John Leveson MP (1555 - 1615)

Born 21 Mar 1555 in Cuxton, Kent, England

Ancestors

Husband of Christian (Mildmay) Leveson — married 9 Jun 1586 (to 14 Nov 1615) in England

Descendants

Died 14 Nov 1615 at age 60 in Cuxton, Kent, England

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Biography

John Leveson MP is Notable.

John Leveson was born in 1555, son of Thomas Leveson and his wife, Ursula Gresham.^[1][2] He was educated at Queen's College, Oxford and Gray's Inn. ^[2]

His first wife was Margaret Manwood, daughter of Roger Manwood. ^[2][3] She bore him three daughters. ^[2]

In 1586 John married, as his second wife, Christian, daughter of Sir Walter Mildmay and widow of Charles Barrett. ^[2] Together they were parents of two or three sons and a daughter. ^[2]

John was knighted in 1589. ^[4]

On the 8th of February 1601 John became involved with the rebellion of the Earl of Essex, when he took command of a force on Ludgate Hill and placed a barrier across the street. Essex's men tried to force their way through, and in the resulting skirmish, Essex's stepfather, Sir Christopher Blount was injured, whereupon Essex withdrew with his men to Essex House. ^[5] Essex was found guilty of Conspiracy and imagining the death of the Queen and was beheaded on Tower Green on the 25th of February. ^[6]

John passed away on the 7th of November 1615. ^[2]

He was buried in St. Michael's parish church, Cuxton, Kent.

Abbreviated Will of John Leveson

Emphasis on profile links
Dated: 4 Aug 1615 Proved : 10 Nov 1615^[7]

I Sir John Leveson of Halling, Kent

Beneficiaries : Wife Christian (Lease of paronage of Halling, then to son Richard, Lilleshall)

Son Richard Leveson (£100 pa)

Youngest Son Francis Leveson (Leases Isle of Grain after 17 age, Household items then £1000 at 22)

Daughter Rachel wife of Sir Richard Newport of Eyton

Children of Son John Leveson, Christian and Frances (£3000 each at 20 or marriage at 16)

Brother William Levenson (Forgiveness of debt)

Sister Griselde (£150)

Daughter-in-law Lady Leveson widow

Cousin Penelope Leveson now wife of John Tunstall (£1000)

Sir Walter Leveson of Wolverhampton (Pay £18000 owing)

Other Mentions : Buried in Cuxton Church if I die in Kent otherwise Lilleshall.

Poor of Cuxton etc

Eldest son John Leveson deceased

Bargain and sale to Sir Francis Fane, Sir Thomas Gresham, Sir Edward Barrett, Sir Richard Newport and Walter Barrett. (Provision for wife, Christian)

Long discourse over various debts and wranglings he needed to deal with on behalf of Vice Admiral Richard Leveson and his father Walter, weakening his own estate and reducing the fortune due to son John by a half.

Widow of cousin John Skeffington

John Terricke, Samuel Bowdler

Mrs Corbet, Philip Mainwaring, Husband of Jane Rolston

Indenture between himself and Lady Fitton (Grandmother of Anne Leveson, daughter of Mary Fitton). That Anne Leveson (Fitton) shall marry either of sons Richard or Francis or be paid £4000 (£2000 if Francis) otherwise (£1000)

Lady Fane wife of Sir Francis Fane and niece of wife Christian. (Education of Anne Leveson)

Servants John Watkys (£10 pa), Thomas Foster, Story, Camberford, Hamersley, Marshall, Newton, Suger (Various gifts),

Ellen Johnson (£50 for attending my sickness), Mary Hastings

Overseers: Sir Francis Fane, Sir Robert Harley, Sir Francis Newport, Sir Walter Leveson, Son Sir Edward Barrett son Newport, cousin Walter Gifford, Humphrey Lee

Executors: Wife Christian or Sir Francis Fane or sons Richard or Francis in event of deaths

Witnessed: Richard Browne, Edward Carr, William Gowge

Sources

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 112, Gresham.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} History of Parliament online 1558-1603: LEVESON, John (c.1556-1615), of Halling, Kent; Lilleshall, Salop and Farringdon, London
3. ↑ The visitation of Kent : taken in the years 1619-1621 by John Philipot, Rouge Dragon, Marshal and Deputy to William Camden, Clarenceux by Camden, William, 1551-1623; Philipot, John, 1589?-1645; Hovenden, Robert, 1830-1908; Harleian Society Page 144: Manwood
4. ↑ Knights of England Page 87
5. ↑ Wikipedia: John Leveson
6. ↑ Wikipedia: Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
7. ↑ National Archives PROB 11/126/409 D907040 Will of Sir John Leveson of Halling, Kent

• Cockayne, G. E., The Complete Peerage edited by the Hon. Vicary Gibbs, vol.ii, London, 1912, p.274 and notes.
• Cockayne, G.E., The Complete Peerage edited by H. Arthur Douibleday & Lord Howard de Walden, vol.ix, London, 1936, p.554 and notes.
• Cooke, Robert, Clarenceux King of Arms, The Visitations of Kent, 1574 & 1592, edited by W. Bruce Bannerman, F.S.A., part 2, London, 1924, p.134.
• Will of Sir John Leveson Transcription and Commentary Nina Green 2014