1825.] Descent of the Family of Whitton. DESCENT OF Whatton. (Continued from p. 109.) [With a view of ULVESCROFT PRIORY, described p. 203.] IR JOHN DE WHATTON (Sometimes Switten Watton), eldest son of Sir Richard, used the same coat of arms as his father, and had his seat at LongWhatton in Leicestershire, in the reign of King Henry IV. (which manor belonged to the Basset family). He had several children: Robert, John, Professor of the Order of St. Augustine; Alice; and Richard, whose sous Richard and Robert were feoffees with Sir Thomas Gresley and Sir William Basset, of the manors and lands of the last Lord Basset of Drayton, in the counties of Nottingham, Derby, War wick, and Leicester. Alice, the daughter of Sir John de Whatton, married Sir John Woodford, Lord of Ashby-Folville, whose bearing was: Sable, three leopards' heads Gules, jess. three fleurs de lys Argent, and who impaled the shield of Whatton, Argent, on a bend Sable, between six crosslets Gules, three besants. By her Sir John Woodford had a son, Sir Robert, who married Isabel, the daughter of John Neville, descendant of Sir William Neville, Lord of Rolleston, a branch of the Raby family, who derived their lineage from Cospatric, Earl of Northumberland, son of Maldred and Algith his wife, grand-daughter of King Etheldred II. The Nevilles of Raby had for their armorial ensign: Gules, a saltire Argent, and have given Earls to Salisbury, Westmorland, and Warwick. “Memorand'. quod antedictus Johannes Wodford, Miles, desponsavit...........filiam Johannis Watton, militis, et habuerunt exitrun inter ipsos, Robertum Wodford, Armigerum. Arms: quarterly, Woodford, Prest, Folvile, and Brabazon, impaling, Argent on a bend Sable three bezants Or, betwixt six cross crossletts of the second, Watton." "Mem.' quod antedictus Robertus Wodford, Miles, desponsavit Isabellam, filiam Johannis Nevyll, de Rolleston in com.' Notting'. et habuerunt exitum inter eos, 1. Robertum Wodford, militem; 2. Joannam, uxorem Laurentii Berkly, militis; 3. Agnetem, uxorem Thome Chetwod, militis; 4. Isabellam, uxorem Laurentii Sherard. Arms: quarterly, Woodford, Prest, Folvile, and Brabazon, impaling Gules, a saltire Ermine, Nevylle." "Here may ye see and truly undeerstand GENT. MAG. March, 1825. 201 a trewe pedegrewe of Sir Thomas Nevyll, knyet, lord of Rolleston, beside Newark, how he weddyd Dame Cecile, daughter of Sir Guy Blankminster, of Cornewyll, lord of the Isle of Sully, and other many fayre lordshipes in the same contrey; and the sayd Sir Thomas and Dame Cecile his wyffe hadde iosa Sir Willin' Nevyll, the gode knyet, and lord of Rolleston." "At Oweston, in the church windowes there, Sable, three leopards' heads Gules, jess. three fleurs de lys Argent, Woodford, impaling Argent on a bend Sable, three bezants Or, between six cross crosslets Gules, Whatton.* ROBERT DE WHATTON, eldest son of Sir John, and who had a capital mansion at Long-Whatton, married Katharine, one of the daughters of... ... Leeke, of the county of Nottingham, and had several children: John, Richard, Philip, and Agnes. John Whatton, the eldest son, represented the county of Leicester in Parliament (with Wm. Feldyng), 38 Henry VI. and married Margaret, daughter of Robert Woodford, whereupon he impaled, Sable, three leopards' heads Gules, jess. three fleurs de lys Argent; he had six children: Robert, 14 Edw. IV.; Geoffrey, 16 Edw. IV.; William, Elizabeth, Ambrose, and Mary. Geoffrey, the second son, was father of another Geoffrey, 23 Hen. VIII. then about 24 years old, ancestor of the Whattons of Mapplewell, in the forest of Charnwood, noticed by Nichols, at which hamlet they had a good stone mansion, defended by a moat, surrounded by hills, woods, groves, rocks of stone, granite, and dells of slate. The description introduced by Marshall, though perhaps rather a digression, is worthy of remark. "The Charnwood Hills, he says, seen obscurely, appear as an extensive range of mountains, much larger, and of course much more distant than they really are. When approached, the mountain style is still preserved, the prominences are distinct, sharp, and most of them pointed with ragged rock. One of these prominences, Bardon Hill, rises above the rest, and may be styled the Olympus of Leicestershire, and per * Chart. 12 Hen. IV.-Ex collect. R. Bellers. -Notæ Eccles. de What. Longa ex collect. Joh. Knyv.-Ex Mon. in Eccles. de What. Longa.-Excerp. de Stirp. de Woodf.-Ex Coll. Comitis Harb.-Chart. 12 Hen. VII.-Chartula de Woodf. in Bibl. Cot. Claud. A XIII.—MSS. P. Le Neve. haps 202 Descent of the Family of Whatton. haps of this country; for it is seen in more directions, if not further, than any other eminence in England. It sits among mountain forms about it, with the most venerable aspect, bearded with the bramble, wild thorn, and the oak, a cover for birds of the finest plumage, and the most delicious taste. The woodcock and the pheasant inhabit where it is said was the abode of the ancient Druids, of whom there are apparently some remains on the North side of the hill." Resuming the subject in progression, it will be proper, by way of illustration, to set down the armories hitherto at Melton Mowbray and Whatton. "At Whatton Church, in com' Lestria, -1. Argent, a chevron Sable.-2. Azure, three hedge hogs Or.-3. Sable,six annuletts, Or.-4. Argent, on a bend Sable, between six cross crosslets Gules, three bezants Or.In Melton Church, Argent, on a bend Sable three bezants Or, between six cross cross lets Gules, impaling Sable three leopards' heads Gules, surmounted by as many fleurs de lys Argent." Vincent's Visitation gives the intermarriage of Whatton and Leeke: in Ecc'la de Whatton Longa, Argent, a chevron Sable, between three boars, erroneously designed for Whatton,Sable, six annulets Or, 3, 2, 1, Leeke. The Harleian Manuscripts shows the alliance of the Whatton family with that of Woodford. Holme, Dep. Chester Herald, in his Notes, June 8, 1583, describes the shield of Whatton, impaling Woodford as follows: Grene's house, the Swane, at Melton, theise cotes: Argent, on a bend Sable between 6 cross crossletts Gules, three -bezants; empaling Sable, 3 leopards' heads Gules, gess. three fleurs de lys Argent." The Swan Inn at Melton Mowbray abounded with traces of antiquity, and was also the repository of the remnants of the arms formerly belonging to the trained bands *. "In JOHN WHATTON, second son of Sir John, was Prior of Ulvescroft, in the reign of King Edward IV. a religious house which displayed for its armorial ensign, Gules, seven mascles Or, and subsequently, Argent, a saltire between in chief a ducal coronet, and in fess Chart. 25, 26, Hen. VI.-Notæ Eccles. de What. Longa.-Vinc. Vis. Lestr. 1619, 127, p. 293.-Ex Rotulis 38 Hen. VI. Harl. MSS. No. 2017, p. 84.-Ex Collect. R. Holme. two mitres Or. [March, Among the records of a memorial in these "Habemus ex remissione, relaxatione, et quietâ clamatione Joh'is Whatton Prioris de Ulvescrofte, et ejusdem loci Conventûs, totum jus suum et clameum que unquam habuerunt, habent, seu quovis modo in futuro habere poterint de et in certis parcellis terre, pasture, et prati, in Charley, vocat' le Oldefeld, et Longwong, cum fessis et sepibus, &c. Dat'. xxvi. die Septembris, anno regni Regis Edwardi quarti vi. ut in Carta v. libri de Chartwary." The Priory is situated in a valley in high eminences and fine woods of oak, the forest of Charnwood, adorned by and appears to have been founded by the Earl of Quincy, or, as some affirm, by Robert de Bellamont, Earl of Leicester†, surnamed Blanchmaines, under the patronage of the holy Trinity and blessed Mary, for Friars Eremites of the order of St. Augustine. These Friars, Polydore Vergil affirmeth, for their habit wore in their cloister a white garment close girt, and when they went out, a black one over it, with a broad leathern girdle, and a black cornered cap. "The Priors had a stately mansion, called Charley, with waters, royalties, &c. and kept their houndes, greyhounds, and hawkes of their own, and did hunte, course, and hawk, throughout all the forrest, that is to saye, fallow deer, roe, foxes, hares, and likewise did hawke at the partridges and pheasantes; thus in these days a religious life appeared so innocent and so beautiful, that many embraced it. The storey goes, that once upon a time Thomas Lord Marquess of Dorset was offended at the said hunting, which the Prior understanding, went to Bradgate with a grant from Roger, Erle of Quincy, one of the ancestors of *Ex Rotulis de Ulv. + Copious memoirs of him and his numerous religious foundations, may be seen in Nichols's Leicestershire, vol. I. General Index, p. 60. The noble families of Quency, Earls of Winton, and Ferrars, lords of Groby, were liberal benefactors of Ulvescroft Priory. In 1465 the priories of Charley and Ulvescroft, both in the same county, were united by consent of their respective patrons, Sir John Bourchier, knt. and Dame Elizabeth his wife, grand-daughter and heiress of Wm. Lord Ferrars of Groby. The Priory of Ulvescroft was returned to the Commissioners to be worth, according to Dugdale, 83l. 10s. 64d.; according to Speed, 1011. 3s. 104d. It was suppressed in 1534, among the religious 1825.] Descent of the Family of Whatton. the said lord, of the liberty of huntinge at pleasure, by these wordes, usque ad sallum, the which being produced the Marquess sayd, Well Prior, I have put my red deer forth lately, spare them I pray thee, and spare not the fallow deer." Of the ruins of the Convent, a lofty tower, standing on two elevated pointed arches, a high mouldering wall, with large Gothic windows, and other fragments, still remain, presenting a fine delineation of monastic grandeur, and the rude luxury of those remote times. The engraving (see Plate 1.) is taken from Nichols, who observes, "Ulvescroft is the most pure and best preserved religious ruin in the county, and though but little known or noticed by tourists, is well worthy of attention." "Robert Whatton had three children, Robert, the eldest dyed in 1554, being about the age of 48 yeares; by Alice his wife, who survived him, he left one daughter Elizabeth, and a son John, who wrote himself of Thurnby, and who marryed Sence Penburye. This John Whatton, who owned a fair estate, passed all his lands at Whatton to Robert, his cousin, who had issue George, Phillippa, Ellen, Anne, Tho religious houses. It was, however, especially re-founded by King Henry VIII.; but in 1539, the Prior again surrendered it into the King's hands. In 1534 the priories of Ulvescroft and Charley, with all lands belonging to them, were granted to Thomas Manners, Earl of Rutland, who passed them to Sir Andrew Judd, Lord Mayor of London in 1540; and he alienated them the same year to Henry Duke of Suffolk. At his attainder the site of the priory again reverted to the Crown. It was afterwards granted to the Strelley family. Úlvescroft has since passed through the families of Wilson and Style, to that of Bosvile of Ravensfield Park, co. York, the present owners.-EDIT. 203 mas, Katharine, Mary, and Robert; George, the eldest, departed this life about the yeare 1590, leaving two daughters his heyres." On an inquisition taken at Leicester in 1590, it was found that George Whatton, gent. died in the month of April 1586; that he held nothing of the King in capite, and that his daughters, Anne and Elizabeth, were his coheirs. The marriage between William Eyre and Elizabeth Whatton appears in the Register in 1594; the interment of Robert Whatton and Margaret his wife is also noticed, but further with that branch the Register does not proceed. On "In Long Whatton Church, on a broken blue flat stone, upon a brass plate, this inscription: Pray for the soule of Robert Whatton, arm', whych decessed the v. day of March, anno Dom.' MCCCCCXLII. whose soule I.H.U. have mercy, amen. Armes: on a bend betwene six cross crossletts three bezants, quartered with three hedge hogs." Nichols introduces engravings of the following coats of arms, in the windows: Argent, on a bend Sable between six cross crosslets Gules, three besants, and the same quartering, Argent, a chevron between three hedge hogs Sable. The tomb-stones which commemorated the different persons of the family, were many years ago removed from their burial places to other parts of the church, where some may still be recognized *. JOHN WHATTON of Thurnby, son and heir of Robert and Alice, married Sence, daughter of . . . . Penbury of Loseby, esq. son of. Penburye of Northamptonshire, and Elizabeth his wife, daughter of William Ashby, Lord of Loseby; which Elizabeth, it should seem, was also the wife of William Waryng, a merchant of the Staple of Calais. In the Harleian Manuscripts, the alliance is noticed as follows: "William Ashby, grandson of Thomas Ashby of Lowesby, by Agnes, daughter of Sir Richard Illingworth, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, had a Vinc. Vis. Lestr. 1619, 127, p. 322.-Chart. 15 Hen. VII.-Ex ejusd. Fam. Stem. per W. Wyrley.-Chart. 25 Sept. 17 Eliz. Reg. de What. Longa.-Inq. p. m. 32 Eliz.-Ex Mon. in Eccles. de What. L.Harl. MSS. Nos. 1189, 6590, p. 95. daughter 204 Descent of the Family of Whatton. daughter Elizabeth, uxor burye de com.' North'ton." Pen This William Ashby, whose coat of arms was, Argent, a lion ramp. Sable, a chief Gules, derived his descent from Richard de Ashby and Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heiress of John Burdet, lord of Loseby, and Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heiress of Sir Roger de la Zouch, of Lubbesthorpe, whose ancestor Sir Alan de la Zouch, lord of Ashby, had his origin from Alan, Viscount of Rohan, and Constance his wife, daughter and heiress of Conan, Earl of Bretagné, and Maud his wife, natural daughter of King Henry I. In Loseby Church a tomb-stone has this inscription: "Hic jacet Agnes, quondam uxor Willi' Ashby, arm'. Domini de Lowesby, filia D'ni Ricardi Illingworth, militis, capitalis baronis scaccarii Domini Regis, obiit 1492-3." John Whatton and Sence his wife had two sons, William and John, of Raunstone, High Sheriff of Leicestershire, 14 Car. I. The following curious Letter was written by the latter to Sir William Herrick, jeweller and goldsmith to Queen Elizabeth and to King James the First, upon the decease of his wife, Sir William's niece: of a dossen [March, from her birth; and she hath made as great shew in her words and carriage to me and others that she can affect me, and will carrie herselfe in such a loveing manner as is fittinge as I can desire; which indeed I have beue doubtfull of, whomesoever I should mach withall in respect of my age; but if I doe marry at all, I must make a hazard, and this waye is as likely a waye to prove well as any I can goe, for greater hopes I cannot have; and that was it which I'aymed at rather than greatness of birth, friends, or portion, she being one that feareth God, and is of verye good report. I see to live unmarried will be a verie uncomfortable life for me, which I have had sad experience of since my wife died; and having, I hope, performed those thinges for her which were fitting, both in her life, at her death, and since, yt is neither unlawful nor discommendable for me to marrye againe, which indeed she on her death-bed did wish and desire. I did seeke to God for his blessing and direction in this business, of so great weyght to me; and I hope his blessing will goe along with me, and make it good and comfortable both for soule and bodye. And thus, good Sir, giveing you thankes for the love and good you write you have and wish to me, I take leave, and rest your verie loveing kinsman, JOHN WHATTON. "Raunstone, the 2d of August, 1639. "GOOD SIR,-I receaved your letter, and should have bene verie glad to have had your company at the Assizes, which if I had known of your being in towne, I should have sent to desire it; but yt seemeth you had other occasions hindred your cominge. For the other business you write of, yt is indeed likely that I shall marrye a young daughter (in comparison to my yeares) of Mr. Babington's, being betweene five and sixe and twentye yeares old: yet or more that were mentioned to me, both Knights' daughters, and Knights and Barronets' daughters, and some of greater birth, and others of verie good fashion and quality, before I pitched upon this gentlewoman, and divers since, there hath not bene above two above the age of this, but divers of them younger. I did not hastily resolve on this, but with good considerations, and the approbation and verie good likeing of a verie worthy divine, and did think that, all thinges wayed well, she would be the fittest of any that I heard of, and so I think still, of others that have been motioned since; she is commended to be verie meake, humble, and one that will be suteable to my conditions, which I am assured of by a neer freind of mine that hath bene in house with her «To the right worshipful his verie loveing unkle Sir William Heiricke, Knight, at his house in Beaumanor; present these." John Whatton occasionally resided in the Newark, Leicester. He was an Esquire of the body to King Charles, Justice of the Peace for the County, &c. and subsequently married Catharine the daughter of Thomas Babington of Rothley Temple, esq.; by whom he had children, three sons, John, William, and Thomas, and three daughters, Catharine, Mary, and Sence. He purchased the Thurnby estate for Feb. 16, 1656, was buried in St. Marone of his younger sons; and dying tin's Church, where a monument is erected to his memory, an engraving and description of which appear in Nichols's History of Leicestershire*. (To be continued.) Mr. URBAN, Nottingham, March 1. May and Oct. last), I crave your kind attention to the following observations. The arguments hitherto advanced * St. Geo. Vis. Lestr. 1683, K. 2. p. 234, 235.-Stem. W. Waryng.-Chart. 15 Hen. VII.-Stem. W. Ashby.-Ex Mon. apud Loseb.-Vinc. Vis. Lestr. 1619, 127, p. 73. against |