Elyn Done

https://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p6194.htm...

Ellen Donne was born circa 1457 at Cheshire, England.1 She married David Middleton, Esq., son of Sir Robert Middleton and Katherine Dutton, circa 1477 at Weaverham, Cheshire, England.1

Comments

https://search.ancestry.com/collections/7836/records/347296

Lots of connections are made from parents Richard Donne and Katherine Legh - whose death is listed at 1531 - yet Ellen Donne is listed be born in 1542 - where is the disconnect.

Kathryn Shaw Elyn's father is Sir John Done, they are from Utkinton in Chester. go to Amazon books and download "the Heroines of Welsh History: Compromising Memoires…" It will delight you Kathryn

David Middleton, Receiver-General for North Wales, temp of Edward IV. and Richard III.

“David Myddelton who is styled Receiver of Denbigh 19 Ed. IV., and Valectus Coronas D“l Regis 2 Richard III.. paid his addresses to Elyn, daughter of Sir John Done of Utkinton and gained the lady’s afi'ections, but the parents preferred their relation Richard Done of Croton. The marriage was accordingly celebrated, which David having notice of, watched the groom leading his bride out of church, killed him on the spot, and then carried away his mistress and married her the same day, so that she was a maid, widow, and wife twice in one day.” (‘Tours in Wales,’ 1810, ii., 174.) Died before 18 January 13 Henry VII., as his wife is then styled his widow. 2nd husband.

Married Ellen, only da. of Sir John Done, Knt., of Utkinton, by Elizabeth, da. and sole heir of Thomas Weever of Weever, Cheshire, relict of Sir John Stanley, Knt. (Lady Done’s Inq. post mortem, 4 Henry VIII.) Ellen Done was widow of Richard Done of Croton, and granddaughter of Sir John Done, Knt., killed at the Battle of Blore Heath (Inq. post mortem 38 Henry VI.), and his wife Elizabeth, da. of Sir Peter Dntton, Knt., of Dntton. The Weevers descended in direct line from Henry de Weever, acknowledged Hereditary Forester, the Forest of Mondlem 55 Henry III. (See those pedigrees in Ormerod’s ‘Cheshire.’) Died at Denbigh on St. James’s Day, and there buried 18 Henry VIII (1526/7)

She married Sir Urian Brereton (3rd husband).

“Border Counties Worthies” By Enoch Robert Gibbon Salisbury. Page 200. GoogleBooks

MIDDLETON, Roger, founder of a very distinguished family of his name at Gwaenynog, in Denbighshire, was born at Chester, and was the eldest son of David Middleton, receiver of Denbigh (in the reign of Edward IV.), by Elyn, daughter of Sir John Done, of Utkintou, Cheshire. There is a remarkable story related by Mr. Pennant, in relation to this couple. David Middleton had fallen in love with Elyn Done, but her father gave her away to Richard Done, his kinsman, and the marriage between them was duly solemnized, but Middleton, having had notice of this, watched the bridegroom emerging from the Church, "killed him on the spot, and then carried his mistress away, and married her the same day, so that she was maid, widow, and twice wife in one day." The reader must take this tale upon trust, but the fact of the second marriage is undoubted, and also that the Welsh family alluded to have descended from it.

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The Heroines of Welsh History: Comprising Memoirs and Biographical Notices of the Celebrated Women of Wales ... Thomas Jeffery Llewelyn Prichard W. and F. G. Cash, 1854 - Wales - 586 pages. Page 187. GoogleBooks

ELYN DONE, OR ELLEN DWN, DAUGHTER OF SIR JOHN DONE OF UTKINTON, IN CHESHIRE—A MAID, TWICE A WIFE, AND A WIDOW THE SAME DAY

Elyn Done, the lady of this memoir, was the daughter of Sir John Done, and resided with her parents at Utkinton, in the county of Chester. Her affections had been won by a Welsh gentleman named David Myddelton, but her parents were strongly opposed to their union, and determined on ha»ing her married to her cousin Richard Done, of Croten, in their own immediate neighbourhood. This relative, however, Elyn held in absolute aversion—repulsed his advances, refused his offered hand and heart, ultimately denied her presence to him, and made no secret of her partiality for his rival David Myddelton. ....
.... With all the incredible exertions of David Myddelton and his friends to reach Utkinton in time to frustrate the schemes of his enemies, unfortunately, from the lateness of the intelligence he had received, he utterly failed to get there till he heard, with the utmost consternation, that the bridal party had been in church a considerable time. Almost frantic on discovering this state of things, while his followers kept in their saddles-wandering what would be his next movement, he was seen to spring from his horse and pace to and fro in violent agitation. Before he had taken many turns he was roused by the merry peals of the "marriage bells," while the wedding party were seen issuing from the porch of the church, preceded by the bride and bridegroom. No sooner were his eyes fixed on the melancholy bride, mechanically holding by the arm of the smirking1, insignificant-looking Richard Done, who strutted forward in all the triumphant pride of a bridegroom, than he turned deadly pale; but, all at once, as if suddenly possessed of the maddened spirit of a raging demon, the impetuous blood of the race of Ririd Vlaidd* seemed boiling in his veins. His sword was in his grasp, and seen flying from its scabbard as he rushed on the unhappy bridegroom, and rapid as the lightning flash thrust him through the heart. While the astounded guests and witnesses of the wedding seemed petrified at this tragic catastrophe, David Mydd.elton whisked off the now widowed bride towards his party, who, with their drawn swords, closed around them; he lifted her on his horse, and vigorously sprung into the saddle before her. In the greatest excitement David voiciferated the energetic monosyllable "on!" and, taking the lead himself, in an instant the whole party were in a violent gallop on their homeward course. Dashing their horses into the river Dee, they urged them forward, at the peril of being carried away by the rapidity of the powerful stream—yet, fortunately, imitating the caution intermingled with the daring of their leader, they waded and swam the sagacious, sure-footed animals, and got every one safe over without a single failure. Now secure within their native Cambrian territory, in brief space they were gently riding up the vale of Clewyd, where, at the abbey of Denbigh, Elyn became again espoused—but at this time in ties more enduring than those of the morning wedding.
» Ririd Vlaldd signifies the bloody wolf.
Thus was the gentle daughter of Sir John Done, in one brief day—the most terrible, if not the happiest of her existence, a maid, a bride, a widow, and again a wife.

References

• ” Miscellanea Genealogica Et Heraldica and the British Archivist”. “Middleton or Myddelton of Chirk Castle ...” page 213. GoogleBooks
• Glover, Robert. The visitation of Cheshire in the year 1580. Harleian Society. Pp, 85-6. Done of Utkinton Archive.Org No Ellen listed
• “Border Counties Worthies” By Enoch Robert Gibbon Salisbury. Page 200. GoogleBooks
• The Heroines of Welsh History: Comprising Memoirs and Biographical Notices of the Celebrated Women of Wales ... Thomas Jeffery Llewelyn Prichard W. and F. G. Cash, 1854 - Wales - 586 pages. Page 187. GoogleBooks

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See Peter Bartrum, https://cadair.aber.ac.uk/dspace/bitstream/handle/2160/5243/RHIRID%... (December 18, 2020; Anne Brannen, curator)