The historian Lord Dacre dismissed RIchard Rich as a man "of whom nobody has ever spoken a good word".

Added by Janice Forbes a Wikipedia article on my 14th great grandfather who appears to have been a villain:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rich,_1st_Baron_Rich

'Worst' historical Britons named 1500 to 1600: Sir Richard Rich (Lord Rich of Leighs) (1496/7-1567)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4560716.stm

RICHARD RICH, first Baron Rich (1496?-1567), lord chancellor, second son of Richard Rich and Joan Dingley, his wife, was probably born in 1496, since early in 1551 he is officially described as fifty-four years of age and more. The family was of Hampshire origin, and the chancellor's great-grandfather, Richard Rich (d. 1469), a prominent member of the Mercers' Company, served as sheriff of the city of London in 1441. He left two sons, John (d. 1458), from whom are descended the baronets of the Rich family, and Thomas, grandfather of the lord chancellor. The visitation of Essex in 1512 represents the chancellor as second son of John Rich, who died on 19 July 1468, which is impossible. Robert, a brother of the chancellor, died in 1557.

Rich was born in the parish of St. Laurence Jewry, in the church of which several of his family were buried. Cooper states that he was at one time a member of Cambridge University, and in 1539 be was an unsuccessful candidate for the chancellorship of that university against the Duke of Norfolk. He was bred to the law, entered the Middle Temple, and formed an acquaintance with Sir Thomas More, a native of the same parish and member of the same inn. 'You know,' said More to Rich at his trial, 'that I have been acquainted with your manner of life and conversation a long space, even from your youth to this time; for we dwelt long together in one parish, where, as yourself can well tell (I am sorry you compel me to speak it), you were always esteemed very light of your tongue, a great dicer and gamester, and not of any commendable fame either there or at your house in the Temple, where hath been your bringing up.'1

http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/richardrich.htm

Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich was born circa 1496.1 He married Elizabeth Jenks, daughter of William  Jenks and Elizabeth  Adams.3 He died on 12 June 1567 at Rochford.1

    Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich gained the title of 1st Baron Rich.

Children of Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich and Elizabeth Jenks

   * Winifred Rich+3

   * Frances Rich+4 d. b 1580

   * Hugh Rich2 d. 1554

   * Edward Rich2

   * Richard Rich2

   * Margery Rich3

   * Agnes Rich3

   * Mary Rich3

   * Dorothy Rich3

   * Elizabeth Rich3

   * Ethelreda Rich3

   * Anne Rich3

   * Robert Rich, 2nd Baron Rich+1 b. c 1537, d. 27 Feb 1580/81

   * Nicholas Rich2 b. 1550, d. 1600

Citations

  1. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume X, page 774. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.

  2. [S3409] Caroline Maubois, "re: Penancoet Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 2 December 2008. Hereinafter cited as "re: Penancoet Family."

  3. [S22] Sir Bernard Burke, C.B. LL.D., A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire, new edition (1883; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1978), page 452. Hereinafter cited as Burkes Extinct Peerage.

  4. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume IV, page 78.

http://thepeerage.com/p17643.htm#i176428

-------------------------------------------------------------

RICH FAMILY

Richard RICH

Born: ABT 1370, London, Middlesex, England

Buried: 1415, St. Lawrence Jewry, London, Middlesex, England

Married: ¿?

Children:

1. Richard RICH (Sheriff of London)

Richard RICH (Sheriff of London)

Born: ABT 1400, London, Middlesex, England

Died: 1464, Will Proved

Buried: St. Lawrence Jewry, London, Middlesex, England

Father: Richard RICH

Mother: ¿?

Married: Catherine ?

Children:

1. Thomas RICH

2. John RICH

3. Margaret (Margery) RICH

4. Anne RICH

5. Catherine RICH

Margaret (Margery) RICH

Born: ABT 1430, London, Middlesex, England

Father: Richard RICH (Sheriff of London)

Mother: Catherine ?

Married 1: Thomas BOSTON ABT 1435, London, Middlesex, England

Married 2: John WALDEN

Anne RICH

Born: ABT 1434, London, England

Father: Richard RICH (Sheriff of London)

Mother: Catherine ?

Married: Son URSWICK

Catherine RICH

Born: ABT 1440, London, England

Father: Richard RICH (Sheriff of London)

Mother: Catherine ?

Married: William MARROW ABT 1460, London, England

Children:

1. Catherine MARROW (m. Robert Throckmorton of Coughton)

John RICH

Born: ABT 1408, London, England

Buried: 29 Jul 1458, Mercers Chapel, London, England

Father: Richard RICH (Sheriff of London)

Mother: Catherine ?

Married: Isabel Catherine RICH

Children:

1. John RICH

John RICH

Father: John RICH

Mother: Isabel Catherine RICH

Married: ¿?

Children:

1. Thomas RICH

Thomas RICH

Father: John RICH

Mother: ¿?

Married: Dau. SHAW (dau. of Sir Edward Shaw, Lord Mayor of London)

Children:

1. Richard RICH of Weld

Richard RICH of Weld

Father: Thomas RICH

Mother: Dau. SHAW

Married: Rachel NEWBOROUGH (dau. of Thomas Newborough of Berkly)

Children:

1. Edward RICH of Horndon

2. Robert RICH (d. AFT 1620)

Edward RICH of Horndon

Died: 1599

Father: Richard RICH of Weld

Mother: Rachel NEWBOROUGH

Married: Joan SAUNDERS

Children:

1. Robert RICH of Stondon (m. Elizabeth Dutton, dau. of Sir Thomas Dutton)

Thomas RICH

Born: ABT 1432, London, England

Father: Richard RICH (Sheriff of London)

Mother: Catherine ?

Married 1: Elizabeth (Main) MAYNE ABT 1464

Children:

1. Richard RICH

Married 2: Margaret ?

Richard RICH

Born: ABT 1470, London, England

Died: AFT 8 Sep 1503

Father: Thomas RICH

Mother: Elizabeth (Main) MAYNE

Married: Joan DINGLEY 1495

Children:

1. Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

2. Robert RICH

3. Hugh RICH (b. ABT 1500 - d. 1585)

4. Elizabeth RICH

Elizabeth RICH

Born: ABT 1502

Father: Richard RICH

Mother: Joan DINGLEY

Married: Charles WINGFIELD Children:

1. Henry WINGFIELD

2. William WINGFIELD

3. Anthony WINGFIELD of St. Clement's Dane

Richard RICH (1° B. Rich of Leez)

Born: BET 1490/1508, St Lawrence Jewry, London, Middlesex, England

Acceded: 26 Feb 1548

Died: 12 Jun 1567, Rochford, Essex, England

Buried: 8 Jul 1567, Felsted Church, Essex, England

Notes: See his Biography.

Father: Richard RICH

Mother: Joan DINGLEY

Married 1: Elizabeth JENKINS (b. 1510- d. 16 Dec 1558) (dau. of William Gynkes and Elizabeth Adams) BEF May 1536

Children:

1. Mary RICH

2. Hugh RICH

3. Elizabeth RICH

4. Audrey (Etheldreda) RICH

5. Dorothy RICH

6. Winifred RICH (B. North)

7. Robert RICH (2° B. Rich of Leez)

8. Frances RICH (B. Darcy of Chiche)

9. Dau. RICH

10. Nicholas RICH (b. 1550 - d. 1600)

11. Dau. RICH

12. Agnes RICH

13. Edward RICH

14. Richard RICH

Married 2: Elizabeth COLWELL

Associated with: ¿?

Children:

15. Richard RICH

Mary RICH

Born: ABT 1526, Enfield, England

Died: 8 Jan 1598

Father: Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth JENKINS

Married: Thomas WROTH (Sir) 1538

Children:

1. Robert WROTH (Sir Knight) (b. 1540 - d. 27 Jan 1605) (m. Susan Stonner)

2. Mabel WROTH (b. 1541 - d. AFT 1597) (m.1 Edward Aucher, Esq. - m.2 Richard Hardress)

3. Thomas WROTH (Sir Knight) (b. 1542 - d. AFT 1610) (m. Joan Bulmer) 4. Edward (Edmund) WROTH (b. 1546 - d. AFT 1573)

5. John WROTH (b. 1548 - d. AFT 1573)

6. Gerson WROTH (b. 1550 - d. AFT 1573)

7. Peter WROTH (b. 1552 - d. AFT 1573)

8. Elizabeth WROTH (b. 1554 - d. 14 Aug 1614) (m.1 George Mynne - m.2 Nicholas Butler)

9. Judith WROTH (b. 1556 - d. Mar 1614) (m. Robert Burgoyne)

10. Winifred WROTH (m. Thomas Goddard)

11. Anne WROTH

12. Mary WROTH (m.1 Isaac Hill - m.2 John Hussey)

13. Frances WROTH

14. Richard WROTH (b. 1566 - d. AFT 1573)

Hugh RICH

Born: 1529, England

Died: BEF 1555

Father: Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth JENKINS

Married: Anne WENTWORTH (B. Maltravers)

Elizabeth RICH

Born: ABT 1530, Cambridgeshire, England

Died: 17 Oct 1591, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England

Buried: 26 Oct 1591, South Chapel at Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England

Father: Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth JENKINS

Married: Robert PEYTON 12 Apr 1557, Cambridgeshire, England

Children:

1. John PEYTON (1º Bt.)

Audrey (Etheldreda) RICH

Born: ABT 1533, London, England

Father: Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth JENKINS

Married: Robert DRURY of Hawstead

Children:

1. William DRURY of Hawstead (Sir)

2. Henry DRURY of Lawshall

3. Thomas DRURY (living 1602)

4. Robert DRURY

5. Anne DRURY

6. Mary DRURY

7. Elizabeth DRURY

8. Susan DRURY

9. Winifred DRURY

10. Bridget DRURY

11. Dorothy DRURY

12. Audrey (Ethelreda) DRURY

Dorothy RICH

Born: ABT 1534, Kimpton, Hertfordshire, England

Father: Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth JENKINS

Married: Francis BARLYE ABT 1559

Winifred RICH (B. North of Kirtling)

Born: 1534, London, Middlesex, England

Died: 1578

Father: Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth JENKINS

Married 1: Henry DUDLEY (Sir) ABT 1552, Cambridgeshire, England

Married 2: Roger NORTH (2° B. North of Kirtling) 1555, London, Middlesex, England

Children:

1. Thomas NORTH (b. 1555)

2. Henry NORTH (Sir Knight)

3. John NORTH (3° B. North of Kirtling)

4. Mary NORTH (b. 1558)

Frances RICH (B. Darcy of Chiche)

Born: ABT 1539, Leez Priory, Essex, England

Died: BEF 3 Mar 1581

Father: Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth JENKINS

Married: John DARCY (2° B. Darcy of Chiche) ABT 1564, Chiche, Essex, England

Children:

1. Elizabeth DARCY (B. Lumley)

2. Thomas DARCY (1° E. Rivers)

Agnes RICH

Born: ABT 1545, Enfield, England

Father: Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth JENKINS

Married: Edmund MORDAUNT 1580, Greensted, Essex, England

Richard RICH

Born: ABT 1551, England

Father: Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: ¿?

Married: Jane (Anne) MACHELL 13 Dec 1574, St Mary Aldermar, London, Middlesex, England

Children: 1. Robert RICH

2. Margery RICH 3. Nathaniel RICH

4. Anne RICH

5. Anne RICH

6. Jane RICH

Jane RICH

Born: 1600, St Giles Crplega, London, England Father: Richard RICH

Mother: Jane (Anne) MACHELL Married: Thomas GRIMSDITCH ABT 1620, St Giles Crplega, London, England

Children: 1. Robert GRIMSDITCH

2. Francis GRIMSDITCH

Anne RICH

Born: ABT 1603 Father: Richard RICH

Mother: Jane (Anne) MACHELL Married: Percy BROWNE 1621

Children: 1. Nathaniel BROWNE

2. Robert BROWNE

Robert RICH (2° B. Rich of Leez)

Born: ABT 1537

Died: 27 Feb 1581

Father: Richard RICH (1º B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth JENKINS

Married: Elizabeth BALDRY BEF 25 Nov 1554

Children:

1. Robert RICH (1° E. Warwick)

2. Richard RICH (Hon.)

3. Frances RICH

4. Thomas RICH

Thomas RICH

Born: 1568, Compton, England

Father: Robert RICH (2° B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth BALDRY

Married: Anne BOURCHIER Children:

1. Bridget RICH 2. Susan RICH

Bridget RICH

Born: 1596, North Cerney, England Died: Stowell, England

Father: Thomas RICH Mother: Anne BOURCHIER

Married: James HOWE 23 Jul 1620, Gloucestershire, England Children:

1. Abraham HOWE 2. John HOWE

3. Richard HOWE

4. John Grubham HOWE

5. Susannah HOWE

Susan RICH

Born: 1615, Gloucester, England Father: Thomas RICH

Mother: Anne BOURCHIER Married 1: Thomas COOKE

Married 2: Edward BATHURST 1644 Children:

1. Lancelot BATHURST 2. Mary Jane BATHURST

3. Annabella BATHURST 4. Robert BATHURST

Married 3: Richard JORDAN 18 Sep 1674

Frances RICH

Notes: Essex Sessions Rolls, vol. XVII: Layer Marney, 23 Jul 1598. Frances, dau, of Sir Robert Rich, Lord Rich of Leez, and wife of Thomas Cammock, her children and servants were prevented from entering their pews at church by parishioners who assaulted them and locked the pews. (abstracted by English researchers Brian Higgins and Mary Gregg)

Father: Robert RICH (2° B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth BALDRY

Married: Thomas CAMMOCK

Children:

1. Martha CAMMOCK

2. Sussex CAMMOCK

3. Thomas CAMMOCK

Richard RICH (Hon.)

Died: 27 Feb 1580

Father: Robert RICH (2° B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth BALDRY

Married: Catherine KNYVETT (C. Suffolk)

Robert RICH (1° E. Warwick)

Born: ABT 1562

Acceded: 1618

Died: 24 Mar 1618, Felsted, Essex, England

Notes: See his Biography.

Father: Robert RICH (2° B. Rich of Leez)

Mother: Elizabeth BALDRY

Married: Penelope DEVEREUX (B. Rich) 1581 DIVORCED 15 Nov 1605

Children:

1. Robert RICH (2° E. Warwick)

2. Henry RICH (1º E. Holland)

3. Charles RICH (d. 1627)

4. Lettice (Lucy) RICH

5. Penelope RICH

6. Essex RICH

7. Isabel RICH

Married 2: Frances WRAY (C. Warwick) (dau. of Christopher Wray and Anne Girlington)

Lettice (Lucy) RICH

Died: AFT 1619

Notes: she married Sir George Cary of Cockington, Devon and then Sir Arthur Lake, and haddied by Jun 1619. Lady Cary is also called Lucy Rich.

Father: Robert RICH (1° E. Warwick)

Mother: Penelope DEVEREUX (B. Rich)

Married 1: George CAREY (Sir)

Married 2: Arthur LAKE (Sir)

Penelope RICH

Father: Robert RICH (1° E. Warwick)

Mother: Penelope DEVEREUX (B. Rich)

Married: Gervase CLIFTON

Essex RICH

Father: Robert RICH (1° E. Warwick)

Mother: Penelope DEVEREUX (B. Rich)

Married 1: Daniel FINCH

Children:

1. Mary FINCH

Married 2: Thomas CHEEKE

Children:

2. Anne CHEEKE

3. Essex CHEEKE (m. Edward Montague, 2° E. Manchester)

Isabel RICH

Notes: married twice (no names known); her portrait by Mytens, belonging to the Earl of Suffolk, is said to resemble her mother

Father: Robert RICH (1° E. Warwick)

Mother: Penelope DEVEREUX (B. Rich)

Married 1: Richard ROGERS

Married 2: John SMYTHE (Sir)

Robert RICH (2° E. Warwick)

Born: Jun 1587

Died: 19 Apr 1658, Felsted, Essex

Notes: See his Biography.

Father: Robert RICH (1° E. Warwick)

Mother: Penelope DEVEREUX (B. Rich)

Married 1: Frances HATTON (b. Jul 1590 - d. BEF 21 Nov 1623) (dau. of William Hatton and Elizabeth Gawdy) 12 Feb 1604/5

Children:

1. Anne RICH

2. Robert RICH of Leighs (b. 1611 - d. 1659)

3. Charles RICH (b. 1619 - d. 1673)

4. Essex RICH

5. Son RICH

6. Son RICH

7. Dau. RICH

Married 2: Eleanor WORTLEY (C. Sussex) (d. 1666) (dau. of Richard Wortley) (w.1 of Henry Lee - w.2 of Edward Radcliffe, 6º E. Sussex - m.4 Edward Montague, 2° E. Manchester) 30 Mar 1646, Hornsey, Middlesex

Children:

8. Charles RICH

9. Hatton RICH

10. Henry RICH

11. Lucy RICH

12. Frances RICH

13. Anne RICH

Anne RICH

Born: 1604

Died: 14 Feb 1642, Kimbolton, Hunts, England

Father: Robert RICH (2° E. Warwick)

Mother: Frances HATTON

Married: Edward MONTAGUE (2° E. Manchester)

Children:

1. Robert MONTAGUE (3º E. Manchester)

2. Frances MONTAGUE

3. Anne MONTAGUE

Henry RICH (1° E. Holland)

Born: ABT 1590

Died: 1648/9

Notes: See his Biography.

Father: Robert RICH (1° E. Warwick)

Mother: Penelope DEVEREUX (B. Rich)

Married: Isabel COPE ABT 1616

Children:

1. Frances RICH (B. Paget of Beaudasert)

2. Robert RICH (5º E. Warwick)

3. Susan RICH (C. Suffolk)

4. Isabel RICH

5. Mary RICH

Robert RICH (5º E. Warwick)

Born: ABT 1619, Kensington, London, Middlesex, England

Died: 16 Apr 1675

Father: Henry RICH (1º E. Holland)

Mother: Isabel COPE

Married 1: Anne MONTAGUE

Married 2: Elizabeth INGRAM (dau. of Arthur Ingram and Eleanor Slingsby)

Frances RICH (B. Paget of Beaudasert)

Died: 1672

Buried: 12 Nov 1672, West Drayton

Father: Henry RICH (1º E. Holland)

Mother: Isabel COPE

Married: William PAGET (5° B. Paget of Beaudasert) 28 Jun 1632, Kensington, London, Middlesex, England

Children:

1. William PAGET (6° B. Paget of Beaudasert)

2. Henry PAGET

Susan RICH (C. Suffolk)

Born: ABT 1627

Died: 19 May 1649, Kensington, London, Middlesex, England

Buried: Walden, Essex, England

Father: Henry RICH (1º E. Holland)

Mother: Isabel COPE

Married: James HOWARD (3º E. Suffolk) 1 Dec 1640, Kensington, London, Middlesex, England

Children:

1. Son HOWARD

2. Essex HOWARD

3. George HOWARD

4. Henry HOWARD

5. James HOWARD

RICHARD RICH'S DAUGHTER BY MISTRESS WAS:

'''Alice RICH'''

Born: ABT 1545, South Petherton, Somerset, England

Died: 22 Aug 1596, South Petherton, Somerset, England

Buried: 22 Aug 1596, South Petherton, Somerset, England

Married: Robert WHITE 1557, South Petherton, Somerset, England

Children:

1. Robert WHITE

2. Richard WHITE

3. John WHITE

4. Richard WHITE