Sir Francis Willoughby, of Wollaton

Francis Willoughby of Wollaton, Sir Knight, was born 1546, Wollaton, Nottinghamshire, England and "died under rather mysterious circumstances" in lodgings in London, 16 November, 1596, and was buried at St. Giles' Church Without, Cripplegate.

Parents: 2nd son of Henry Willoughby and Anne Grey, daughter of Sir Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset

Married:

1. in 1564 to Elizabeth Littleton (b. ABT 1546 - d. 1594) (dau. of Sir John Littleton and Bridget Pakington)
2. in 1595 to Dorothy (nee Coleby), widow of John Tamworth

12 Children of Elizabeth Littleton and Francis Willoughby include:

1. Bridget Willoughby married her distant kinsman, Percival Willoughby, of the house of Eresby
2. Dau. Willoughby
3. Margaret Willoughby (B. Spencer of Wormleighton)
4. Frances Willoughby
5. Dorothy Willoughby
6. Abigail Willoughby
7. Winifred Willoughby
8. Dau. Willoughby
9. Dau. Willoughby
10. Dau. Willoughby
11. Dau. Willoughby
12. Dau. Willoughby

Children of Dorothy Tamworth and Francis Willoughby:

1. Frances Willoughby

Brief Biography

Sir Francis Willoughby (1547–1596) was an industrialist and coalowner, who built Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire.

He was the son of Henry Willoughby, a Dorset landowner and Anne, daughter of Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset. Henry had inherited Wollaton from his uncle John Willoughby on 10 January 1549, but was killed in resisting Kett's rebellion on 27 August 1549. Francis became entitled to the family estates on the death of his elder brother Thomas in 1559. At the age of seventeen, he married Elizabeth Littleton of Frankley, Worcestershire. This proved to be a turbulent marriage and only produced daughters.

Willoughby developed coal mines on his estate at Wollaton in the 1560s and 1570s. This enabled him to maintain a lordly lifestyle, maintaining a number of gentleman retainers. He employed Robert Smythson, who had previously worked at Longleat to build him a mansion, Wollaton Hall.

By 1580, when his heir died aged six, he was separated from his wife. She offered to try for another heir, they remained separated and the queen arranged for her to have an allowance of £200 per year. He then decided to make his distant relative Percival Willoughby of Bore Place in Kent his principal heir, if he had no son, through marriage to his eldest daughter Bridget. This marriage took place in 1583, and several manors including Wollaton and Middleton, Warwickshire were settled on them in default of male issue.

Willoughby entered into a number of speculative ventures, including growing and processing woad at Wollaton, and a plantation in Ireland. These took capital, as did his ironworks, at Middleton(Warwickshire), Oakamoor (Staffordshire), and Codnor(Derbyshire) The latter was his in consequence of the debts of Sir John Zouche. These were profitable, but Willoughby was unable to pay his debts as well as providing doweries for his other daughters. He accordingly handed them over in 1595 to Percival, who took responsibility for £3000 of the debts. This was followed by the death of his wife, with whom he had been reconciled. Willoughby immediately married a widow, but died only fifteen months later, leaving his widow expecting another child, who turned out to be another daughter. Percival thus inherited the estate, but encumbered with many debts.

Notes

It was this man's second son, Sir Francis Willoughby, Kt., who built Wollaton Hall. He married a daughter of Sir John Littleton, by whom he had a family of six daughters, but no surviving male issue. His elder brother, who is said to have married a daughter of "ye Lord Paget," overheated himself when hunting, and "fell sick and dyed." Sir Francis had an unhappy married life, and several of his daughters ran away and married to escape from their mother, and it is recorded that, after her death, in 1594, one wrote to her sister to "joyn with her to thank God for their happy deliverance from all their troubles."

In his anxiety to leave a male heir, Sir Francis married again (1595), late in life, a certain Dorothy (nee Coleby), widow of John Tamworth, "who made her advantage of the declining time of her husband and his great estate, if we may believe report." (Thoroton, p. 223). He died under rather mysterious circumstances in lodgings in London, November, 1596, and was buried at St. Giles' Church Without, Cripplegate. Anyone who wishes to become further acquainted with the sorrows of his married life must refer to the article in the "New Review," 1889, " in the old Muniment Room of Wollaton Hall." He settled the great part of the estate on his eldest daughter, Bridgett, who married her distant kinsman, Percival Willoughby, of the house of Eresby, co. Lincoln, but at that time living in Kent.

Links

• http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/articles/tts/tts1902/willoughbyfamil...
• http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/WILLOUGHBY1.htm#Francis WILLOUGHBY (Sir Knight)
• http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/FrancisWilloughby.htm

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When Sir Francis (5th Baron Parham) Willoughby (6th Baron) Willoughby, (Sheriff of Nottinghamshire) and his twin brother Francis were born in 1547 in Wollaton, Nottinghamshire, England, their father, Sir, was 30, and their mother, Lady, was 34. He married Lady Elizabeth Lyttleton, Countess of Lyttleton, Baroness Willoughby in 1565 in Nottinghamshire, England. They had seven children in 12 years. He died on November 16, 1596, in Nottinghamshire, England, at the age of 49, and was buried in England.

Birth

Sir Francis (5th Baron Parham) Willoughby (6th Baron) Willoughby, (Sheriff of Nottinghamshire) was born in 1547 in Wollaton, Nottinghamshire, England, to Lady Anna (Baroness Willoughby) nee' De Grey, age 34, and Sir Hendrik "Henry" Willoughby (Knight of Van Wollaton), age 30.

Wollaton,,Nottinghamshire,England

~

17 Aug 1548, Age 1 Death of Mother

His mother Lady Anna (Baroness Willoughby) passed away on August 17, 1548, in England at the age of 35.

England

Lady Anna (Baroness Willoughby) nee' De Grey

1513–1548

~

27 Aug 1551, Age 4 Death of Father

His father Sir Hendrik "Henry" passed away on August 27, 1551, in Norwich, Norfolk, England, at the age of 34.

Norwich, Norfolk, England

Sir Hendrik "Henry" Willoughby (Knight of Van Wollaton)

1517–1551

~

1559, Age 12 Death of Brother

His brother Thomas died in 1559 when Sir Francis (5th Baron Parham) was 12 years old.

Thomas Willoughby

1537–1559

~

1565, Age 18 Marriage

Sir Francis (5th Baron Parham) Willoughby (6th Baron) Willoughby, (Sheriff of Nottinghamshire) married Lady Elizabeth Lyttleton, Countess of Lyttleton, Baroness Willoughby in Nottinghamshire, England, in 1565 when he was 18 years old.

Nottinghamshire, England

Lady Elizabeth Lyttleton, Countess of Lyttleton, Baroness Willoughby

1546–1594

~

1566, Age 19 Birth of Daughter

His daughter Lady Bridget was born in 1566.

Wollaton, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom

Lady Bridget Willoughby

1566–1629

~

1569, Age 22 Birth of Daughter

His daughter Lady Amphilice Countess was born in 1569 in Wollaton, Nottinghamshire, England.

Wollaton, Nottinghamshire, England

Lady Amphilice Countess of Wollaton Willoughby

1569–

~

1571, Age 24 Birth of Daughter

His daughter Lady Margaret Spencer was born in 1571 in Nottinghamshire, England.

Nottinghamshire, England

Lady Margaret Spencer nee' Willoughby (of Wollation)

1571–1597

~

1572, Age 25 Birth of Daughter

His daughter Lady Frances Cisca was born in 1572.

Wollaton, Northamptonshire, England, England

Lady Frances Cisca Willoughby

1572–1665

~

1574, Age 27 Birth of Daughter

His daughter Lady Dorothy was born in 1574.

Wollaton, Northamptonshire, England, England

Lady Dorothy Willoughby

1574–1638

~

abt 1576, Age 29 Birth of Daughter

His daughter Lady Abigail was born in 1576.

Wollaton, Northamptonshire, England

Lady Abigail Willoughby

1576–1654

~

abt 1578, Age 31 Birth of Daughter

His daughter Lady Winifred was born in 1578.

Wollaton, Northamptonshire, England

Lady Winifred Willoughby

1578–1605

~

17 Aug 1591, Age 44 Death of Sister

His sister Lady Margaret died on August 17, 1591, in Norfolk, England, when Sir Francis (5th Baron Parham) was 44 years old.

Norfolk, England

Lady Margaret Willoughby, Baroness Arundell

1538–1591

~

1594, Age 47 Death of Wife

His wife Lady Elizabeth passed away in 1594 in England at the age of 48. They had been married 29 years.

England

Lady Elizabeth Lyttleton, Countess of Lyttleton, Baroness Willoughby

1546–1594

~

16 Nov 1596,Age 49 Death of Brother

His brother Sir Francis died on November 16, 1596, in Nottinghamshire, England, when Sir Francis (5th Baron Parham) was 49 years old.

Wollaton Hall, Nottinghamshire, England

Sir Francis Willoughby

1537–1596

~

16 Nov 1596, Age 49 Death of Brother

His brother Francis died on November 16, 1596, in Nottinghamshire, England, when Sir Francis (5th Baron Parham) was 49 years old.

Francis Willoughby

1547–1596

~

16 Nov 1596, Age 49 Death

Sir Francis (5th Baron Parham) Willoughby (6th Baron) Willoughby, (Sheriff of Nottinghamshire) died on November 16, 1596, in Nottinghamshire, England, when he was 49 years old.

Nottinghamshire, England

~

2008, Wollaton Hall - 2008 photo

Built in the grand style of the period by Sir Francis Willoughby, the expense was excessive and he left his estates impoverished. His coal pits could be viewed from the towers.

Wollaton Hall - 2008 photo   

2008

~

Burial

London Borough of Camden, Greater London, England

GEDCOM Note

Francis Bio

see - www.tudorplace.com.ar/BIO/FrancisWilloughby

Seal to Parents: PRE-1970

Seal to Parents: PRE-1970

Line in Record (RIN 39334) from

Line in Record (RIN 39334) from GEDCOM file not recognized: _UID D13228CA9ECCD61193C3973FD6E9BB5E4A2A Line in Record (RIN 39341) from GEDCOM file not recognized: _UID 2CFA322446A2D61193C3E88C9393015F9BA8 LDS Pedigree Resource Disc 30 ..

2 Dorothy/Coleby *

2 Dorothy/Coleby *

!#218-v2-p155;

!#218-v2-p155;

Name Prefix:<NPFX> Sir Knight

Name Prefix:<NPFX> Sir Knight

Life Sketch

Francis Willoughby's father, Sir Henry Willoughby, had inherited Wollaton and other properties including 'lucrative coal pits' at the death of his uncle, Sir John Willoughby, on 10 January 1549. However, only a few months later, on 27 August 1549, Sir Henry Willoughby was slain on Mousehold Heath in the suppression of Kett's rebellion. Francis's elder brother, Thomas (d.1559), then aged eight, became the ward of their mother's brother, Henry Grey, 3rd Marquess of Dorset, and came to live with Dorset and his wife, Frances Brandon, at Bradgate House, while Francis, then aged two, and his sister, Margaret, were put in the care of Dorset's half-brother, George Medley, the son of Dorset's mother, Margaret Wotton, by her first husband, William Medley. Dorset's ill-fated attempt to place his eldest daughter, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne eventually cost Lady Jane, Dorset, and Dorset's brother, Lord Thomas Grey, their heads, and brought other family members under suspicion. George Medley was arrested, and imprisoned in the Tower for a time, and when he was released in May 1554 was unable any longer to care for Francis and Margaret. Dorset's widow, Frances Brandon, arranged for Francis to be sent to school, and took Margaret under her care. Their elder brother, Thomas, became the ward of Sir William Paget, and was married to Paget's daughter, Dorothy.[3]

In August 1559 Thomas Willoughby died from 'overheating' while out hunting, leaving no issue, and Francis inherited the family estates.[4] At the age of seventeen, Francis married Elizabeth Littleton of Frankley, Worcestershire. This proved to be a turbulent marriage and produced only daughters.

Willoughby developed coal mines on his estate at Wollaton in the 1560s and 1570s. This enabled him to maintain a lordly lifestyle, maintaining a number of gentleman retainers. He employed Robert Smythson, who had previously worked at Longleat to build him a mansion, Wollaton Hall.

By 1580, when his heir died aged six, he was separated from his wife. She offered to try for another heir, they remained separated and the queen arranged for her to have an allowance of £200 per year. He then decided to make his distant relative Percival Willoughby of Bore Place in Kent his principal heir, if he had no son, through marriage to his eldest daughter Bridget. This marriage took place in 1583, and several manors including Wollaton and Middleton, Warwickshire were settled on them in default of male issue.

Willoughby entered into a number of speculative ventures, including growing and processing woad at Wollaton, and a plantation in Ireland. These took capital, as did his ironworks, at Middleton, Oakamoor (Staffordshire), and Codnor. The latter was his in consequence of the debts of Sir John Zouche.[disambiguation needed] These were profitable, but Willoughby was unable to pay his debts as well as providing doweries for his other daughters. He accordingly handed them over in 1595 to Percival, who took responsibility for £3000 of the debts. This was followed by the death of his wife, with whom he had been reconciled. Willoughby immediately married a widow, but died only fifteen months later, leaving his widow expecting another child, who turned out to be another daughter. Percival thus inherited the estate, but encumbered with many debts.

!E3(1)8g !#374-v2-p129;

!E3(1)8g !#374-v2-p129;

Ancestral File Number:<AFN> 922V-SC

Ancestral File Number:<AFN> 922V-SC

1547

1547

GEDCOM Source

9PBX-3MV Frances Willoughby in entry for Abigail Willoughby, "England, Warwickshire, Parish Registers, 1535-1963" "England, Warwickshire, Parish Registers, 1535-1963," database with images, <i>FamilySearch</i> (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XXPY-SQR : 26 February 2019), Frances Willoughby in entry for Abigail Willoughby, 25 Dec 1576; from parish registers of https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XXPY-SQR