William Martyn (abt. 1446 - 1504)

Born about 1446 in Athelhampton House, Dorset, England

Ancestors

Husband of Christian (Paulet) Chudleigh — married 1499 (to 24 Mar 1503) in London, England

Husband of Jane (Clevedon) Martyn — married 1500 in Piddleton, Dorset, England

Descendants

Died 25 Mar 1504 at about age 58 in Athelhampton House, Dorset, England

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PPP will remain as he can be confused with Sir William Martyn, Lord Mayor of London. Fitz-Henry-9 22:06, 21 September 2020 (UTC)

Biography

William Martyn was born about 1446 to Sir Thomas Baron of Athelhampton Martin and Margaret Baroness of Athelhampton De Clevedon. He is often confused with another WIlliam Martyn who served as Mayor of London as recent research has uncovered. His reported DOB and DOD depends on the source and is often contradictory. The best available evidence is that he was born about 1446 and died about 1504 ^{[1][2] [3]}

Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton, near Dorchester, Dorset (c. 1446 – 14 January 1503) was Sheriff of London in 1484 and Lord Mayor of London in 1492. He built the current Great Hall of Athelhampton in or around 1485. He also received licence to enclose 160 acres (647,000 m²) of deer park and licence to fortify his manor. Effigies of him and his family can be seen in the Church of Saint Mary in nearby Puddletown.^[4]

Odd Fact: Sir William's pet ape is said to haunt the Great Hall for, after his master's death, he wandered the house looking for his master.^[5]

Lord Mayor of London?

Promotion to the nobility came late in life for William Martyn, which is not to belittle his achievements earlier in life. He was actively engaged in administration for the government at a local level; he was at various times a Commissioner for the Peace, his name appears as a witness on many local documents and in 1492 a William Martyn was the Steward of Dorchester. He was Collector of Customs and Subsidies in Poole in 1473 and 1476, a position his father had held in 1449 and later his son and heir, Christopher, in 1499. A licence to import wine was granted to him in 1486, suggesting he was a merchant as well as being a member of the landed gentry and a sheep farmer.

He was born in 1446 and inherited the manor of Athelhampton and estates in Somerset at the death of his father, Thomas Martyn, on the 14th of September 1485. The standing of the Martyn family in Dorset was on a par to that of the Trenchards and Strangeways; in short William Martyn was a figure of importance in Dorset society of the day. We think it unlikely this busy member of the Dorset gentry could have found time in 1492/3 to hold and fulfil the duties of the office of the Lord Mayor of London, a role credited to him by most commentators from the usually reliable Royal Commission on Historical Monuments to the less reliable Wikipedia and most in between.

The Evidence

A trustworthy source nearer to the events of those days, Hutchins^[6], makes no mention of Sir William Martyn holding the position of Lord Mayor of London – neither does an earlier source, Coker’s Survey of Dorset. ^[7]

In 1495 a Licence was issued by Henry VII: “To William Martyn, gentleman, and his heirs, to enclose and fortify their manor at Alampston, co. Dorset, with walls of stone and lime, and to build towers within the said manor and crenellate the same and to impark and inclose with pales 100 acres of their lands called ‘Adlampson Parc’ and 60 acres called ‘le Est’ and le Mydell Closes’ belonging to the said manor and make a park thereof so than none shall enter the said park or warren to course or take anything which belongs to park or warren under a forfeiture of 1501”.

Hutchins says the father of William Martyn of Athelhampton was called Thomas; elsewhere it is stated that William Martyn, Lord Mayor of London, was the son of Walter Martyn of Hertford. Furthermore, the Chronicles of London report that William Martyn, Alderman, was knighted in 1494, but in the licence granted to William Martyn of Athelhampton in 1495 and mentioned above he is referred to as a gentleman and this continues to be the case until 1501.

We might also question why separate general pardons were granted for offences prior to March 1502: one to William Martyn of Athelhampton, co. Dorset, knight and another to William Martyn, knight and alderman, a citizen of London. Another pardon roll refers to one Richard Martyn, gentleman, skinner or merchant of the staple as being “son and heir of William Martyn knight, late alderman of London.” The heir to Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton was named Christopher; William’s second son was named Richard and is later referred to as Richard Martyn of Exeter, not London.

Then there is the matter of the Wills. Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton died in 1504. According to The Chronicles of London Sir William Martyn, described as a “skinner and late mayor”, died in October 1505. In the Will of Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton many Dorset place names are mentioned but there is no reference at all to London. In “The Index of Wills Proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury” a will was proved in 1504 of a Sir William Martyn of Puddletown, Dorset. A further will was proved in 1505, that of Sir William Martyn of St. Christopher’s, London.

Conclusion

All the evidence points to there being two men who shared the same name, rank and importance within their own communities yet certainly nothing we have found detracts from the status and respect afforded of Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton.

Posted in: Athelhampton, Real Lives. Source: Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton

William Martyn Family

William MARTIN

Born: Abt 1460 (1446) Place: Of, Athelhampston, Dorsetshire, England

Died: 24 Mar 1504

Buried: Place: Chapel Magdeline, Piddletown, Dorsetshire, England

Married: Abt 1494 Place:

Father: Thomas MARTIN

Mother: _____ CLEVEDON

(1) Wife's Name:

Isabel FARRINGTON

Born: Abt 1470 Place: Of, Farrington, Dorsetshire, England

Married: Abt 1494 Place:

Father: Thomas FARRINGTON

Mother: ______ FARRINGTON

Children

1. Christopher MARTIN Born: Abt 1495 Place: Of, Athelhampston, Dorsetshire, England
2. Elizabeth MARTIN Born: Abt 1497 Place: Of, Athelhampston, Dorsetshire, England

(2) Wife's Name:

Christiana PAULET

Born: Abt 1453 Place: Hinton St George, Somersetshire, Engl

Married: Abt 1499 Place:

Father: William PAWLETT

Mother: Mrs-William PAWLETT

Children

1. Richard MARTIN Born: Abt 1500 Place: Of, Exeter, Devonshire, England
2. John MARTIN Born: Abt 1503 Place: Of, Exetor
3. Elizabeth MARTIN Born: Abt 1504 Place: Of, Hackomb, Devonshire, England

Note: The pedigree information above was derived from Family Group Record FamilySearch Ancestral File v4.19 and a Geni Profile for Sir William Martyn, Lord Mayor of London Information in these files is commonly obtained from secondary source material, such as user generated profiles, often unsourced and may contain errors. This profile is a WIP and the information presented is subject to revision if the discovery of more reliable sources or new information warrants making a correction.

Note: Although it has been proposed that William Martyn married 3rdly, a Jane Clevedon all evidence found to date points to William having been married only twice. There has been no evidence found to indicate Sir William Martyn married a Jane Clevedon. William's mother however, was Margaret De Clevedon so perhaps this created some confusion. Most sources indicate William was married 1st, to Isabelle Farringdon, they had two children, and 2ndly, to Christiana Paulet, they had three children, the last being born in 1504. This birth in 1504 is four years after William is indicated as being married to Jane Clevedon in 1500. Obviously, this can not be correct. Sir William passed away about 1504 but William and Jane Clevedon are supposed to have had a son John Martin, born about 1516, which would be 12 years after William died. There is also a Roger Martyn, born 1518, given as a son of William Martyn and Isabelle Farringdon. The difficulty with this relationship, like that of John b 1516 is that Sir William, his proposed father, died 14 years prior to Roger's birth. Isabelle Farringdon Martyn, who is indicated as being Roger's mother, died about 1498, approximately 18 years prior to his birth.

Sir William Martyn, K.B., of Athelhampton, was married twice, first to Isolda, daughter of Thomas Farringdon, of Farringdon, and second to Christiana, daughter of Sir William Paulet, of Hinton St. George, who outlived him and re-married James Chudleigh — married after 1507 in Ashton, Devon, England. From this second marriage (William by Christiana) came the Martyns of Seaborough, brasses in whose memory may be seen at Crewkerne and Hinton St. George. His eldest son by his first wife Isabel, als. Isolda, was Christopher Martyn^[8]

The (unsourced) Wikipedia article on Sir William Martin indicates two marriages for William. Married 1st Isolda Faringdon, married 2nd Christian Pawlet. Children: (1)Gulielmus (William), b.1472,d.1497/8, (2) Christopher d 1524 (3) Richard of Exeter, (4) Elizabeth, married John Carew ^[9]

Two children of Sir William are mentioned as sons and heir in, Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton, from "Dorset Ancestors" as follows : "The heir to Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton was named Christopher; William’s second son was named Richard and is later referred to as Richard Martyn of Exeter, not London." ^[10]

Reference must now be made to the children of Sir William Martin, by his wife, Christian Poulett, whose mother was the heiress of Denebrand. Lady Martin was a sister of Sir Amias Poulett, who was knighted for his gallant behaviour at the battle of Newark-upon-Trent, on June 6th, 1487, and he it was who built much of Hinton Saint George.^[11]

By Sir William Martin she had a son, Richard, who first married Margaret Gold, of Seaborough, and the family thus gained a connection with this charming little village situated close to Crewkerne.

Christian Pdulett had been twice previously married. Her first husband was Henry Hull, of Larkbeare, Exeter, who died in May, 1490. Then she wedded Nicholas Chichester, of Ralegh, and had issue, Richard, and Ehzabeth (who married John Carew, of Haccombe) ; next. Sir William Martin, and afterwards, Sir James Chudleigh, of Ashton — four husbands in all. ^[12]

Athelhampton House

The Domesday Book records that in 1086 the Bishop of Salisbury, with Aethelric as tenant, held the manor, then called Pidele. The name Aethelhelm appears in the 13th century, when Athelhampton belonged to the de Loundres family. In 1350 Richard Martyn married the de Pydele heiress, and their descendant Sir William Martyn (who was Lord Mayor of London in 1492) received licence to enclose 160 acres (65 ha) of land to form a deer park and a licence to fortify the manor.^[13]

Situated along the old A35 between Puddletown and Tolpuddle, much of the house dates back over five centuries. Before 1066 Aethelric held the manor and in 1086 the site was recorded in the Domesday Book as Pidele. The name Athelhampton appears in about 1350 when Sir Richard Martyn married the estate’s heiress and the Martyn family name subsequently became synonymous with Athelhampton for the next two and a half centuries.

Like all the best manors, Athelhampton appears in the Domesday Book, as a property of the Bishop of Salisbury. The estate's medieval name, Pidele, is perhaps the nominal origin of the River Piddle, which flows through the grounds; also of neighbouring Puddletown, and certainly of the de Pydele family, which intermarried with the Martyn clan. Sir William Martyn, member of parliament, justice of the peace and ship-owner, was licensed in 1495 to enclose 160 acres of deer park, and to fortify his manor house with crenellated towers. His grandson Robert added the west wing to the house, and his great-grandson Nicholas married Margaret Wadham, sister of the founder of Wadham College, Oxford. All have tombs in the Athelhampton Aisle of St Mary's church, Puddletown, but their best memorial is the mellow stone manor-house itself. Sir William's great hall is superb, with timbered roof, linenfold panelling, minstrels' gallery and armorial glass in the windows, showing the family crest, a chained ape, which is believed to have been a family pet.^[14]

In 1485 Sir William Martyn built the Great Hall and its timbered roof remains substantially as it was built. It is currently considered to be one of the finest examples of 15th century architecture. Much of the heraldic glass in the windows of this medieval hall also dates from this time. Sir William became Lord Mayor of London in 1492 and received licence to enclose 160 acres of deer park to fortify his manor “with walls of stone and lime and to build towers and crenellate them”. Remains of this boundary can still be found, and Sir William’s tomb lies in the Athelhampton Aisle of St Mary’s Church in Puddletown.^[15]

Ownership of Athelhampton House after Sir WIlliam

Sir William Martyn was a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London ^[16] in 1492. He built his estate of Athelhampton , sometime after 1485. After his death in 1503/1504 Athelhampton was passed to his son Christopher Martyn^[17]

1503 Christopher Martyn was Sir William Martyn's son. He was said to have built the west wing of the Great Chamber at Athelhampton.

1524 Robert Martyn added the gate-house to Athelhampton, sometime before 1550.

1550 Sir Nicholas Martyn was the last male heir of the Martyn line. He was buried in 1595 in Athelhampton Aisle. Nicholas was said to have had ten (10) daughters, but only four of them were given equal shares to the estate. The eldest daughter married Henry Brune. Another daughter married a Tichborne (who sold his part to Henry Brune), another daughter married a White (who also sold her part, in 1645, to Brune, and the last daughter married a Floyer who keep their interest until 1848.

1661 Sir Ralph Banks of Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy inherited Athelhampton from a daughter of the Brune family.

1665 Sir Robert Long bought the estate from Sir Ralph Banks.

In 1794, Sir James Tylney-Long was the eighth Baronet, and a descendant of James Long. Sir James died at age 11 years in 1805. His sister then inherited the estate when she was only 15 years of age. Catherine Tylney-Long was the daughter of Sir James Tylney-Long.

In 1848 Athelhampton was sold to George Wood by the 5th Earl of Mornington: William Richard Arthur Wellessley-Pope-Tylney Long. At this time the Great Hall's roof, at Athelhampton, was repaired.

1848 George Wood added St. John's Church, which was begun in 1861. Finally the Floyer share was acquired and George Wood now had all four shares of the estate. In 1862 the gatehouse was demolished.^[18]

See also: Athelampton House & Gardens YouTube Video Tour

Athelampton House Haunted ?

Ghosts at Athelhampton House

Athelhampton is considered to be one of the most haunted houses in England. It played host to the Living TV Most Haunted crew for one of their first ever episodes. The episode can be found currently on YouTube.

One report that stands out at this location is the pair of duelists in the Great Chamber. One day a woman was trying to relax and read a book in the Great Hall when two unknown men burst into the chamber in the middle of a sword fight. The woman continually pulled on the bell rope for the servants but nobody arrived. She turned to her side and carried on reading while the fight continued until one of the men were cut on the arm and left the room. Later that day the woman reported the incident to the owner and he replied puzzled at the whole thing. He stated, “I can’t understand who the men were you had seen, as all the guests of the hotel were here at tea, so you would have seen them”. Still to this day the two men have never been identified, although the house is believed to have had connections to the Royalists during the Civil War.

The wine cellar adjoins the Great Hall and is said to experience tapping from a ghost known as ‘Cooper’. Various owners, staff and guests of Athelhampton House have all seen what can only be described as a Grey Lady. The current owner of Athelhampton Mr Robert Cooke, has reported seeing her in the early hours passing through the walls in the bedrooms.

A dark apparition that looked like a monk was seen by one of the housemaids in broad daylight. The woman became aware of footsteps behind her in one of the corridors. She quickly turned to see the monk standing outside the bathroom door. It is believed that this person was the Catholic priest to the Martyn family.

Perhaps the most well known ghost of them all is the pet ape, which was accidentally entombed in a secret passage behind the Great Chamber. Though the ghost has never been seen, you can often hear it scratching from the panels of the Great Chamber as it tries to escape.^[19]

See also :Athelhampton House on Most Haunted YouTube Video

Sources

1. ↑ “The Index of Wills Proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury”
2. ↑ Inquisition Post Mortem No 381, William Martyn Knight Cyril Flower, M. C. B. Dawes and A. C. Wood, 'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Henry VII, Entries 351-400', in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Series 2, Volume 3, Henry VII (London, 1955), pp. 209-250. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/series2-vol3/pp209-250 [accessed 21 January 2017].
3. ↑ 962. WLLIAM MARTYN, knight Maskelyne and H. C. Maxwell Lyte, 'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Henry VII, Entries 951-978', in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Series 2, Volume 2, Henry VII (London, 1915), pp. 602-616. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/series2-vol2/pp602-616 [accessed 27 January 2017].
4. ↑ Wikipedia (unsourced) Article Sir William Martyn
5. ↑ Dorset: A haunting beauty that inspired Hardy
6. ↑ John Hutchins (1698–1773) was an English topographer, known as a county historian of Dorset
7. ↑ A Survey of Dorsetshire: Containing the Antiquities and Natural History of that County. ... And a Copious Genealogical Account of Three Hundred of the Principal Families, John Coker, J. Wilcox; and S. Palmer and J. Huggonson, printers, 1732 - Dorset (England)
8. ↑ Some Dorset Manor Houses: With Their Literary and Historical Associations Sidney Heath, William de Courcy Prideaux, Bemrose and Sons, Limited, 1907
9. ↑ Genealogy: Martyn of Athelhampton
10. ↑ Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton
11. ↑ "The house of Martin; being chapters in the history of the West of England branch of that family", W. G. WILLIS WATSON, WILLIAM POLLARD & Co.. Ltd., .39 & 40, NORTH STREET, EXETER, 1906
12. ↑ "The house of Martin; being chapters in the history of the West of England branch of that family", W. G. WILLIS WATSON, WILLIAM POLLARD & Co.. Ltd., .39 & 40, NORTH STREET, EXETER, 1906
13. ↑ Athelhampton House, from Wikipedia
14. ↑ Dorset: A haunting beauty that inspired Hardy
15. ↑ Athelhampton House from Dorset Life Magazine
16. ↑ Evidence exists that indicates that William of Athelhampton was not the Lord Mayor of London
17. ↑ The General Armoury by Mabball-Mytton. FTM CD367-"Notable British Families"
18. ↑ [http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/Martyn.html Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton}
19. ↑ MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN UK & IRELAND/HAUNTED HOUSES TO VISIT

See also:

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p24983.htm#i249829
• Athelhampton House An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, British History Online

• Sir William Martyn

• Sir William Martyn of Athelhampton, Dorset Ancestors Helping you discover your Dorset Ancestors

• Chronicles of London, CHARLES LETHBRIDGE KINGSFORD, M.A.. ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD, THE CLARENDON PRESS, 1905

• Burial Monuments of Dorset, England

• Visitation of the County of Devon, 1620. Vivian, John Lambrick. Henry S. Eland, Exeter, 1895. Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564, & 1620. With additions by Lieutenant-Colonel J.L. Vivian. cont. by John Young. Page 553. "Martyn of Oxton"

• The Visitation of Dorsetshire: A.D. 1565, William Harvey,William Pollard & Company, 1887

• BARONETAGE OF ENGLAND; OR, THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH BARONETS, AND SUCH BARONETS OF SCOTLAND AS ARE OF ENGLISH FAMILIES : WITH GENEALOGICAL TABLES, AND ENGRAVINGS OF THEIR ARMORIAL BEARINGS, BY THE REV. WILLIAM BETHAM, EDITOR, 1804. Page 210

Acknowledgements

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