Sir Edward Darrell, MP, of Littlecote

b. 1465/66, s. of Sir George Darrell of Littlecote by 2nd w. Jane, da. of William Haute of Bishopsbourne, Kent. m. (1) Jane, da. of Sir Richard Croft of Croft Castle, Herefs., 2s. inc. Edmund 2da.; (2) by 12 Feb. 1493, Mary, da. of John Radcliffe, 6th Lord Fitzwalter; (3) 3 Apr. 1512, Alice, da. of one Flye of Suss., wid. of Edmund Stanhope, 1da.; suc. fa. 21 Mar. 1474. Kntd. 16 June 1487.2

Offices Held

Sheriff, Wilts. 1489-90, 1493-4, 1497-8, 1509-10, 1519-20; keeper, Hungerford park, Wilts. 1490-d.; master of the game, Aldbourne chase, Wilts. 1499-d.; j.p. Wilts. 1502-d., Berks. 1512-14; knight of the body by 1511-15 or later; commr. subsidy, Wilts. 1512, 1514, 1515, 1523, 1524, musters 1513, enclosures 1517; other commissions 1495-1505; v.-chamberlain, household of Queen Catherine of Aragon.3

Biography The Wiltshire branch of the ancient and widespread family of Darrell sprang from William Darrell, under treasurer of England in the reign of Richard II. His son Sir George Darrell, who became keeper of the great wardrobe to Edward IV, died early in 1474, leaving as his heir an eight year-old son Edward. The sole surviving inquisition shows that Sir George Darrell had held the manors of Hockwell and Putteridge Bury in Hertfordshire, but these were only a fraction of his property: in January 1478 the escheators of London, Berkshire and Wiltshire were ordered to restore the Darrell inheritance, including Littlecote and eight other manors in Wiltshire, to the use of Edward Darrell during his minority.4

Despite his Yorkist background, Edward Darrell prospered under Henry VII. He had barely come of age when he was knighted at the battle of Stoke, and in October 1489 he was described as the King’s servant when granted an annuity of £20. In Wiltshire, where he was first pricked sheriff a year before his uncle Constantine Darrell was, he quickly achieved an ascendancy which lent itself to abuse: while sheriff he seems to have committed various trespasses, and numerous depositions by the under keepers of Savernake forest, of which his brother-in-law John Seymour was warden, show him hunting with impunity over the King’s preserves. He none the less stood well with the King, before whom he jousted triumphantly at the celebration of Prince Henry’s creation as Duke of York in 1493.5

The accession of Henry VIII brought Darrell momentary risk in the form of an allegation that he and his nephew Henry Long were among those whom Edmund Dudley had summoned to London in an attempt to seize power. The danger past, he resumed his upward progress. In the late King’s funeral procession, through London to St. Paul’s, he bore the royal standard as ‘knight mourner’; two years later he was a pall-bearer at the burial of the infant Prince Henry; and in April 1512 the King made his customary gift of 6s.8d. at Darrell’s third marriage. In the following October Darrell was listed among the English captains who were to sail with the expedition to France, and although early in the next year the King wrote to him about military measures to be taken in Wiltshire he must afterwards have crossed to France, for in January 1514 he received wages as a King’s ‘spear’. In July 1517 he attended a royal banquet at Greenwich and on 25 Nov. he was said to have been appointed vice-chamberlain to the Queen, in which capacity he accompanied her to the Field of Cloth of Gold. His own lands lay near several crown estates which were granted to successive Queens as part of their jointure.6

Darrell’s advance at court was matched by his growing eminence in Wiltshire. It is likely that he sat in one or more of Henry VII’s later parliaments or of Henry VIII’s early ones, for none of which returns survive: he may also have been instrumental in procuring the return of other Members, in particular those for Great Bedwyn, where he was lord of the manor from 1522. He was certainly an obvious choice as one of the knights of the shire in 1529, when he sat with Sir Edward Baynton, who was to become vice-chamberlain to Queen Anne Boleyn. At this election, too, he doubtless had a hand in the return of one or more other Members; his son Edmund Darrell was elected for Marlborough and William Newdigate, who was probably his son-in-law, for Great Bedwyn. As Darrell died soon after the end of the first session, his attitude to the King’s divorce and the impending religious changes is uncertain, although as a servant of the Queen he may well have deplored them. The Elizabeth Darrell who was one of Catherine’s maids in 1530 was his kinswoman, perhaps his daughter. Darrell’s place in Parliament was almost certainly taken by his nephew Sir Henry Long.7

Darrell had made his will on 25 July 1528 (doubtless in fear of the sweating sickness then sweeping the country) and had asked to be buried in Ramsbury church. His eldest son John had been slain near Calais, so that the heir was his grandson and namesake, who received specified items of plate and half of all that was left, the remainder being bequeathed with the residue of the goods to the testator’s wife Alice, the sole executrix. If the younger Edward should die without male issue, his legacies were to go to Darrell’s second son Edmund, who was assigned an annuity of 20 marks. Two unmarried daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine, received 300 marks and 100 marks respectively and a third daughter, Anne Newdigate, was also left 100 marks. Darrell died on 9 Mar. 1530, possessed of lands in Berkshire, Dorset and Wiltshire: the property in all three counties had been vested in feoffees, among whom was the Queen’s chamberlain the 4th Lord Mountjoy. In 1531, in accordance with Darrell’s wish, Sir William Essex received the heir’s wardship and marriage, and the boy grew up to continue the line.8

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558 Author: T. F.T. Baker Notes 1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament. 2. Date of birth estimated from age at fa.’s i.p.m., C140/85/14. Wilts. Arch. Mag. iv. 226, 228; PCC 18 Jankyn; Vis. Herefs. ed. Weaver, 21; Wilts. N. and Q. ii. 335; LP Hen. VIII, i; Vis. Notts. (Harl. Soc. iv), 6. 3. CPR, 1494-1509, pp. 50, 287, 420, 627, 665; Wilts. Arch. Mag. xxxi. 67; LP Hen. VIII, i-iv; Statutes, iii. 80, 113, 169; Somerville, Duchy, i. 633. 4. J. Waylen, Marlborough, 76-77; CCR, 1476-85, nos. 173-4. 5. CPR, 1485-94, p. 291; Wilts. Arch. Mag. li. 506, 511-13; liii. 192, 196, 203-6, 209-12; VCH Wilts. ix. 176. 6. LP Hen. VIII, i-iv. 7. Ibid. i-v, x; VCH Herts. iii. 42. 8. PCC 18 Jankyn; VCH Berks. iv. 210-11; E150/801/3, 982/7; C142/51/3.

Chamberlin to Katherine of Aragon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Darrell_%28maid-of-honour%29

• http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.genealogy.medieval/...
• 2B) ELEANOR CORNEWALL, born 1430/5, married 1st, Sir Hugh Mortimer, of Kyre Wyard and Martley, Worcestershire, and Tedstone Wafer, Herefordshire, heir of the Tedstone Wafer Mortimers. He was killed at Wakefield in December 1460, and was buried in the Church of St. Peter, Martley. By him she had a son and a daughter. She married 2nd, Sir Richard Croft (d. 29 July 1509), of Croft Castle, Herefordshire, sheriff of Herefordshire 1471-72, 1477, 1486, MP Herefordshire 1477, and had three more sons and five more daughters. The Crofts had occupied Croft Castle since before the Conquest. Eleanor was the governess of Edward IV's sons at Ludlow Castle. She died 23 Dec. 1519, at an advanced age, and was buried with her second husband in the chapel of Croft Castle (tomb now in St. Michael church, Croft). Issue:
  • '2B9) JANE CROFT, married Sir Edward Darrell (1465/6- 9 Mar. 1530), of Littlecote, Witshire, and died by 1492, having had issue, two sons and two daughters.
• ____________________
• 'A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great ..., Volume 3 By John Burke
• http://books.google.com/books?id=qf4GAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA147&lpg=PA147&dq...
• Pg. 148
• WILLIAM DARELL, sub-treasurer of England, temp RICHARD II. who married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Thomas Calston, esq. Lord of Littlecote, in Wiltshire, and acquired with her that estate. He . . . .
• William Darell, of Littlecote, was succeeded by his eldest son
  • SIR GEORGE DARELL, knt. of Littlecote, who married, first, Margaret, daughter of John, Lord Stourton, and had an only daughter, Elizabeth, m. to Sir Henry Seymour, who died 7th HENRY VII. He wedded, secondly, Jane, daughter of Sir William Hawke, knt. by Margaret, his wife, daughter of Sir Richard Widvile, and left a son and successor,
    • ' SIR EDWARD DARELL, knt. of Littlecote, who m. first, Jane, daughter of Sir Richard Croft, knight banneret; secondly, Mary, daughter of Sir John Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter; and thirdly, Alice, relect of Sir Edward Stanhope. By his first wife, Sir Edward had two daughters, one of whom, Anne, wedded Sir John Hungerford, and one son,
      • JOHN DARELL, esq. who was slain at Arde, in Picardy, during the lifetime of his father. He m. Jane, daughter of John Fettyplace, esq. of Shifford, and was father of
• ----------------------------
• http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/RADCLIFFE1.htm#Mary RADCLIFFE1
• 'Mary RADCLIFFE
• Born: ABT 1483, Attleborough, Norfolk, England
• Died: BEF Apr 1512
• Father: John RADCLIFFE (1º B. Fitzwalter)
• Mother: Margaret WHETEHILL
• 'Married: Edward DARRELL (b. ABT 1471 - d. 9 Mar 1528/9) (son of Sir George Darrell and Joan Hawte) (w. of Jane Croft - m.3 Alice Flye) BEF 12 Feb 1493, Attleborough, Norfolk, England
• __________________

THIS SOURCE IS MISSING TWO GENERATIONS OF JOHN'S BETWEEN HUGH CROFT AND WILLIAM CROFT. ELYNOR IS LISTED AS DAU. OF JOHN BARE BUT IS MARRIED ALSO TO HUGH MORTIMER. THERE MAY BE OTHER ERRORS.

• 'Full text of "The visitation of Herefordshire made by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux, in 1569"
• http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationofhere00cookrich/visitation...
• 'The visitation of Herefordshire made by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux, in 1569 (1886)
• http://www.archive.org/details/visitationofhere00cookrich
• http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationofhere00cookrich#page/21/mo...
• Croft Pedigree Chart
• 1. Sir Hughe Croft, Knight.
  • a. William Croft, maryed (living 1433.) = Margarett, doughter to Walien (Waleyn, Ash. 831) (Walwyn.)
    • i. Sir Richard Crofte, sonne of William (d. 1509.) = Elynor, doughter to Sir John Bare. = Sir Hughe Mertymer, Knight, (Mortimer, Ash. 831.)
      • A. Anne, maried to Sir Thomas Blount (of Kinlet.)
      • B. Elizabethe, to John Wetington (Whitington, Ash. 831.)
      • C. John.
      • D. Joys, maried to Thomas Mylles (of Avenbury) (Myll, Ash. 831)
      • ' E. Jane, to Sir Edwarde Darell (of Littlecote, Wilts.)
      • F. Robart.
      • G. Sir Edwarde Croft, maried (d. 1546.) = Joys, doughter and soule heire to Sir Walter Scoule of the Holte in Wostershir (Skull, Ash. 831)
      • H. Sybill, to Sir George Herbert (of co. Moum.)
• ______________________

THIS SITE DOES NOT HAVE THE CORRECT MOTHER FOR JANE CROFT ACCORDING TO SEVERAL OTHER SITES.

• http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2433.htm#...
• 'Edward Darrell
• 'M, b. circa 1471, d. 9 March 1529
• Father Sir George Darrell, Sheriff of Wiltshire, Somersetshire, & Dorsetshire b. c 1419, d. Mar 1474
• Mother Joan Haute b. c 1436, d. a 8 Jan 1474
• ' Edward Darrell was born circa 1471 at of Littlecote, Wiltshire, England. He married Jane Crofts, daughter of Richard Crofts and Eleanor Bare, circa 1488 at Littlecote Manor, Ramsbury, Wiltshire, England. Edward Darrell died on 9 March 1529 at Ramsbury, Wiltshire, England.
• 'Family Jane Crofts b. c 1470
• Child
  • ◦Jane Darrell+ b. c 1490
• -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Occupation: Chamberlain to Catalina of Aragon

Note:

Sir Edward, who was next in possession of Littlecote, had only one son, John, a gallant soldier, who was slain at Airde in Picardy, in the wars against France. He was the grandfather of the ill-fated Will (or 'Wild') Darrel. http://www.bigenealogy.com/familychests/page72.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Darrell_(died_1530)

Edward Darrell (died 1530) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir Edward Darrell (1465/66 – 1530), of Littlecote, Wiltshire, was an English politician. He is chiefly remembered as the father of Elizabeth Darrell, who was a maid of honour to Queen Catherine of Aragon. Elizabeth had a notorious affair with the poet Sir Thomas Wyatt, by whom she had several children, and was later rumoured to have planned to become the sixth Queen of Henry VIII.