fined £1,000 on each count and unfrocked.  On 18.5.1680 he was to be paraded through the Courts of Justice in Westminster Hall with a placard round his neck proclaiming his offence, then stand in the pillory for an hour.  This was to be repeated at the Royal Exchange in the City.  On the 20.5.1680 he was to be whipped from Aldgate to Newgate (1 and half miles) and on the 22.5.1680 from Newgate to Tyburn (2 miles).  He was to be imprisoned for life but on every 24th April, 9th, 10 and 11th August and 2nd September he was to stand in the pillory for an hour at Tyburn, Westminster Hall, Charing Cross, Temple Bar and the Royal Exchange.

 

The sentence was carried out and he was pelted with rotten eggs in the pillory by the crowd.

 

All the Catholics executed as the result of the Titus Oates Plot were created "venerabile" by Pope Leo XII in 1886 including 4 priests Edward Mico, Thomas Bedingfield, Francis Neville and Francis Levison.  Robert Green, Lawrence Hill and the 9 priests who died in prison were named as "Dilati".  Those executed, including Edward Coleman, were beatified by Pope Pius XI except Nicholas Postgate, executed at York on 7.8.1679 and Charles Mahoney, an Irishman executed at Ruthin on 12.8.1679.  On 25.10.1970 Pope Paul VI canonised 40 English martyrs including 6 executed after the Plot.

 

Sir Charles Winter died and was buried at the family vault in Lydney on 23.4.1698.  Lydney passed to his wife Frances (d. 1720) who married Thomas Nevill (b. 1714).  They sold lands at Aylburton in 1718 and their heirs and trustees sold Lydney in 1723.

 

Sir Charles's Will reads:

 

"In the name of God. Amen.

 

I, Charles Winter of Lydney in the County of Gloucester Esq., being well in health and of a good and perfect mind and memory, considering the uncertainty of this life and out of a natural love and affection which I bear to Frances, my now wife, with whom I have received and had the sum of £6,000 in money and land as the portion of my said wife, and to the intent and purpose that there may be a competent provision and maintenance made for her answerable to the affection I bear to her, in case I shall die in her lifetime before any settlement is made upon her and the heirs of her body by me begotten or be begotten, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in writing in the manner following:

 

First of all I command my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth named and for such estate real or personal as it shall please God to bless me withal, I dispose thereof as followeth and I hereby give and bequeath unto the said Frances Wintour my now wife all that my manor or manors of Lydney and Aylburton with all and every of their rights ---- and situate, lying and being in the County of Gloucestershire, aforesaid and all and singular my lands, meadows, pastures, woods, tenements and heritements with they and every of their appurts situate, lying and being in Lydney and Aylburton aforesaid or either of them and in Naas and Alleston or either of them in the said parish of Lydney and in the said parish of Newland or elsewhere in the said County of Gloucester to have and to hold the said manors, messuages, lands, tenements and hereditements and all and singular premises aforesaid with their and every of their appurts and with all my estate, right, title, interest in law or equity or power of redemption of the premises aforesaid and in every part and parcel thereof unto the said Frances Wintour my wife, her heirs and assignees forever, and I hereby give unto my said wife all land singular, my good chattles, real and personal of whatever nature or kind so-ever and I make my said wife Frances Wintour by full and sole executor of this my Will.

 

In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twentieth day of May in the two and twentieth year of his Majety's reign and now is and in the year of our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty. (20.5.1680).

 

C. Wintour.

 

Signed, sealed and delivered and published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the said Charles Wintour in the presence of:

 

Richard Holloway

John Holloway

James Almont

 

This present Saturday the twenty sixth day of April in the year of our Lord God, One Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty (26.4.1680) being the six and twentieth year of the King's reign.

 

I have confirmed and do hereby declare that the writing on the other side of this paper is my last Will and Testament.

 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

 

C. Wintour

 

Signed and delivered in the presence of:

 

Henry Nevil

Richard Nase

William Nation.

 

Probatino fuit hunm.

 

The Will was contested by Thomas Brome Whorwood, guardian-at-law of Charles Winter, described as the natural and legitimate son of Sir Charles Winter.  The case was heard in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury by Sir Richard Raines, knight who ruled in Lady France Winter's favour.  The decree was dated the second juridical day after Feast of St. Edmunds (being Wednesday 22nd November) and was signed by William Oldys, George Braunston, Thomas Ayloffe, Everard Exton, Thomas Tyler and Edward Shaw.

 

"In Dei nomine, Amen, auditis.

 

Viio et intellectis ac plenario et nature discussis per ... Domiam Richardus Raine, militem, Legum Doctorem Curiae Prerogative Cantuarensis, Magisterium Custodem sive comissarum legitime constitutum meritis circumstantus cujusdem Negoty Testamentary sive Probaconis per Tested.

 

Testamenti sive ultima voluntatis inscriptis Domini Caroli Winter nuper, Lidney in comitatus Gloucestriae, militis defuncti habentisdum vixit et mortis sus tempore bona jura sive credita in diversis Diecesibus sive peculiaribus Jurisdictionibus infra Cantuar Probitiam sufficienta ad fiudandum Jurienem Curiae Praerogativa Cantuarensis praedict quod coram nobis in juditio inter Dominam Franciscam Wintour, relictam dicti defuncti unicam executricem in testamento sive ultima voluntate praedict nominatum partem negotium praedict promoventum exuna et Carolum Wintour, armigerum minorum Thomam Brome Whorwood, armigerum ejus curatorem ad lites legitime assignatum agentem filium naturalemit legitime dicti defuncti partem contram quam idem negotium promevetur.

 

Partibu exaltera nuper vertebatur et ponderbat indeciso rite et legitime procendentea partibus praedictis perearum procuratores coram nobis in judicio respective et legitime comparentibus.

 

Parte praefate sua Francisca Wintour sententium fezziet justitiam fiezi pro parte suam part vero dicto Caroli Wintour Ar(miger). per curatore in sum praedict agentis justitiam etiam pro parte sua instantor respective postulan-- petentibus dimatg-- primitus per N--- toto et entegro processu (af) coram nobis in hujusmodi negotio habito et facto ac diligentor recensitio servatio--.

 

Per nos de jure in hac parte servandis (a) nostra sententia definitiva sive nostri finalis decreti in hujusmodi negotio fere-- prelaconem sic duximus procedendum fore et mactitata procedimus in hunc qui sequitur modum quia per acta mactitate procededum allegata exhibita proposita probata pariter et confessa in hujusmodi negotio comperimus luculenter invemissias xteul profata domina Francisca Wintour intentonem suam in Test(tament)o originalis sive ultima voluntate dicti (afs) coram nobis exhibit cateris-- prpopositis (a) ex parto sua datia exhibitis et admiso ----- registrum hujus curiae remanentibus deductam dud quidem.

 

Testamentum alia--- propisita praedicte pro lectis----- habemus et haberi volumus sufficienter et --- in que (a) infra pronunciando fundasse et probasse.

 

Nihil effectuate ex--- ant per partem dicti Caroli Wintour ar. per curatores suam praedi. Agentis in huusmodi negotio exceptum deductum allegatus extun. propositum ant probatum fuissant esse quod intentionem partis. dicti Domina Frances Wintour quo (ad) infra pronuncianda libet---.

 

Dominus Richardus Raines, miles, Legum Doctor judex ante dictus Christi nomine primitus invotata ac ipsum solum deum oculis nostris propanentes. et habentuj de --- et cum consilio jurisperitorum cumquibus in hoc parte comunicassimus nature-- deliberasium praefactum Domine Carolum Wintour, militem testarum in hoc negotio defunctum dum vixit mentis compotem et in sua sana et perfecta memoria existend.  Testamentum sum in scriptis suam in confineus ultimatum voltem alias coram nobis in hujusmodi negotio ex parte dicta Domina Francisca Wintour exhibitum gereus datum vicesimo die mensis Maij (20.5.1684) Anno Domini milecesimo sexcentismo octogesimo quarto dum sana fruebatur condidisse et declarasse ac ejusdum dictam Dominam Franciscam Wintour ejus nunc relictam unicam nominasse et constituisse executricem sumia--et singula--- legasse et religuisse in eadem sive eaden contuietur ac postea viz vicesime sexto die mensis Aprilis Anno (16.4.1684) Domin. millesimo sexcentisimo octogesimo quarto dum sana fruebatuz. volunatem rite rnemoria dictum sum testamentium sive ultinam voluntatem rite legitime confirmasse et republicasse juxta probationes legitime coram nobis inhujusmodi negotio habita et factas por--- viribus.

 

Valore et validicate dicti testamente sive ultima voluntatis dicte defuncti ----- prafertur gerentis datum vicesimo die mensis (20.5.1680) Maiij Anno Domini millesimo sexcemo et confirmati et rebucati dicte vicesimo sexto die mensis Aprilis Anno Domini (16.4.1684) coram nobis exhibiti pronunciamus determinus et declaramus per habc nostrum sentitiam definitivum sive hoc nostrum finale decretum quam sive quod forimus et promulagamus hys scriptis.

 

Lectata et promulgata ---hace---secundo die juridice post festum Sancti Edmundo Regius die Mercury vicesimo secundo die mensis novembris Anno Domini Millesimo Sexcemo (22.11.1699) ---- venerabilem et egregimu virum Dominum Richardus Raines, militem, Legum Doctorem Curiae Prerogativae Cantuarensis magistrum custodem sive Comissarium legitime constitutem in ---. nacula infra hospitium Dominorum Avocatorum de Arcubus in parochiam Sancti Benedicti prope Ripam ----- Dominum London notorio acrituat ad pecitonem magistri Willelmi ----notarij publici Procuratoris scritus supra nominate D(omin)na. Franciscae Wintour ad in praesentia magistri Simonis Sandys notarij publici procuratoris originalis supra nominata Thomae Brome Whorwood, armigeri curatoris praedicti super cujus sentiae prolatem dictus -----requisivit me Thomae ---Notarium publicum dicti Curiae Registrary deputatum tunc ibidem praesentem unum ve---- plura Testamento seu.  Testamentor exinde conficero ac tente ---- inforius nominator coram testimonium de super perhibero praesentibus tunc et ibidem venerabilius viris Guilielmo Oldys, Georgio Braunston et Thomae Ayloffe legum respective Doctoris dicta Curia advocatis ---- Magistris Everardo Exton, Thomas Tylott et Eduardo Shaw, notarij publicis dicta Curiae procuratribum Testibus super profatione sententiae.

 

William Whorwood and Charles Winter were mentioned in Thomas Monnington's Will but there is some mystery about Charles Winter junior as all Sir Charles Winter's children (except John) died in infancy and there is no record of a former marriage nor of the baptism of Charles at Lydney.

 

The Register of Lydney dated from 1678 shows twin sons William (buried 18.5.1681) and John, both baptised on 15.5.1681, a daughter Anne born in June 1683 and George buried on 23.7.1687.

 

Thomas Brome Whorwood may have been a son of Thomas Whorwood of Sandwell, Staffordshire and Ursula Brome of Holton, Oxfordshire who have a brass in the church of Holton which reads:

 

"Thomas Whorwood of Sandwell, Staffs, militi, chara coniux Ursula filia et haeres George Brome of Holton in Oxon, armigeri, et qua tres suscepit filios, filia q. duas.  Hoc sacrum amors memoriale cor de suo, prius impressum iam q. lapide hoc marmoreo expressum cum perpetuae memoriae.  Obit 22 September 1632 aged 52."

 

(This marble slab is in loving and eternal memory of Thomas Whorwood of Sandwell, Staffs, knight, loving husband of Ursula, daughter and heiress of George Brome of Holton in Oxfordshire, armiger and their 3 sons and 2 daughters.  Died 22nd September 1632 aged 52).

 

The Bromes appear to have held the manor of Holton and there is another brass on the wall of Holton church to a medieval William Brome.

 

Ursula, Lady Whorwood was in residence at Holton during the Civil War.

 

There is also a brass in the church of Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Gloucestershire of Sir William Leigh of Longborough, knight (d. 1631 aged 46), son of Rowland Leigh of Longborough and grandson of Sir Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London (d. 1571).  Sir William married Elizabeth (d. 1664), daughter of Sir Thomas Whorwood by whom she had 2 sons and 3 daughters (all three died in infancy).

 

The Brome family of Norfolk were related to the Winters of Barningham; Olive Winter was wife of Robert Brome (1445).

 

Alice Brome (bur. St. Dunstan's East) married Sir John Coventry, mercer buried at St. Mary, Bow.  Coventry was Richard Whittington's executor, mayor of London in 1425 & 1433.  According to the antiquarian Sydney Grazebrook, he was a Winter probably descended from John le Vinetier who held Coventry & Hardwicke.  The Whittingtons and fitzWarrens were Gloucestershire families; Robert de Coventry was vicar of Newland.

 

There was a family of Brome who were tanners of Bridge End, Warwick.  John Brome became lord of Baddesley Clinton.  His son Nicholas (d. 1517 & bur. Warwick) avenged his father's murder.

 

Legends grew up about Lady Frances Winter's extravagance but the forges in the Forest of Dean were mortgaged and she was fined for recusancy.  Her sons were supposed to have been led astray.

 

Lady Frances Winter married as her second husband Thomas Nevill or Neville, brother of Henry Nevill of Holt.

 

Lady Frances and Thomas Nevill were registered as English Nonjurors and Catholics after the 1714 Jacobite Rebellion.  The Bill regarding this was dated the 1st year of George I and described as "an Act to oblige Papists to register their names and real estate" (1716-1717).  The Non-Jurors' foreign estates were registered 12 months later.  The forfeited estates papers are in the Public Records.  A series of Wills in the register of non-jurors shows the relationships between these families.

 

Thomas Nevill of Lydney and Dame Frances Wintour, his wife - the manor of Lydney and c. in fee in Gloucester - £1,160.14s.8d (MS p.57).

 

Thomas Nevill and Dame Frances Wintour his wife - 2 freehold houses at Monmouth (MS.p.70).

 

Frances paid the highest fine for refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance to William II and she must have also paid fines for recusancy.

 

There is no doubt that the Winters of Lydney were Catholics.  When the old manor house, Lydney Park was demolished in 1873 Catholic missals, a communion cup and paten were found walled up in the corridor.  Both Sir John Winter and his son-in-law Benedict Hall of High Meadow were listed in the Catholics records.

 

The Napiers and Nevilles served the exiled Stuarts and are listed in "The Jacobite Peerage" compiled by Melville Henry Massue, Marquis de Ruvigny & Raineval (1868-1921) as follows:

 

Household Appointments- James III & VIII & Mary of Modena 16.9.1701-21.6.1706

01.03.1702 - Francis Neper to be Gentleman of the Privy Chamber.

12.02.1702 - Walter Strickland "saving his rank next to Thomas Neville" to be

                    Gentlemen of the Bedchamber.

17.11.1701 - Mary Neville to be laundress to Her Royal Highness Princess Louisa.

13.09.1706 - Thomas Napier to be Gentleman of the Bedchamber.

17.10.1701 - Thomas Neville to be Groom of the Bedchamber.

 

Military Naval Commissions 7.6.1689-11.6.1759

Lt.Col. Napier, June 1692 - 22.12.1693 with the English at Le Havre under Col. Skelton.

 

Thomas Nevill, son of William Nevill died "sin prole" (without heirs) in 1722-3.

 

The inscription on the tomb of his wife Frances at St. Pancras, Middlesex reads: "Here lyeth the Body of Lady Frances Wintour, widdow of Sr. Charles Wintour of Lydney in Gloucestershire and late wife of Thomas Nevill Esq., of Holt in Leicestershire who departed this life the 14th day of December 1720 in the 69th year of her age R.I.P."

 

The church was St. Pancras Old Church in St. Pancras Road about a quarter of a mile north west of St. Pancras Station.  The heraldic portion of the ledger stone near the chancel steps has two impaled coats of arms, one on a lozenge, the other on a shield.  On the lozenge is "sable, a fesse ermine (Wintour) impaling "a cross engrailed between four roses" (Burton?).  On the shield is "gules, a cross ermine" (Neville of Holt) impaling "engrailed cross and roses."  ["Survey of London" Vol. XIX, pp.87-88].

 

In her Will dated December 11th, 1720 she mentions her nieces Frances, widow of John Tasburgh of Flixton and Dame Margaret Conyers.

 

"The manor of Lydney was granted in fee by Queen Elizabeth to Sir William Wintour, Vice-Admiral of England for his services against the Spanish Armada in 1588.  He built the stately manor house called the White Cross which during the Civil War was garrisoned by Sir John Wintour, his grandson, one of the most strenuous supporters of the Royal cause but at last it was deserted and set on fire" [Bigland ii 155-7; Nicholls "Leicestershire" ii 730; Rudder "Gloucestershire" 527; Close Roll 7 Geo. Pt. 22-10].

 

Henry Nevill of Holt-on-the-Hill entailed his estates [Leicester MS p.67-8].  He also held a house in Middlesex in 1708.

 

He was son of William Nevill by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Gilbert Kniveton, baronet, of Mircaston, Co. Derby and his wife Margaret who died in 1723.  Henry had issue 2 sons and 2 daughters; in his Will dated January 28th 1726, he gave the care of a lunatic son to his daughter Lady Mary Migliorucci, wife of the Right Honourable Peter Joseph, Count Migliorucci, Knight of St. Stephens [Nicholas "Leicestershire" ii Close Rolls 2 George II. pt. 19-7].

 

John Tasburgh held the manors of South Elmham and Flixton Hall, Suffolk and married Frances, daughter of Henry Nevill of Holt.  His widow died in 1728.

 

Fig. 111 - Nevill, Napier & Tasburgh.

 

George Napier (d. 4.9.1671 aged 54) = Margaret Ardern of Kertlington, Oxon (d. 24.4.1675, aged 64) >:

a. Margaret Napier = Henry Nevill of Holt, Leicester.

b. Frances Napier = (1) Sir Charles Winter = (2) Thomas Nevill of Holt.

c. Mary Napier (d. 29.3.1672 aged 21).

 

Nevills of Nevill Holt near Market Harborough were lords of Pickhill manor, North Riding of Yorkshire, came to Rolleston, Nottingham and inherited Holt, Leicestershire by marriage.

 

William Nevill of Rolleston (d. 1510) = 1474 Katherine, d/h. of Thomas Palmer of Holt > gt. grandson Thomas Nevill I (b. 1501), ward of Henry VII & friend of Thomas Cromwell, JP & sheriff  = (1) Katherine Foljambe (obsp) = (2) Clara = (3) Margaret (obsp), d. of Sir Edward Fiennes.  By (2) > Mary Nevill = Thomas Smyth of Cressing Temple, Essex who took the name of Nevill > son Thomas Nevill II (d. 1636) > Henry Nevill (b. 1596, d. 1665), JP, held Nevill Holt & Cressing Temple = 1614 (1) Alice (d. 1652), d. of Sir John Dackombe = (2) Ursula, widow of Sir Thomas Markham > By (1) William Nevill in household of Mary of Modena = Elizabeth, d. Sir Gilbert Kniveton of Mircaston, Derby by his wife Margaret >:

(1) Thomas Nevill (d. 1722-3) named in his neice Frances' Will = when she was aged

     65 Francis née Napper/Napier (d. 1720), widow of Sir Charles Wintour.

(2) Henry Nevill II (b. 1643, d. 1723), went to France 24.5.1679 = 1673 Margaret

     Napper/Napier >:

     a. Margaret Nevill = Sir Basil Conyers of Gt. Stoughton, Hunts

     b. Anne Nevill, a nun

     c. Frances Nevill = John Tasborough of Flixton Hall, Suffolk >:

        A. Margaret Tasburgh = ? > Margaret Frances.

        B. John Tasburgh bur. Bordeaux.

     d. Mary Nevill = Count Peter Joseph Migliorucci, an Florentine banker

     e. George Nevill, an idiot (b. 1686)

     f. Thomas Nevill (b. 1688, d. 1723 when aged 29).

 

When Frances died 3 years after her marriage, her estate was sold for £240,000.  Thomas died 3 years later in 1723 and his father Henry Nevill II in 1728, leaving £12,000.  His daugher Margaret's husband Sir Basil Conyers tried to sieze the Nevill estates but failed.  ["The Nevills of Nevill Holt, a Leicestershire Catholic Family" - Bernard Elliott, ECA].

 

John Tasburgh of Flixton's Will was dated 1st November 1698 and was proved by his widow Frances (née Nevill) on 19.9.1719.  In her Will of 27.6.1724, proved the following 20th July she requested:

 

"I desire burial at Holt about midnight, my heart to be sent over to Bordeaux in France and deposited in the same chapel there where my son John lies interred, over whose body is at white marble stone and a black marble stone set over it."

 

She named her aunt Mrs Catherine Matthews, her friend Frances, wife of William Woolfe of the parish of St. George the Martyr, Co. Middlesex "who is to educate and be guardian to Margaret Frances, daughter of my daughter, Margaret Tasburgh deceased."  Others named were her father Henry and uncle Thomas Nevill, aunt Dame Frances Wintour, niece Harriet Conyers, cousin Percy Markham and kinswoman Napier.

 

Her daughter Margaret Tasburgh described herself in her Will of 26.11.1720 (proved 21.7.1721) as "now residing in Dublin and only surviving daughter of John Tasburgh of Flixton."

 

In Count Migliorucci's Will dated 18.12.1723, he is described as a merchant of Florence.  His wife Mary Nevill in her Will dated 6.3.1735 left her estate to her son.

 

Percy Markham of Spinkhill named in his Will two cousins Cosmas Nevill of Holt and his son Charles Nevill who was a testator, godson and William Fitzwilliam described as "living with my nephew Conquest."  The executors were his nephews Edward Markham and legacies were left to Lady Barlow, Vincent Eyre of Sheffield and Vincent Eyre of Dronfield-Woodhouse (15.8.1751-11.9.1753).  The Eyres of Hassop, Derbyshire and Leicestershire were confirmed Catholics.  Henry Eyre of Grays Inn, was a lawyer for the Catholics in 1716, he was the third son of Thomas Eyre of Hassop and half-brother of Rowland Eyre.  His mother was Mary Bedingfield of Derby from another strongly Catholic family.

 

William Fitzwilliam, father of John, named his son George, cousin Percy Markham, daughter Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Ellerker, sister Elizabeth, wife of Edward Monson and son George Monson.

 

Henry Nevill I was made guardian of Francis, 3rd son of John Monson.  John Monson (1638) of Northorpe, Lincolnshire married secondly Mary, daughter of William Fitzwilliam of Glaxby.  ["A List of Monumental Brasses in the British Isles" - Mills Stephenson].

 

Another Papist listed, Robert Throckmorton, baronet of Coughton, Warwickshire and Weston Underwood, Buckinghamshire, held the manor of Buckland, Berkshire in right of his wife Dame Mary and an estate at Hurst, Buckinghamshire in trust for the 3 daughters of Martin Wollascott (who married Mary Throckmorton, Robert's sister).  Robert was son of Francis Throckmorton by Anne, daughter of John Monson of Kinnersley, Surrey (of the family of William Monson of the English Navy).  Robert Throckmorton married Mary, sister and heiress of Sir John Yate of Buckland.

 

He also held a life estate at Bampton, Oxfordshire, Ashford Bowdler, Shropshire, the manors of Oversley and Coughton, Warwickshire and Chaddesley-Corbett, Worcestershire.

 

Weston Underwood had a Catholic Register of births, deaths and marriages during the times that Catholics could only marry, baptise their children and be buried by Anglican clergymen under the rescusancy laws.  The Throckmortons of Weston Underwood probably protected many Catholics in the area.

 

"Bury'd 8.March 1720-1.  Sir Robert Throckmorton.  A person of a good charitable temper extremely lamented by all that knew him, both rich and poor. He dyed an unexpected but I hope not unprovided death.  Sweet Jesus grant him an eternal rest."

 

"7th Mary 1722 - Dyed the Lady Mary Throckmorton having received all the rites of ye Church.  Requiesat in pace".

 

Fig. 112 - Monson

 

Sir John Monson (d. 1593) of South Carlton, 2 miles from Lincoln = Jane Dighton >:

(1) Thomas Monson.

(2) John Monson.

(3) Sir Robert Monson.

(4) William (b. 1567-8, bur. St. Martin's-in-the-Fields 13.2.1642-3) = Dorothy, d. of

     Richard Wallop of Southampton and/or ___ Goodwin, widow of Richard Smith of

     Shelford >:

     (a) John Monson born 10.9.1597 ("Northamptonshire Peerage" - Bugbrooke) =

         Anne Mayne in 1641 > Anne Monson = Sir Francis Throckmorton of

         Coughton, Warwickshire.

(b) William Monson, Baron Monson of Bellingard Limerick, Viscount Catlemaine

     (b. 2.2.1599-1600 in London = Margaret, d. of James Stuart, earl of Murray,

     second wife & widow of the earl of Nottingham whose page he had been > son

     obsp.

(c) Francis Monson baptised St. Giles, Cripplegate on 30.1.1607-8 died young.

(d) Anne Monson baptised 27.2.1600-2 in Boston, Lincolnshire.

(e) Elizabeth Monson baptised St. Dunstans-in-the-West on 27.6.1605.

(f) Jane Monson = Sir Francis Howard of Lingfield (the earl of, Nottingham's

     nephew)

6 other daughters.

 

William Monson senior, third son of Sir John Monson, was born about 1567-8.  He entered Balliol College, Oxford in May 1581 when he was 14.  In September 1583, just before he was 17, he ran away to sea, served as a volunteer in the Armada campaign and then entered the royal navy on the Queen's pinnace "Charles" after a period of privateering.

 

He was taken prisoner at sea by the Spanish, forced to become a galley slave and imprisoned in Lisbon Castle in July 1592 but was released on 12.7.1592 without payment of any ransom so was later suspected of secretly dealing with Spain.

 

His father left him estates in Lincolnshire.  The manor of Harwicke and lands in Yngham were left to his brother John.  Both properties later passed to his brother Sir Robert Monson who probably purchased them when William bought Kinnersley, Surrey.  William had a house adjoining the west gate of the Charterhouse that opens into the older churchyard (Malcolm "London Redivivium" I p.433).  He also held Skegness and the crown manor of Gimingham (which included Sidestrand, Overstrand and extended to Cromer, Norfolk) passed to him after the death in 1620 of Francis Southwell, relative of Sir Robert Southwell of Wood Rising.

 

In early 1595 William Monson senior married Dorothy, eldest daughter of Richard Wallop of Southampton but Bugbrooke in "Northamptonshire Peerages" gives his wife as the daughter of Goodwin, widow of Richard Smith of Shelford.  They had 5 sons Thomas, Francis, John, William and Robert and 9 daughters.

 

In 1595 William Monson served with William Parker in the "Rainbow" under Robert Devereaux, earl of Essex during the attack on Cadiz and was knighted by Essex or Howard afterwards.

 

He quarrelled with his friend, the earl of Cumberland, in about 1597-8.

 

In 1600, Robert Devereaux, 2nd earl of Essex (Frances Howard's father-in-law) had openly expressed his belief that Robert Cecil was taking Spanish bribes.  It was thought to have been malignant slander at the time but later information substantiated his claim.

 

Lord Northampton was in Philip of Spain's pay in as early as 1582 and Sir Charles Cornwallis, ambassador in Madrid wrote to Robert Cecil of his suspicions that Monson was in Spain's pay which the Dutch also suspected.

 

After Essex's fall in 1600 or just before, he joined the Howard faction and by their influence, he became one of Sir Robert Cecil's followers.  He soon met Sir Richard Leveson, son-in-law of Charles Howard, earl of Nottingham, the Lord Admiral and in 1602-3 he sailed with Leveson.

 

Monson already knew Henry Howard, earl of Northampton (to whom he was introduced by Thomas Monson, his brother) and Thomas Howard, earl of Suffolk married to Catherine Knevett of Malmesbury.  Monson became MP for this town between 27.1.1601-19.12.1601.

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