Jane Berkeley (Stanhope) of Rampton

Jane Stanhope was the daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope of Shelford, Nottinghamshire (1502-x. February 26, 1552) and Anne Rawson (1513-February 20, 1587/8). After her father was executed for treason, the family was allowed to remain at Shelford Priory. Jane married first, Sir Roger Townshend of Raynham, Norfolk (1543-1590), by whom she had two sons, Sir John (1568/9-August 2, 1603) and Robert. She inherited a life interest in the Townshend estates and later bought most of the land her son John had inherited. Her second husband was Henry Berkeley, 7th baron Berkeley (November 26, 1534-November 26, 1613). They were married on March 9, 1597/8 in St. Giles Cripplegate, London. They had no children but when her son died in 1603, Jane obtained the warship of her eldest grandson, Roger (November 1595-January 1, 1637). Correspondence to and from Jane and numerous other written records, such as her household accounts for 1591-3 and the inventory taken of the furnishings in her London house in 1614, are extant in the Bacon-Townshend Collection at the Folger Shakespeare Library. In 1602-5, Jane built Ashley House in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Shortly before her death, she purchased a baronetcy for her grandson. Her will is dated July 20, 1617 and was proved March 10, 1617/18 by Sir Roger Townshend.