Sir Richard Sondes, Kt., MP

Family and Education b. 1571, 1st s. of Michael Sondes of Throwley by his 1st w. educ. Queens’, Camb. 1587. m. (1) 1595, Susanna, da. of Edward Montagu I of Boughton, Northants., at least 3s. 3da.; (2) by 1609, Catherine (d.1632), da. of Sir Rowland Hayward, ld. mayor of London 1571, wid. of Richard Scott, 6s. 2da. suc. fa. ?1617. Kntd. 11 May 1603.

Offices Held

J.p.q. Kent from c.1601.

Biography Nothing has been found to connect Sondes with Gatton or with Lord Howard of Effingham, who was influential there later in Elizabeth’s reign. The possibility that he was living on his father’s Surrey estates at Dorking or Lingfield is ruled out by the fact that those of his children born after 1600 were baptised at Throwley. Perhaps his fellow-Member, Sir Matthew Browne of Betchworth, near the Sondes manor of Bradley, suggested his name to Howard. Sondes’s father was also in the 1601 Parliament and Richard Sondes, because of his marriage into the Montagu family, had other close relatives among the Members of this Parliament, his only excursion into affairs of state. His later life was saddened by the insanity of his second wife. He died in 1632 and was buried at Throwley. Administration of his property was granted to his eldest son Sir George (Earl of Faversham 1677) on 9 July, and an inquisition post mortem was held in Kent during the following year.

Vis. Kent (Harl. Soc. xlii), 106; Vis. Northants. (Harl. Soc. lxxxvii), 136; Manning and Bray, Surr. i, 558, 563, 567; Add. 33920, f. 36; Arch. Cant. xviii. 295; Al. Cant. i(4), 122; Hasted, Hist Kent. vi. 452; Chamberlain Letters ed. McClure, i. 579; ii. 361; C142/488/60, 493/110.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603 Author: M.R.P. Notes