George Knightley of Frating

Died d.s.p. George Knightley was the last male of this branch of the family. A member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers.

http://www.oxford-shakespeare.com/Chancery/C_54-1095_Part_25_Kn.pdf

SUMMARY: The document below is the copy on the Close Rolls of a recognizance in the amount of £1000 acknowledged by Oxford to George Knightley of Frating on 27 March 1580 in connection with indentures of the same date for the sale of the manor of Gutteridge. For the fine in the Court of Common Pleas dated 18 April 1580 by which clear title to the manor of Gutteridge passed from Oxford to Knightley, see TNA CP 25/2/131/1677/22ELIZIEASTER, Item 6. A life estate in the manor of Gutteridge had been allotted to the 16th Earl’s brother, Geoffrey de Vere, by the private Act of Parliament of 23 January 1552 which restored the 16th Earl’s lands to him after Somerset’s extortion (see TNA WARD 8/13 and HL/PO/PB/1/1551/5E6n35). For the nuncupative last will and testament, dated 3 April 1572, of Geoffrey de Vere, see ERO D/DABW 38/187

Edward, Earl of Oxford, Lord Great Chamberlain of England, acknowledged himself to owe to George Knightley of Frating in the county of Essex, esquire, one thousand pounds of good & lawful money of England, to be paid to the same George or his designated attorney. Also clear title to the manor of Gutteridge Hall, Essex, passed from Oxford to Knightley.

The George Knightley who purchased the manor of Gutteridge from Oxford would appear to have been the George Knightley of London, gentleman, whose will was probated on 29 January 1608 (see TNA PROB 11/111, ff. 29-30). His wife was the sister of Edmund Pyrton, esquire, whose wife Constance (nee Darcy) was Oxford’s first cousin.

William Knightley of Norwich (died 1548) married Agnes, sister of Sir Nicholas Hare, Knight, Master of the rolls, who survived him.

Children were all under age & last 3 daughters unmarried when will was written in 1547: George (son & heir), Letitia, Wynefryd, Awdry, & Catherine.

1. Winfred (d aft 1569) married Robert Coke, Esq.
2. Ethedrede or Awdry married Thomas Gawdrie, Sr
3. Catherine married Reginald Rowse, Esq.

He had another daughter Letitia, his eldest, married 1st to ---- Clypesbye of Owby (?) & 2ndly to William Cardinal of Great Bromley, & had issue by him.

This family of Knightley bore for their arms, quarterly, or and ermine on the 1st & 4th, 3 pallets gules.

• https://archive.org/details/visitationsofess13byumetc/page/66/mode/...
• “Miscellanea genealogica et heraldica, Volume 1.” By Joseph Jackson Howard. Page 97. GoogleBooks, Page 98 GoogleBooks
• Barton Turf history project, by Anthony Norris PDF document, page 10
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158283742/george-knightley