Sir Christopher Curwen, of Workington

Christopher Curwen (MP)

Christopher Curwen (died 1450) was an English soldier, administrator and politician.

He was the son of Sir William Curwen of Workington, Cumberland and his first wife Alice. He succeeded his father in 1403 and was knighted by 1404.

He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Appleby in September 1397, for Cumberland in November 1414, 1423, 1425, 1427, 1431 and 1432.[1]

He was appointed High Sheriff of Cumberland for 1415–16, 1423–24, 1427–28, 1433–34, 1437–38 and 1444–45. He was also a Justice of the Peace for Cumberland from 1435 to 1439 and 1443 to 1448.

From 1417 he saw military service under John, Lord Neville, in Henry V’s second expedition against the French, as leader of 44 lances and 113 archers. He was made keeper of the castle of Danville in Normandy and in 1419 he and his male heirs were granted in perpetuity the castle of Cany-en-Caux and the lordship of Caux, which had been confiscated from the Duke of Bavaria.

He died in 1450 and was buried at Workington church. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir John Huddlestone of Millom Castle; they had two sons. He was succeeded by his elder son, Thomas.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Curwen_(MP)

_______________________________

• CURWEN, Christopher (d.1450), of Workington, Cumb.
• s. and h. of Sir William Curwen* by his 1st w. Ellen. m. Elizabeth (d. aft. 1468), da. of Sir John Huddlestone of Millom castle, 2s. inc. Thomas†. Kntd. by June 1404.1
• Offices Held
  • Sheriff, Cumb. 1 Dec. 1415-30 Nov. 1416, 13 Nov. 1423-6 Nov. 1424, 7 Nov. 1427-4 Nov. 1428, 5 Nov. 1433-3 Nov. 1434, 7 Nov. 1437-3 Nov. 1438, 6 Nov.1444-4 Nov. 1445.
  • Capt. of Danville, Normandy 1417.2
  • Commr. of inquiry, Cumb. Feb. 1427 (damage to a watercourse at Carlisle); array Oct. 1429, Mar. 1430, July 1437, Nov. 1448.
  • Envoy for the enforcement of a truce with Scotland 12 July 1429; to correct violations of truce 25 Oct. 1429; renew a truce and correct past infringements 5 Feb. 1436; grant letters of safe conduct 20 Apr. 1437; conserve a truce 31 Mar. 1438; take oaths for the observance of a truce 16 May 1442, 16 May 1444.3
  • J.p. Cumb. 26 May 1435-Nov. 1439, Apr. 1443-Feb. 1448.
  • Assessor of a tax, Cumb. Jan. 1436.
• Christopher must still have been a comparatively young man when his father, Sir William, secured his election to the September Parliament of 1397 as one of the burgesses for Appleby. Sir William, a loyal adherent of Richard II, was himself returned as a shire knight for Westmorland, and clearly wished to marshal as much support as possible for the King in the Lower House. King Richard was, indeed, able to strike back at his former enemies, the Lords Appellant of 1388, in the Parliament, although before long he himself had been deposed by Henry of Bolingbroke, and the house of Lancaster was firmly in the ascendant. The political changes of 1399 had unfortunate consequences for the Curwens, because Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland, who had assisted Bolingbroke in his coup d’état, wished to exploit his position as feudal overlord of their manors of Workington, Seaton and Thornthwaite. Although he decided to moderate his initially aggressive conduct towards Sir William and his son by offering them patronage and a place in his retinue, the earl was still determined to secure a reversionary interest in the manors for himself and his heirs. Sir William had no alternative but to comply, although the agreement made by him, in May 1401, did at least provide Christopher with an annuity of £5 for life, with the promise of ten marks p.a. when he became a knight. In the event, the failure of the successive rebellions staged by the Percys against Henry IV freed Christopher from all further obligations, and he entered his inheritance, in 1403, without the fear that it might one day be claimed by his predatory neighbours. He had been knighted by June 1404, when he witnessed a deed for Sir Robert Muncaster*; and it was at about this time that one of his kinsmen confirmed his title to the manor of Thornthwaite. Not much evidence of his activities over the next few years has survived, although he evidently then struck up a friendship with the Cumbrian landowner, (Sir) John Skelton*, for whom he attested conveyances of property. His appearance, in 1410, with Sir John Lamplugh* as one of the arbitrators who were to decide the boundaries of the lordship of Frizington does, however, suggest that he occupied a position of some consequence in the local community.4
• Sir Christopher was first elected to Parliament as a shire knight in the autumn of 1414, and began his administrative career as sheriff of Cumberland one year later. While in office he offered sureties of £200 on behalf of William Blenkinsop* in the court of Chancery. He enjoyed a reputation for prowess in the lists which earned him a place in the team of English knights led by John, Lord Clifford, against the Scots at Carlisle shortly afterwards. He took to the field in earnest in 1417 as a member of the retinue commanded by John, Lord Neville, in Henry V’s second expedition against the French. As the leader of a personal following of 44 lances and 113 archers, he was made keeper of the castle of Danville in Normandy, but his real reward came two years later, in February 1419, when he and his heirs male were granted the castle of Cany-en-Caux in perpetuity, along with the lordship of Caux, which had been confiscated from the duke of Bavaria. Sir Christopher made a brief visit to England in the following October, as he was then present among the witnesses to the baptism of (Sir) John Skelton’s grandson and namesake at Branthwaite in Cumberland, but he must have gone back to the theatre of war for at least a short while longer. He was probably still overseas when the two manors of Bampton Patrick and Bampton Skews in Westmorland came into his hands, perhaps in the right of his wife, Elizabeth Huddlestone. Later evidence refers to his continued presence in France during the reign of Henry VI, although his administrative responsibilities in England were such as to suggest that his service was in fact of limited duration.5
• Sir Christopher attested his own return to the Parliament of 1423 and was actually made sheriff of Cumberland for a second time while the Commons were still in session. The same pattern of events, leading first to his presence at his own election as a shire knight and then to his almost immediate appointment as sheriff occurred in 1427; and he participated in the parliamentary elections of 1429 and 1435 as well. His decision not to put himself forward as a candidate in 1429 was probably influenced by problems arising from a dispute with Hugh Salkeld II* over the extension of his park at Thornthwaite, since the matter was then under arbitration and he clearly wished to remain at home while depositions were being taken from the parties involved. He and Salkeld had previously acted together as trustees of land in Lancashire, and thus contrived to settle their disagreement amicably enough. Sir Christopher was, therefore, again free to attend the Parliaments of 1431 and 1432, although from then onwards his horizons became more limited, and it was his elder son, Thomas, whom he helped to secure a seat in 1435. During his fourth term as sheriff of Cumberland, in May 1434, he took the general oath that he would not support anyone who disturbed the peace. He gave evidence at an inquisition post mortem held at Carlisle in the following January on the estates of Sir Peter Tilliol*, and, recognizing that his military career was now well behind him, he decided soon afterwards to farm out his possessions in France at a rent of 100 marks p.a. for the next seven years. By the terms of this contract, his second son, William, was to receive a separate annuity of 40 marks, direct from Cany-en-Caux. As a professional soldier who spent most of this period campaigning in Normandy, William clearly preferred such an arrangement. Meanwhile, the death in 1441 of his own younger brother, John, sometime governor of Porchester castle, may have strengthened Sir Christopher’s resolve to seek retirement, although he did serve a sixth term as sheriff in 1441, when he was already well advanced in years. By then he had settled a substantial part of his English estates upon his elder son, offering sureties worth no less than 1,000 marks to Sir John Pennington that Thomas would eventually succeed to all of them. Thomas had married Alice, the daughter of (Sir) Robert Lowther*; and it looks as if this undertaking, made in about 1443, marked the betrothal of their own young son, Christopher, to one of Pennington’s daughters.6
• In December 1446, Sir Christopher was excused all further administrative responsibilities and appointments because of his ‘great age and services to Henry V and the King (Henry VI) in the wars in France and Normandy’, but he still continued to sit on the local bench and to serve on royal commissions for another two years. He died shortly before July 1450, and was buried at Workington parish church, under a fine tomb which depicted him in effigy wearing full armour and the ‘SS’ livery collar of the house of Lancaster. His widow, Elizabeth (who was eventually buried beside him), leased the manor of Thornthwaite and her other dower properties to her elder son for a rent of £20 a year and a promise of full board and lodging. She retained control of her own inheritance in Bampton Patrick until 1468, when she granted the annual revenues of £65 to William Curwen, one of her grandsons. Thomas Curwen pursued a similar career to that of his father, being active for many years in local administration.7
• From: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/cu... __________________________
• Sir Christopher Culwen1
• M, #218706, b. before 1382, d. 17 July 1453
• Last Edited=24 Feb 2007
• Sir Christopher Culwen was born before 1382 at Workington Hall, Cumberland, England.1 He was the son of Sir William Culwen and Elena le Brun.1 He died on 17 July 1453 at Workington Hall, Cumberland, England.1 He was buried at St. Michael's, Workington, Cumberland, England.1
• Children of Sir Christopher Culwen and Elizabeth Hudleston
  • 1.William Curwen1
  • 2.Sir Thomas Curwen+1 b. 1402, d. a 1473
• Citations
• 1.[S146] John F. Curwen, A History of the Ancient House of Curwen of Workington in Cumberland (Kendal, Cumberland, U.K.: Titus Wilson & Co., 1928). Hereinafter cited as History of Curwen in Workington.
• From: http://www.thepeerage.com/p21871.htm#i218706 _____________________________
• Christopher CURWEN of Workington (Sir)
• Born: ABT 1380, Workington, Cumberland, England
• Died: 17 Jul 1450
• Notes: Like his father he represented his county in several parliaments. He was High sheriff of Cumberland in the second and twelfth years of the reign of Henry VI.
• Father: William CURWEN of Workington
• Mother: Margaret CROFT
• Married: Elizabeth HUDDLESTON (b. ABT 1388) (dau. of Richard Huddleston and Sybill Croft)
• Children:
  • 1. Thomas CURWEN (Sir)
  • 2. Mabel CURWEN
• http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/CURWEN.htm#Christopher CURWEN of Workington (Sir)1 ____________
• Christopher Curwen1
• M, d. 17 July 1450
• Christopher Curwen was born at of Workington, Cumberland, England. He married Elizabeth Huddleston. Christopher Curwen died on 17 July 1450.
• Family Elizabeth Huddleston
• Child
  • Thomas Curwen+ d. 1464
• Citations
• 1.[S10951] Unknown author, Magna Charta Barons, by Wurts, p. 513.
• http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p1179.htm#... ________________________
• The Curwens of Workington Hall and kindred families (1880)
• https://archive.org/details/curwensofworking00jack
• https://archive.org/stream/curwensofworking00jack#page/14/mode/1up
• The name of Gilbert occurs again in 1397, and, finally,
• https://archive.org/stream/curwensofworking00jack#page/15/mode/1up
• another mention is made of him in the Family Pedigree. He was twice married ; first to Alice, daughter of Sir Lowther ; she was the mother of William. His second wife was Isabella de Derwentwater, widow of Christopher Moresby ; a fact, I think, sufficiently proved by the Inquisition quoted below. I do not think that there were any children of this union.
• His son, William, seems early to have taken a very active and prominent part in the stirring events of his time. We first find mention of him in 1376, when he was appointed Constable of "Loghmaban Castle," .... etc. .... He was twice married ; the first time to Elyn, one of the three co-heiresses of Robert de Brun, of Drumburgh Castle, from whose family Brunstock took its name. By her he got a considerable property, consisting of one-third of Bothell, part of Torpenhow, and lands near Carlisle. It does not appear that he had any family by her, although
• https://archive.org/stream/curwensofworking00jack#page/16/mode/1up
• his descendants long continued to give as their own arms quarterly, 1 & 4 Curwen, 2 & 3 Brun, being azure, a lion rampant argent charged with five lozenges gules, langued and armed of the same. There may have been some connection between the Curwens and Bothell previous to this marriage, or the heiress may have been a ward of Sir Gilbert, for in the year 1357 John Coron (note the spelling) of Bothill was buried in the churchyard of Saint Michael, Torpenhowe. A list of the lands said to have been held by William Culwen under Maud de Percy, heiress of the Lucies, at the time of her death in 1398/9, is appended. Between 1399 and 1403 William had a grant from Henry, Earl of Northumberland, Constable of England, and Hotspur, his son, of all their rights in the Manors of Wyrkyngton, Seton, and Thornthawyte in Derwent felles ; and it is especially worthy of note that the grant is "Willmo de Curwen," being the first time we find in the recognized family an authenticated departure from the old spelling of Culwen. I gather from no mean authority that the endorsement "Wilyam de Curwen" is probably in the autograph of the grantee. Mons'r. William de Culwenne was summoned from Cumberland to the King's Privy Council in 1401. Sir Willam's second wife was Margaret, daughter of Sir John Croft, of Claughton, Lancashire, by whom he had, at least, one son, Christopher.
• Sir Christopher Curwen was Lord of Workington from 1404 to 1450, .... etc.
• https://archive.org/stream/curwensofworking00jack#page/18/mode/1up
• .... etc. He died July 17, 1450.
• His wife, Elizabeth de Hudelston, survived him. She was living 7 Edwd. IV (1468). Her survival to this late period clears up a difficulty which has occasioned Canon Knowles and myself much thought in connection with the arms on the monument. It will be observed that the arms at the head of the dexter side are those of Curwen impaling lozengy for Croft, being the arms of Christopher's father and mother ; the next are those of Curwen and Hudleston, his own and those of his wife ; the third coat Curwen only ; the fourth, Curwen impaling six annulets or, for Lowther, their son's arms and those of his wife ; and the last, Curwen impaling the eldest son of Pennington, who pre-deceased his father ; which last were the arms of Christopher, the grandson of the entombed pair, and those of his wife. He raised the monument, his grandmother
• https://archive.org/stream/curwensofworking00jack#page/19/mode/1up
• having survived to see him holding the estate, which fell into his hands about the year 1470. And so they lie, — .... etc.
• Sir Christopher was succeeded by his son Thomas, who was Sheriff of Cumberland 28 & 35 Henry VI, Knight of the Shire for that County 14, 20, 27 & 38, and for Westmorland 28th of the same reign. His wife, Anne, was daughter of Sir Robert Lowther. I quote below two
• https://archive.org/stream/curwensofworking00jack#page/20/mode/1up
• statements respecting him from the notes to the old pedigree.
• A second Christopher succeeded his father Thomas. His first wife was Anne, daughter of John, eldest son of Sir John Pennington, who pre-deceased his father. His second wife was Catherine, daughter of Sir Richard Salkeld, of Rosgill. .... etc. ________________
• Publications (1877)
• http://www.archive.org/details/publications05cumb
• http://www.archive.org/stream/publications05cumb#page/301/mode/1up
  • THE CURWENS OF WORKINGTON HALL
• His son William, seems early to have taken a very active and prominent part in the stirring events of his time. We first find mention of him in 1376, when he was appointed Constable of "Loghmaban Castle," a point of no common danger, for it had been taken by the Scots in 1349, ..... He was twice married ; the first time to Elyn, one of the three co-heiresses of Robert de Brun, of Drumburgh Castle, from whose family Brunstock took its name. By her he got a considerable property, consisting of one-third of Bothell, part of Torpenhow, and lands near Carlisle. It does not appear that he had any family by her, although his descendants long continued to give as their own arms — quarterly, I &4 Curwen, 2 & 3 Brun, being azure, a lion rampant argent, charged with five lozenges gules, langued and armed of the same. There may have been some connection between the Curwens and Bothell previous to this marriage, or the heiress may have been a ward of Sir Gilbert, for in the year 1357 John Coron (note the spelling) of Bothill was buried in the churchyard of St. Michael, Torpenhowe.§ A list of the lands said to have been
• http://www.archive.org/stream/publications05cumb#page/302/mode/1up
• held by William Culwen under Maud de Percy, heiress of the Lucys, at the time of her death in 1398-9, is appended.* ..... Sir William's second wife was Margaret, daughter of Sir John Croft, of Claughton, Lancashire, by whom he had, at least, one son, Christopher.
  • Sir Christopher Curwen was Lord of Workington from 1404 to 1450, nearly one half of an important century in the history of England. He was Sheriff of Cumberland 3 or 4 Hen. V., and 2, 6, 12, 16, and 23 Hen. VI., Burgess for Appleby 21 Richard II., Knight of the Shire for Cumberland 2 Hen. V., 2, 3, 6, 9, and 10 Hen. VI.§ I do not find any record of Sir Christopher having been present at Agincourt, but a Robert Corun is recorded on the roll as being one of the "retenu " of the Sr. de Harrington, along with Monsr. Aleyn fyt de Penyngton, Richard Hudelston, Richard Skelton, John Salkell, John Penyngton, Nicholas Lamplough, and other representatives of local families.II Sometime during the year 1417, "the sun shone fair on Carlisle wall," for there was to be a great tournament ......
  • http://www.archive.org/stream/publications05cumb#page/303/mode/1up
  • ..... It needs but little stretch of the imagination to see the victorious knight bearing a scarf of scarlet and silver, the colours of Elizabeth de Hudelston, bending to his saddle bow before that fair girl, the hue of whose face was changing from the pallor of terror to the crimson of joy and pride. .....
  • http://www.archive.org/stream/publications05cumb#page/304/mode/1up
  • ..... He died July 17th, 1450. His wife, Elizabeth de Hudelston, survived him. She was living 7 Edwd. IV. (1468).! Her survival to this late period clears up a difficulty which has occasioned Canon Knowles and myself much thought in connection with the arms on the monument.J It will be observed that the arms at the head of the dexter side are those of Curwen impaling lozengy for Croft, being the arms of Christopher's father and mother ; the next are those of Curwen and Hudleston, his own and those of his wife ; the third coat Curwen only ; the fourth, Curwen impaling six annulets, or, for Lowther, their son's arms and those of his wife ; and the last, Curwen impaling the eldest son of Pennington, who pre-deceased his father ; which last were the arms of Christopher, the grandson of the entombed pair, and those of his wife. He raised the monument, his grandmother having survived to see him holding the estate, which fell into his hands about the year 1470. And so they lie — .... _________________________

History of Workington

• The Curwens
• The Curwens, who were Lords of the Manor of Workington, were heavily involved in the First War of Scottish Independence. The Curwen family motto, "Si je n'estoy" ("If I had not been there"), is said to come from the words of Sir Gilbert (ii) de Curwen, whose late arrival with fresh troops recruited from his estates turned the course of the Battle of Falkirk (1298), giving King Edward victory.[9] It has been suggested that Gilbert waited until he knew who looked like winning before joining battle, because he had family supporting both sides in the conflict. It was at this battle that William Wallace was defeated and subsequently executed. It forms the storyline of the Hollywood film Braveheart.
• In 1306 Robert the Bruce was crowned King Robert I of Scotland. In 1307, The Calendar of Patent Rolls of King Edward I of England records his preparing for war against Robert the Bruce. He requests lords of the manor to provide ships, barges and 'find them in men and necessaries' to continue the war. It read:
  • ...to get ready empty ships and barges at Skymburneys, Whitothavene and Wyrkinton, and elsewhere by the shore in that county, and find them in men and necessaries to go to the parts of Are to repress the malice of Robert de Brus and his accomplices. Writ de intendendo in pursuance to the men of that county...Appointment of John du Luda, as captain and governor of the fleet from the port of Skynburnesse, Whitothavene and Wyrkinton...[10]
• The Curwens were again expected to provide support and troops to fight in the Second War of Scottish Independence.
• Sir Gilbert (iii) de Curwen (c. 1296–1370), received his knighthood on the battlefield at Crecy in 1346. He and his men fought alongside King Edward III of England as he attempted to seize the French throne after the death of Charles IV.[11] In 1379, Sir Gilbert (iv) de Curwen (died c. 1403) received a licence to fortify and crenellate the pele tower built by his father in Workington in 1362. Sir Gilbert is believed to have died in 1403 during the great pestilence (plague), which also killed his first son, Sir William (i), who inherited his title.[11] The Black Death is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of Europe's population, reducing the world's population from an estimated 450 million to between 350 and 375 million by 1400. This has been seen the cause of a series of religious, social and economic upheavals which profoundly affected the course of European history.
• Curwen tradition believes that at least one member of the family fought with Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The roll mentions a John Werkyngton.[12] This very unusual spelling matches with '...the manor of Werkyngton, co. Cumberland...' written in King Henry's Patent Rolls in 1405.[13] John may have been a younger Curwen son, a cousin or a man of standing from the community. The names of the thousands of archers and ordinary private soldiers are not on the roll.
• In 1428, Henry VI of England, granted Sir Christopher (ii) de Curwen (1382–1453), the Castle and land of Cany and Canyell in Normandy, France as a reward for "good service". In 1429, he returned to northern England to fight an invasion by the Scots. In 1442, he oversaw the truce between Henry VI of England and King James II of Scotland. The lands in Normandy were lost to the French in 1450.[14] Sir Christopher and his wife, Elizabeth Huddleston, are buried inside St Michael's Church, under a heavily carved tombstone bearing their effigies.
• Sir Thomas (iv) Curwen (c. 1494–1543) married Agnes, daughter of Sir Walter Strickland and great-granddaughter of Anne Parr. The royal blood of the Plantagenets came to the Curwen house.. according to the book Papers and Pedigrees by William Jackson (1892).[14]
• The Curwens appear to have provided material and physical support to both sides during the Wars of the Roses. Sir Thomas (ii) Curwen (c. 1420-c. 1473) was commissioned by King Henry VI to mobilise his forces to resist the rebellion of Richard, Duke of York at the beginning of the Wars. During the Wars the throne changed hands between the two houses and most able-bodied men, especially in the north of England, would have been forced into the conflict. King Edward IV of England of the House of York, later granted honours to the Curwen family, in acknowledgement of "great and gratuitous service". The war ended with the victory of the Lancastrians who founded the House of Tudor, which subsequently reigned over England and Wales for 118 years. .... etc.
• From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Workington _______________________________
• Sir Christopher Curwen
• Birth: 1382, England
• Death: 1450, England
• Christopher was the son of Sir William Curwen of Workington, Cumberland and his first wife Alice. He succeeded his father in 1403 and was knighted by 1404.
• He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir John Huddlestone of Millom castle; they had two sons.
• He was an English soldier, administrator and politician.
• He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Appleby in September 1397, for Cumberland in November 1414, 1423, 1425, 1427, 1431 and 1432.
• He was appointed High Sheriff of Cumberland for 1415–16, 1423–24, 1427–28, 1433–34, 1437–38 and 1444–45. He was also a Justice of the Peace for Cumberland from 1435 to 1439 and 1443 to 1448.
• From 1417 he saw military service under John, Lord Neville, in Henry V's second expedition against the French, as leader of 44 lances and 113 archers. He was made keeper of the castle of Danville in Normandy and in 1419 he and his male heirs were granted in perpetuity the castle of Cany-en-Caux and the lordship of Caux, which had been confiscated from the Duke of Bavaria.
• He died in 1450 and was buried at Workington church.
• He was succeeded by his elder son, Thomas.
• Family links:
• Spouse:
• Elizabeth Huddlestone Curwen*
• Burial: St Michael's Church, Workington , Workington, Allerdale Borough, Cumbria, England
• Find A Grave Memorial# 119633445
• From: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Curwen&GSfn=C... _________________________