Lineage. ROBERT YEAMANS, esq. alderman of Bristol, and sheriff in 1642, being zealously attached to the interests of CHARLES 1. formed a design, in conjunction with several fellow citizens, to deliver up Bristol to the king's forces, and the night of the 7th March, 1643, was fixed for the execution of the plan. That evening, however, Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes obtained information of the conspiracy, and seized upon the principal leaders, the chief of whom were Mr. Robert Yeamans and Mr. George Boucher. The operations had been thus arranged:-After communication of councils, and many messages interchanged between Oxford and Bristol, it was resolved, that upon Monday, the 7th of March, in the night, Prince Rupert, with a strong party of the king's forces, should advance to Durdon-down, not a full mile from the city, and those within the city were to seize two of the ports, viz. Froomgate and Newgate, and having secured the guards there, were to open the said gates, and let in Prince Rupert, and his troops, who were to have notice given them to approach, by the ringing of St. John's and St. Michael's bells; the confederates were to be distinguished by white tape in their hats, and the word to be, Charles. According to which project, divers of them were met armed, at Mr. Yeaman's house, and others at Mr. Boucher's, and waiting the appointed hour (which was three in the morning) to fall upon their work. But that evening late, a little boy declared, that divers muskets were carried into Mr. Yeaman's house; whereupon a more diligent eye was kept upon them, and at last a guard ordered to search the house, who were first denied entrance, but afterwards let in, where they found a considerable number of men and arms; there was some small offer of resistance, but the most were endeavouring an escape over the top of the house, and divers were taken, both there and at Mr. Boucher's. Prince Rupert, with his forces, came that night to the Down, expecting, till five of the clock next morning, the signal and opening of the gates, but several pieces of ordnance being in the morning discharged that way, perceiving the design frustrated, his highness drew off. Whereupon several were apprehended, and Alderman Yeamans and Mr. Boucher were condemned by a council of war, for corresponding with Prince Rupert, and designing to deliver the city of Bristol into his hands. Great endeavours were used by the king and the generals of the royalists to save the lives of these gentlemen, as appears by the following letters in Mr. Rushworth's collections: A letter from Patrick, Earl of Forth, Lord Etterick, and lord-lieutenant of all his Majesty's forces, sent by a drum, and directed to the commander-in-chief and the council of war, in the city of Bristol. "I have been informed, that lately, at a council of war, you have condemned to death Robert Yeamans, late sheriff of the city of Bristol, who hath his majesty's commission for raising a regiment for his service, William Yeamans, his brother, George Boucher, and Edward Dacres, all for expressing their loyalty to his majesty, and endeavouring his service, according to their allegiance, and that you intend to proceed speedily against divers others in the like manner; I do therefore signify unto you, that I intend speedily to put Mr. Stephens, Mr. George, Captain Huntly, and others, taken in rebellion against his majesty, at Cirencester, into the same condition; and do further advertise you, that if you offer by that unjust judgment, to execute any of them you have so condemned, that those now in custody here, especially Mr. George, Mr. Stephens, and Captain Huntly, must expect no favour or mercy. Given under my hand at Oxford, this 16th of May, 1643." "Charles Rex. "Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well: whereas we are informed, that by the power and authority of certain factious and rebellious persons of that our city of Bristol, divers of our good subjects, as namely, Robert Yeamans, George Boucher, William Yeamans, Edward Dacres, and others of that our city, are imprisoned for preserving their duty and loyalty to us, and for refusing to join in, or assist this horrid and odious rebellion against us; and that the said wicked and traitorous persons have presumed to condemn the said innocent men to die, and upon such their sentence, notoriously against the laws of God and man, they intend to execute and murder our said subjects; we have thought fit to signify to you, the mayor, alderman, sheriffs, and the rest of the body of the council of that our city, that if you suffer this horrid and execrable murder to be committed upon the persons aforesaid, and thereby call down the just judgment of God, and bring perpetual infamy upon that our city, we shall look upon it as the most barbarous and inhuman act that hath been yet committed against us, and upon you as the most desperate betrayers of us, and of the lives and liberties of your fellow subjects. And we therefore will and command you not to suffer any violence to be done upon the persons aforesaid, but that if any such be attempted against them, you raise all the power and strength of that our city, for their rescue; and to that purpose, we command all our good subjects of that our city to aid and assist you upon their allegiance, and as they hope for any grace and favour at our hands, and that you and they kill and slay all such, who shall attempt or endeavour to take away the lives of our said subjects and for so doing, this shall be your warrant, and hereof you may not fail at your utmost peril. Given at our court at Oxford, the 26th day of May, 1643. "To our trusty and well beloved, the mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs, and the rest of the common council of our city of Bristol." But these letters could not hinder the execution; for on Tuesday, the 30th May, 1643, Mr. Yeamans and Mr. Boucher were brought from the castle to the main court of guard, and there executed, by order of Nathaniel Fiennes, son to the Lord Say, and then governor of Bristol for the parliament. Alderman Yeamans had two sons, JOHN, his heir. ROBERT, created a BARONET in 1666 (see that title). The elder, 1. JOHN YEAMANS, esq. of Bristol, who, in consideration of the loyalty and death of his father, was created a BARONET in 1664-5, and settled in Barbadoes. He m. first, a daughter of Mr. Limp, by whom he had a son, WILLIAM, his heir; and secondly, Margaret, daughter of the Rev. John Forster, by whom he had another son, Robert, who m. Elizabeth, daughter of Elisha Mellows, esq. and had three sons, Robert, who m. Sarah, daughter of John Trent, esq. of Barbadoes, and had an only son, Robert, who d. 7th November, 1740, aged ten years. His widow m. secondly, the Rev. William Dowding. John, who m. Mary, daughter of Alexander Philip, who m. Mary, daughter of Joseph Sir John (who obtained a grant of forty-eight thousand acres of land in South Carolina, and settled there for a time) was s. at his decease by his son, II. SIR WILLIAM YEAMANS, who m. Willoughby, daughter of Sir James Browne, knt. and left a son and successor, 11. SIR JOHN YEAMANS, who m. Margaret, daughter of Philip Gibbes, esq. of Barbadoes, and was s. by his son, IV. SIR JOHN YEAMANS, who m. in Barbadoes, Anne, daughter of Mr. Scantlebury, and had an only son, V. SIR JOHN YEAMANS, living in Barbadoes in 1771, with whose son, VI. THE REV. SIR ROBERT YEAMANS, who died s. p. 19th February, 1788, the BARONETCY became EXTINCT, Arms-Sa. a chev, between three chronells of spears arg. YEAMANS, OF REDLAND. CREATED 31st Dec. 1666.-EXTINCT in 1686-7. Lineage. 1. ROBERT YEAMANS, esq. of Redland, in Gloucestershire, second son of Alderman Yeamans, who was executed at Bristol, and like that ill-fated gentleman, Of this family, one of great antiquity in the county of Norfolk, was ANDREW YELVERTON, living in the reign of EDWARD II. who was father of ROBERT YELVERTON, seated temp. EDWARD III, at Rackheath, in the vicinity of Norwich. He married Cycely, daughter of Sir Thomas Bardolfe, and left a son and heir, JOHN YELVERTON, of Rackheath, who had by his first wife, a son and successor, ROBERT, who died about the year 1420, leaving a son, THOMAS, of Rackheath, who died s. p. John Yelverton m. secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of John Read, of Rougham, in the county of Norfolk, and had a son, SIR WILLIAM YELVERTON, a lawyer of great eminence, who was constituted one of the judges of the court of King's Bench in 22 HENRY VI. This learned person appears to have stood equally well with the monarchs of both the Roses, as we find him not only continued in his judicial office by King EDWARD IV. but made a knight of the Bath, in order to grace that prince's coronation; and upon the temporary restoration of King HENRY, appointed by patent, dated 9th October, 1470, one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas. He m. Agnes, daughter of Sir Oliver le Gross, of Crostwick, in the county of Norfolk, knt. and was s. by his son, JOHN YELVERTON, esq. of Rackheath, who m. Margery, daughter of William Morley, esq. and had issue, WILLIAM (Sir), his successor. Anne, m. to Thomas Farmey, esq. of Helmingham. He was s. by his son, SIR WILLIAM YELVERTON, knt. who was retained by indenture, anno 1474, to serve the king (EDWARD IV.) in person in his wars in France, with two men at arms, and four archers. He m. first, Anne, daughter of John Paston, esq. of Paston Hall, in the county of Norfolk, by whom he had issue, WILLIAM, who died in his father's lifetime, s. p. Margaret, m. to John Palgrave, esq. of Norwood Eleanor, m. to John Conyers, esq. son and heir Sir William espoused, secondly, Eleanor, daughter of Sir Thomas Brewse, knt. and had a son, his successor, WILLIAM YELVERTON, esq. of Rougham and Rackheath. This gentleman m. Catherine, daughter of John Raves, esq. of the county of Essex, and had five sons, viz. WILLIAM, his successor, John, Nicholas, Edward, and Adam, and a daughter, Anne, m. to Matthew Canne, esq. of Wessenham, in Norfolk. He was s. at his decease by his eldest son, WILLIAM YElverton, esq. of Rougham, who m. Margaret, daughter of Mr. Gamond, of London, and had two sons, WILLIAM and John, and three daughters, viz. Mary, m. first, to William Baker, esq.; and se condly, to Henry Wayte, esq. Susan, m. first, to Edward Eston, esq. of Reinham, in Norfolk; and secondly, to Edward Harvey, esq. Eleanor, m. to Richard Draper, esq. of Marham, in the same county. William Yelverton d. in the year 1541, and was s. .by his elder son, WILLIAM YELVERTON, esq. of Rougham. This gentleman m. first, Anne, daughter and heir of Sir Henry Fermor, knt. of East Barsham, in Norfolk, by whom he acquired a great increase to his landed possessions, and had issue, HENRY, who inherited Rougham, and the other estates of his father, as son and heir. He m Bridget, daughter of Sir William Drury, of Hawsted, in Suffolk, knt. and had issue, WILLIAM, his successor, created a BARONET in 1620. He m. Dionesse, daughter of Richard Stubbs, esq. of Sedgeford, in Norfolk, and left William. WILLIAM (Sir), second baronet of Rougham, who m. Ursula, daughter of Sir Thomas Richardson, knt. speaker of the House of Commons, and afterwards lord chief justice of the King's Bench, by whom he had, WILLIAM, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Ursula. He d. 19th July, 1648, and was s. by his son, WILLIAM (Sir), third baronet of Rougham, who died unm. in 1649, when that BARONETCY EXPIRED. Henry (Sir), m. Alice, daughter and coheir of the Right Rev. William Barlow, Bishop of Lincoln. Margaret, m. to Thomas Tyrrell, esq. of Gippinge, in the county of Suffolk. CHRISTOPHER, of whom presently. Humphrey. Launcelot. Winifred, m. to Owen Duckett, esq. of Worthing, in Norfolk. Anne, m. first, to Thomas Reade, esq. of Wish- Martha, m. first, to Thomas Fyncham, esq. of Mr. Yelverton m. secondly, Jane, daughter of Edward Edward. Charles. William, m. to Grace, daughter of Mr. Newport, of Buckingham. Jane, m. first, to Edmund Lummer, esq. of Ma- heir of Sir Nicholas le Strange; and secondly, to Sir Philip Woodhouse. The third son of William Yelverton, by his first wife, Anne Fermor, CHRISTOPHER YELVERTON, being bred to the bar, and called to the degree of serjeant-at-law, was constituted queen's serjeant, 31 ELIZABETH. In some years afterwards he was chosen speaker of the House of Commons, and in the 44th of the same reign he was constituted one of the judges of the court of King's Bench. On the accession of King JAMES his patent, as a judge, was renewed, and he was then made a knight. Sir Christopher m. Mary, daughter of Thomas Catesby, esq. of Whiston, in the county of Northampton, and had issue, HENRY, his successor. Christopher (Sir). Isabel, married to Sir Edward Cope, of Cannon's Judith, m. to Edmund Abdy, esq. of Lincoln's Inn. His lordship d. in 1607, at Easton-Mauduit, a seat which he had purchased in Northamptonshire, and was s. by his elder son, HENRY YELVERTON, esq. of Easton-Mauduit. This gentleman having, like his father, adopted the profession of the law, was appointed solicitor-general in 1613, and knighted about the same period. In 1617 Sir Henry Yelverton was made attorney-general; previously, however, he is said to have displeased the king by refusing to appear against the Earl of Somerset, at his trial for the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury, and in the October of the year in which he was advanced to the attorney-generalship we find him writing a letter to his royal master, complaining of "his unhappiness to fall under his majesty's displeasure, who had made him almost the wonder of his favour; that he conceived it to arise from some accident, befel in the late business of the marriage of Sir John Villiers; as also from a report, as if he had uttered some speeches to the dishonour of the Earl of Buckingham." He pleaded his cause so successfully, however, that he very soon recovered any ground which he might have lost in JAMES's opinion, but he was not so fortunate with the Duke of Buckingham, who seems, for a long time afterwards, to have regarded him with an evil eye. In 1620, principally through the machinations of that favoured nobleman, he was involved, with the lord mayor of London, and others, in a Star-chamber prosecution, regarding the passing of certain clauses in a charter to the city of London, not authorized by the king's warrant; for this offence, although he made every submission, and that the charter was given up, he was adjudged to pay a fine of £4000, to be deprived of the office of attorney-general, and to be committed to the Tower. He was subsequently prosecuted before parliament upon another account, and the house of Lords, 16th May, 1621, proceeded to sentence, and declare, "that the said Sir Henry Yelverton, for his speeches, uttered here in court, which do touch the king's majesty's honour, shall be fined to the king in ten thousand marks, be imprisoned during pleasure, and make submission to the king; and for those which touched the Marquess of Buckingham, he should be fined five thousand marks, &c." Upon which Buckingham stood up, and did freely remit his portion of the fine; and the prince and the house agreed to move his majesty to mitigate the other part of the judgment. What proportion of the fine was ultimately forgiven is no where mentioned, but his misfortunes very soon afterwards terminated. The Duke of Buckingham visited him incognito in the Tower, and Sir Henry making a sufficient apology to his grace, he was presently set at liberty, and became again a practising barrister, until April, 1625, when a gentleman from the duke brought him a warrant from the king, appointing him one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas. In this situation he remained until his decease, 24th January, 1629-30, when his remains were interred in the parish church of Easton-Mauduit. His lordship m. Margaret, daughter of Robert Beale, esq. clerk of the council to Queen ELIZABETH, and was s. by his eldest son, I. SIR CHRISTOPHER YELVERTON, knt. of EastonMauduit, who was created a BARONET 30th June, 1641. He m. in 1630, Anne, youngest daughter of Sir William Twisden, bart. of Roydon Hall, Kent, by whom he had issue, HENRY, his successor. Anne, m. first, to Robert, Earl of Manchester; and secondly, to Charles, Earl of Halifax. Sir Christopher d. 4th December, 1654, and was s. by his son, II. SIR HENRY YELVERTON, member for Northamp tonshire, in the parliament that voted the restoration of King CHARLES II. He m. Susan, BARONESS GREY DE RUTHYN, daughter and heiress of Charles Longueville, Lord Grey de Ruthyn, and great-grandaughter of Charles Grey, Earl of Kent, by whom he had issue, CHARLES, his successor. Henry, heir to his brother. Frances, m. to Francis, Viscount Hatton. Sir Henry d. 28th January, 1676, and was s. by his eldest son, III. SIR CHARLES YELVERTON, who, upon the decease of his mother, 28th January, 1676, became BARON GREY DE RUTHYN. His lordship d. unm. of the smallpox, 17th May, 1679, and was s. by his brother, IV. SIR HENRY YELVERTON, Lord Grey de Ruthyn. This nobleman claimed by inheritance from the Hastings, Earls of Pembroke, the right of carrying the golden spurs at the coronation of King JAMES II. and his claim being admitted, he bore them accordingly. His lordship m. Barbara, daughter of John Talbot, esq. of Laycock, in the county of Wilts, and had, with other issue, TALBOT, his successor. Henry, m. a daughter of Major Carle, and had an His lordship was advanced to the dignity of VISCOUNT Longueville, 21st April, 1690. He d. in 1704, and was s. by his elder son, v. SIR TALBOT YELVERTON, second Viscount Longueville, who was created, 26th September, 1717, EARL OF SUSSEX, with remainder, in default of his own male issue, to his brother, the Hon. Henry Yelverton, and the heirs male of his body. His lordship was appointed deputy earl-marshal of England in 1725, and he officiated as such at the coronation of King GEORGE II. He was made a knight of the Bath upon the revival of that order, and subsequently sworn of the privy council. The earl m. Lucy, daughter of Henry Pelham, esq. of Lewes, in Sussex, clerk of the pells, and uncle of Thomas, Duke of Newcastle, by whom he had two sons, GEORGE-AUGUSTUS, successively inheritors of the HENRY. } honours. The earl, who carried the golden spurs at the coronation of GEORGE I. d. 27th October, 1730, and was succeeded by his eldest son, VI. SIR GEORGE-AUGUSTUS YELVERTON, second Earl of Sussex. This nobleman was one of the lords of the bedchamber to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and afterwards to King GEORGE III. He d. unm. 8th January, 1758, and was s. by his brother, VII. SIR HENRY YELVERTON, third Earl of Sussex. This nobleman m. first, Hester, daughter of John Hall, esq. of Mansfield Woodhouse, Notts, and had an only surviving daughter, LADY BARRARA YELVERTON, who m. Edward Thoroton Gould, esq. of Woodham-Mansfield, in the county of Notts, and dying in the lifetime of her father, 9th April, 1781, left issue, HENRY-EDWARD GOULD, who, upon the death of his grandfather, the Earl of Sussex, became LORD GREY DE RUTHYN, and assumed the surname of YELVERTON. He m. in 1809, Anna-Maria, daughter of William Kellam, esq. and dying the next year, left an only daughter and heiress, BARBARA YELVERTON, Baroness Grey de Ruthyn, who m. 18th August, 1831, George, present Marquess of Hastings. Barbara Gould, d. unm. Mary Gould, m. to the Hon. and Rev. Frederick Powys, son of Lord Lilford. The earl espoused secondly, Mary, daughter of John Vaughan, esq. of Bristol, but had no issue. He died in 1799, when the Barony of Grey de Ruthyn devolved upon his grandson, HENRY-EDWARD GOULD, esq. who assumed the surname of YELVERTON, as stated above, and the BARONETCY, together with the VISCOUNTY OF LONGUEVILLE and the EARLDOM of SUSSEX, became knt. lord mayor of London, and M. P. for that city 33 HENRY VI. The elder son, THOMAS YONGE, a distinguished lawyer, and M.P. for Bristol, temp. HENRY VI. was constituted 15 EDWARD IV. one of the judges of the court of King's Bench, He d. in 1476, was buried in Christ Church, London, and was s. by his eldest son, THOMAS YONGE, who had a mansion in Wynch Street, Bristol, and was also of Basilden, Berks, in the church of which place is a grave-stone, bearing a brass plate with a representation, at full length, of a man in armour, for ROGER YONGE, of Basilden, who died 3rd March, 1589, aged ninety-six, after he had continued in the commission of the peace for Berkshire, without any intermission, full sixty years. He is supposed to have been son of Thomas, and grandson of the judge. Contemporary with the said Roger Yonge, and probably his brother, WALTER YONGE, esq. is mentioned in the Visitation of Devonshire to be a younger son of the Yonges of Berkshire, and to have settled in Devon, temp. HENRY VII. He m. twice, and in the latter part of his life resided at Sudburie, where his last will bears date, 2nd February, 1561. By his first wife he had issue, 1. JOHN, his heir. 1. Julian, called Julian Berde, in her father's will. III. Jane, m. to Nicholas Westlake, esq. JOHN YONGE, esq. inherited from his father the manors of Cobeton and Botteshorne Paulet, with considerable estates in Dorsetshire, and sat in parliament for the borough of Plymouth. He m. Joan, daughter and co-heir of John Colleton, esq. and had issue, 1. Walter, died s. p. II. JOHN, successor to his father. 11. Robert, who m. Anne Hassard. 1. Margaret, m. to Hercules Pyne, esq. of Hay, Devon. II. Alice. III. Agnes. IV. Helen. The second, but elder surviving son, JOHN YONGE, esq. seated at Culliton, Devon, m. Alice Starre, and had, with two sons, John, who d. s. p. and WALTER, his heir, five daughters, namely, Jane, m. to Richard Mallock, esq. of Axmouth, Devon. Alice, m. to Humphrey Cokeran, esq. Anne, m. to Robert Hill, esq. of Hollylane, in Somersetshire. Jane, m. to William Hill, esq. of Pounsford, Somersetshire. Mary, m. to William Fry, esq. of Yarty, Devon. The son ard successor, WALTER YONGE, esq. of Upton Helion, in Devonshire, living in 1620, M. P. for Honiton, m. Jane, daughter and co-heir of Sir John Peryan, knt. and had issue, JOHN, his heir; Walter, who m. Alice, daughter of Joyles Green, esq. of Purbeck; and Jane, who died unm. The elder son, I. SIR JOHN YONGE, knt. of Culleton, M. P. for Ply. mouth, was one of those secluded by Cromwell, who denied him and above a hundred entrance into the House of Commons; whereupon they had the courage to publish a remonstrance, asserting the legality of their right to sit in parliament. At the Restoration, Sir John was created a BARONET. He m. ELIZABETH, daughter of Sir William Strode, knt. of Newnham, in Devonshire, and had issue, |