Robert Peyton (abt. 1469 - abt. 1517)

Born about 1469 in Suffolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Clere) Peyton — married before 1498 in England

Descendants

Died about 18 Mar 1517 at about age 48 in Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England

Biography

Robert was born about 1469. He was the son of Thomas Peyton and Jane Calthorpe. He passed away in 1518. ^[1]

Suceeded his brother Thomas in 1492, was made Knight baneret on the field after the battle of Stoke Field 16th June 1487.

Sherriff for counties of Cambridge & Huntingdon in 1499 married Elizabeth the daughter of Sir Robert Clere of Ormesby, Norfolk.

Died 1518 Brief notes from the will of Sir Robert Peyton.

To be buried in Isleham Church Prayers to be said for the soul of brother John Peyton An escucheon with fathers arms to be set upon the wall of the church of St Giles Cripplegate. Eldest son Robert 500 sheep 2nd son John the manor of Barton St Martin in Suffolk called Calthorpes Dame Elizabeth my wife 2 parts of my household stuff To Eldest son Robert and his wife Frances chains of gold. 3rd son Edward to be provided for by his executors. Daughter Elizabeth 300 marks

Brother Edward Peyton 20 marks Sister Dorothy Peyton 10 marks Uncle Francis Peyton a black gown Christopher son of said uncle 10 sheep To keep the anniversary of Thomas Peyton Esq and Jane his wife father and mother to me.

Died the 27 March 1518, being buried in Isleham Church, where there is an altar tomb of freestone with a slab of speckled marble from the middle of which has been torn a plain cross. Under an arch in the wall at the feet are the matrices of a man and woman, three boys and three girls with a label from the mouth of the first of each to a crucifix and under them this on a brass plate :-

Of yo' charite p'y for the souls of S' Ro'bt Peyton, knyght, which de'pted to God the xviii day of m'che, ye yere of o' lord M° Dxviii and for the soule of Dame Elizabeth Peyton his wyfe, whiche dep'tid to god ye yere of o' lord M'D…

The date has never been filled up, the plate remaining smooth. Over this a fine perk; and under the East window a rich fascia of vine leaves and grapes, and oak foliage above over the space formerly occupied by the altar.

There is a referance in the on-line index to wills at the PRO Will of Dame Elizabethe Payton, Widow of Isleham, Cambridgeshire

Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers. Will of Dame Elizabethe Payton, Widow of Isleham, Cambridgeshire.

Collection: Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Date range: 06 April 1546 - 06 April 1546 Reference:PROB 11/31/102

I think this must be Elizabeth (nee Clere) which puts her date of death later than several other sources I have seen - unfortunatly at the moment I can't view this will. (TG)

Further information about the tomb of Robert & Elizabeth from the British History site - History of Isleham church

Work on the church continued in the early 16th century: 10 marks was left for the north aisle in 1505 and £8 6s. 8d. by Sir Robert Peyton in 1518 for the master joiner making its roof. (fn. 49) Some chancel windows contained c. 1580 glass with the arms of Bishop FitzJames of Rochester (1497-1503). Other windows then preserved the arms and figures of Sir Robert Peyton and of his wife Elizabeth Clere, both heraldically robed. Their massive tombchest, ornately panelled with much-cusped quatrefoils centred on shields, has lost the brasses, extant c. 1580, of themselves, their thirteen sons, and two daughters. In the 1960s it was resited where Sir Robert had directed, below a 'rood', a carved panel beneath an ogeed arch, once depicting the Deposition of Christ in brass figures, set in the south chapel east wall. A piscina beside it was reinstated after being found in 1963 amidst rubble inside that tombchest. (fn. 50)

So is this a mistake for 3 sons referring to the 3 sons mentioned in Robert's will? or if not what happened to the other sons of Robert and Elizabeth? did they die young like the first born William Peyton at Ombersley? or could they account for any of the Peyton families that are so far not firmly connected into the family? Apparently the documentation for this fact is at the British Library Additional Manuscripts. 1301, ff. 129, 130; and was comunicated to the authors of the article in 1962-4, by Maj. D.C.W. Peyton.

Research Notes

From his memorial it is known that Robert's eldest surviving son Robert was born 1498, therefore the other children named in his will - John, Edward and Elizabeth must have been born after this and all underage at their father's death.

From 'The History of Parliment' web site it has that there was also a son Richard who was mentioned in a family settlement dated 1514 - this would be the settlement of John Langley of Knowlton in Kent (first husband of Jane Peyton, Robert's (d1518) sister), of his lands upon his nephews John Peyton with remainder to Edward Peyton with remainder to Richard Peyton with remainder to Robert Peyton, however the version I have (from a secondary source Chesters of Chichley) says to John remainder to Edward remainder to Robert, remainder to Robert. The History of Parliament's site version makes more sense - but why wasn't Richard mentioned in his fathers will? It is off putting that The History of Parliment site has mixed up Edward Peytons of 2 generations and must be mistaken that the Richard under discussion (if he existed?) was father of Edmund of Calais and married and deceased by 1518 - he cannot have been born before 1505.

I have so far been unable to locate a primary source for the sited settlement of 1514 - anyone know where it is?

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Tiggy Payton, Mar 16, 2013

• Hisory of Parliament Online: biography for son Robert Peyton (by 1498-1550)
• https://www.genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00695996&tree=LEO