Thomas Fiennes (1516 - 1541)

Born 1516 in Herstmonceux, Sussex, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 29 Jun 1541 at about age 25 in London, England

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Biography

Thomas Fiennes was the son of Sir Thomas Fiennes and Jane Sutton, daughter of Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley. When his father died in 1528, he became the heir apparent to his grandfather’s, Sir John Fiennes, title and the family seat at Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex. He succeeded to the title at the approximate age of 19 in 1533.^[1][2]

In 1536, Thomas married Mary Neville, daughter of George Neville, 5th Baron Bergavenny. To this union were born Gregory Fiennes, 10th Lord Dacre^[3][4] and Margaret Fiennes, Baroness Dacre^[5][6]. An elder son, Thomas, is briefly mentioned but no known information is given about him except that he died before the restitution of the family title in 1558 at the age of 15 years.^[7]

Fiennes served as a member of the jury at the trial of Anne Boleyn in 1536, Thomas, Lord Darcy and John, Lord Hussey in May 1537 for their part in the Pilgrimage of Grace, and of Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu and Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter in 1538 for the Exeter Conspiracy.^[8]

The family was disgraced and disentitled for the events of April 30, 1541. Fiennes led a party of gentlemen, including his brother-in-law John Mantell, John Frowds, George Roidon, Thomas Isleie, and two yeomen Richard Middleton and John Goldwell; to poach on the lands of Sir Nicholas Pelham. During this escapade, the men came across John Busbrig, James Busbrig, and Richard Summer who were the servants of Pelham. This encounter turned into an affray in which John Busbrig was fatally wounded.^[9]

Fiennes, along with several of the other men, was charged with murder and arraigned before the Lord High Steward, Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley on June 27, 1541. Fiennes had originially entered a plea of not guilty but had been persuaded to change it to guilty and throw himself on the mercy of the court. Unlike many of the other men, Fiennes was not executed by beheading. He was hanged at Tyburn on June 29, 1541. Fiennes was buried at St Sepulchre without Newgate Churchyard, London, City of London, Greater London, England. Mantell, Frowds, and Roidon shared the same fate for the crime.^[10][11]

The family title was restored to Fiennes’ second son, Gregory Fiennes, 10th Lord Dacre in 1558.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia Thomas Finnes, 9th Baron Decre
2. ↑ The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe Additional: #28724 pg 2873
3. ↑ Wikipedia Thomas Finnes, 9th Baron Decre
4. ↑ The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe Additional: #28724 pg 2873
5. ↑ Wikipedia Thomas Finnes, 9th Baron Decre
6. ↑ The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe Additional: #28724 pg 2873
7. ↑ Wikipedia Thomas Finnes, 9th Baron Decre
8. ↑ Wikipedia Thomas Finnes, 9th Baron Decre
9. ↑ Wikipedia Thomas Finnes, 9th Baron Decre
10. ↑ Wikipedia Thomas Finnes, 9th Baron Decre
11. ↑ Find a Grave Name: Thomas Fiennes Birth: 1516 Death: Jun 29, 1541 Burial: St Sepulchre without Newgate Churchyard, London, City of London, Greater London, England
12. ↑ Wikipedia Thomas Finnes, 9th Baron Decre

See also:

• The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom Extant, Extinct, or Dormant Author: G.E. Cokayne, Clarenceux King of Arms.1916. Vol. IV: Dacre to Dysart. Editors: Hon. Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday Pg. 10.
• Wikipedia: Baron Dacre regarding the title
• The Elements of Heraldry. 1787 page 158
• Ellis, William Smith. Hurstpierpoint: Its Lords and Families, Ancient and Modern (1866) Page 28-9
• Edward Hasted. "Parishes: Cowdham," in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 2, (Canterbury: W Bristow, 1797), 60-78. British History Online, accessed July 21, 2017, [1]
• Benolte, Thomas; Philipot, John; & Owen, George. The Visitations of the County of Sussex: 1530 and 1633-4. London: The Harleian Society, 1905. Vol LIII, p 12, Fynes.