William
Willington
Born about in England
Son of John Willington
and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of
Anne (Middlemore) Willington
— married
about 1505 in England
Husband of
Anne (Littleton) Willington
— married
about 1540 in England
Descendants 
Father of
Margaret (Willington) Greville, Mary (Willington) Sheldon, Catherine (Willington) Throckmorton, Margery (Willington) Cave, Goditha (Willington) Feilding and Elizabeth (Willington) Boughton
Died
at about age 75
in England
Profile last modified
| Created 8 Dec 2014
This page has been accessed 3,249 times.
Contents |
Biography
He was born about 1480 & was the elder son of John of Todenham, Gloucestershire, England whose Will suggests he was a grazier [1]
Members of parliament were chosen from the family. [2]
At about 20 years of age, from his grandfather, another William Willington, he inherited 100 shillings, 12 silver spoons, a silver jug & the best bed with its hangings. He was also entrusted with the administration & sale of 2 tenements - one in Banbury & the other in Stratford, for the support of a chaplain at Todenham. [3].
His interest in the manor of Barcheston was first recorded in 1504 when he acquired some land from one of the 5 freeholders, William Torch. [4]
On 13 Nov 1505 William Willington, Esq. leased the manor of Barcheston, in Warwickshire, England from owners William & Henry Durant, for whom his future grand-father in law, Sir Robert Throckmorton, had acted as trustee since around 1476. [5]
He married twice, on each occasion to a lady of the same name, Anne Middlemore ... but the first one had the maiden surname Middlemore & the second one had the married surname of Middlemore ... his 2 wives were actually sisters-in-law, as the second Anne had been married to the first Anne's brother Thomas.
About 1506 he first married Anne Middlemore, (daughter of Margery Throckmorton & Richard Middlemore of Edgbaston).
In 1506 he entered into a bond of 1000 marks to his mother-in-law, Dame Margery, to secure lands in Stratford, Banbury & elsewhere immediately; they were to be held by feoffees in trust for himself, his wife & their children. [6] Any future purchase of land worth œ9.13s 4d would also be held by trustees on Anne's behalf, which suggests the possibility that this agreement formed part of the marriage settlements, perhaps Anne's jointure lands. [7]
In 1507 Henry Durant (of Barcheston) sold the manor to William Willington. [8]
In 1509 he inclosed 310 acres of the demesne arable, converting the whole into pasture with the exception of 64 acres. The best known story attached to this William WILLINGTON, which has circulated since 1656, is the accusation that he converted arable land in Barcheston to pasture & by allowing the houses to fall into "ruen & decaie, made 24 people homeless. His answers to the king's officers during the hearings in the Chancery & Exchequer courts, suggest that much of the case against him was false & that the manor had been impoverished & run down long before his purchase in 1507. It may even have been partly enclosed by a previous lord. [9] [10]
Nor is it certain that William then enclosed the whole estate. An undated document notes figures for his wool production - 100 sacks - from his Warwickshire lands. [11] Sir William Spencer was his only competitor in the county, with 60 sacks in a list which includes graziers in both "parts" of the county of Warwick & also records Berkshire; both men clearly owned much larger flocks than the others mentioned.
The earliest reference to him as a merchant of the Staple was noted in the general pardon of 1509. [12]
The hamlet of Willington was in Barcheston parish, but part of Willington was included in the King's manor of Great Compton, also known as Long Compton.
His father John died in 1512 & William inherited 400 sheep, the leases at Upton & Upton Abell & the Todenham pastures. His father's Will also mentioned William's 3 daughters, Margaret, Dorothy & Alice, who each received a silver spoon & 2 sheep. [1] Dorothy did not survive into maturity. At least 5 other daughters followed.
His tax assessments are illuminating. He was appointed as a collector of the subsidy of 1524 when he worked alongside the older gentry families but apparently, not subsequently. He was assessed on lands worth 104s & taxed œ3.6s.8d. [13]
His trading ventures were supported by a wool house & 2 fishers' cottages in Calais & a counting house in London, England. On his death they passed to the family with whom William's family had had a long association, George Bradwey (brother of William Bradwey), probably related to the Chipping Campden grazier John with whom William's father had done business. Other than passing references to London associates, his mercantile activities remain obscure. Amongst his trustees he counted, on more than one occasion, William Dauntsey [14] d=1543, a London mercer, Alderman & known moneylender - though possibly not to him. Other contacts were also Londoners - John Fulwood described as parcener (partner), whose lands William had acquired & a haberdasher, William Garrarge. [15] His known activities in Warwickshire are few although he served almost continuously on commissions of the peace from 1529. [16]
In 1529 he & his wife, joined the Guild of the Holy Cross based in Stratford upon Avon. [17]
About 1535 he sold 600 sheep to Robert GEORGE of Brayles whose partner, anticipating profits, was then told by William that he could take none because of the terms of the sale to GEORGE. [18]
In his capacity as Justice of the Peace, he rode to Oxhill on New Year's Eve 1535/36 with his son-in-law Thomas Holte to investigate reports of parishioners that the priest of Oxhill had not made clear, King Henry VIII's position as supreme governor & had none of the reformed prayer books ordered by a proclamation some months previously. His contravention of Privy Council orders concerning the correct celebration of church services & the daily saying of the collect for the King & Queen was reported back to Thomas Cromwell, with whom he seems also to have had other dealings. [19]
His wealth increased with much of it invested in land. In Nov 1536 he recorded the dispositions which are the earliest record of those finally outlined in his Will - arrangements he changed several times. On this occasion he created a trust with William Dauntsey, Alderman of London, Sir Robert Middlemore & an unknown William Baron. [20] Its purpose was to give his first wife a life interest in the manor of Barcheston, before going on to describe an impressive list of lands. Some already formed the dowries of his daughters.
His first wife Anne died about 1537 of "a sickness in the brest" as Roger Morris of Shipston reported to the inquiries of 1560. [21] Morris added that Michael Dormer, mercer & Alderman of London, had written proposing a suitable second wife to which William replied "he would have no other heirs" - & turned the proposal down.
In January 1540 he was expected to be amongst the esquires in Calais, presumably in the escort for the arrival of the king's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. [22]
His assets rose steadily over the years; in the subsidy of 1543 he was taxed on lands worth œ240 & later on goods of œ500. [23]
In 1544 his name was noted in a Muster Book intended to show "what soldiers may be furnished by gentlemen" but the extent of his obligation was not recorded. [24]
He did not re-marry until 1545 when in November, a Faculty Licence was issued to permit him to marry, without banns & in whatever church he chose. His second wife was Mrs. Anne (Littleton) Middlemore=Mydelmore of Brayles (daughter of Richard Littleton of Pillston) who was the widow of his brother-in-law, Thomas Middlemore of Edgbaston & Studley (brother of William's first wife). [25] She chose burial in Tredington.
He preferred to pay a fine of œ30 rather than come forward to accept the knighthood offered on the occasion of the Queen Mary's marriage in 1554. [26]
On 14 Nov 1554 William Willington settled the manor of Barcheston on himself and his second wife Anne. Trustees were Sir Robert Throckmorton, Sir Edward Greville, Robert Middlemore & Francis Stanley.
He made his Last Will on 28 March 1555 [27] with generous provisions. Cash bequests were arranged for the poor of the surrounding villages. It rehearsed the provisions for the dowries of the only daughter Elizabeth, unmarried & not betrothed in 1536 & for the children of the 2 who had been widowed & re-married (Holte & Catesby) but added nothing further. He probably felt he had done as much as was necessary for his daughters, for each of whom he had secured an advantageous marriage, choosing men of higher social status than his own. His second wife seems to have inspired some dislike, which was probably suppressed during William's life.
His tomb effigy is at Barcheston.
Family trouble broke out immediately after his death. It may well have seemed to the sons-in-law that William had favoured the kin of his second family rather than his first. His Will's provisions had given a life interest in Barcheston to his second wife Anne & possession after her death to her cousin, William Barnes. Granted previously to his son-in-law William Sheldon & clearly a matter of some importance to him, there was a dispute over who should inherit. It started immediately upon his demise & continued for a further nine years before being resolved. [28] During the court case, he was said to have possessed more than œ3000 in money & was owed a further œ2000 in debts. [29] He was also said to have been nearly blind & to have been coerced into signing a codicil which he could not properly see. But the provisions of a man as wealthy as William WILLINGTON & with as many sons in law, one of whom had been deprived of the manor previously assigned him, was a target for a challenge.
Children's Marriages [2]
- Margery m1=Thomas Holte of Aston m2=Sir Ambrose Cave
- Godith m=Basil Feilding of Newnham
- Elizabeth m=Edward Boughton of Lawford
- Mary m=William Sheldon
- Margaret m=July 1531 Sir Edward Greville of Milcote
- Anne m=Francis Mountford of Kingshurst
- Katherine m1=Richard Kempe m2=William Catesby of Chastleton m3=Sir Anthony Throckmorton
Notable Descendants [30]
- 11th great-grandfather of PM Winston Churchill
- 12th great-grandfather of PM David Cameron
- 13th great-grandfather of Lady Diana Spencer
- 14th great-grandfather of HRH Albert II
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Worcester Record Office, Wills 1512/41.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Antiquities of Warwickshire 1730" p601b by W. Dugdale
- ↑ TNA Prob 11/12/321, 8 May 1501
- ↑ Warwickshire County Record Office (WaCRO) CR 580/ 9/4.
- ↑ WaCRO CR 580/ 9/2; in lease CR 580/9/16
- ↑ WaCRO CR 580/9/17
- ↑ WaCRO, CR 580/9/17, (12.9.1506)
- ↑ WaCRO CR 580/9/15; draft agreement survives at CR 580/12; CR 580/9/16.
- ↑ "Reputational Damage: William WILLINGTON & the supposed enclosure of Barcheston, Warwickshire" by H. L. Turner, Midland History, 37(2), 2012, 222-39.
- ↑ "Villages in crisis: social dislocation & desertion 1370-1520" by C. Dyer & publlished in "Deserted Villages Revisited" edited by C. Dyer & R. Jones (Hatfield 2010) p26-45.
- ↑ Letters & Papers Henry VIII, Addenda v1 pt#I #917 p320 c.1533; SP 1/238. fo (original) 264- 65; printed no. p230.
- ↑ L&P Henry VIII v1 1509-13 #438 (3m.3)
- ↑ TNA E 179/192/131
- ↑ TNA catalogue
- ↑ WaCRO, CR 580/13 & TNA Prob 11/42B/641.
- ↑ L&P Henry VIII v4 page iii, -g. 5243(28); ibid v5 1531-32 p706 & passim.
- ↑ 2007 "Register of the Guild of the Holy Cross Stratford upon Avon" edited by M. MacDonald, Dugdale Society 42 p217.
- ↑ TNA C 1/1746/46
- ↑ 1964 Tudor Royal Proclamations, edited by P. I. Hughes & J. F. Larkin, Yale in 3 volumes v1 #158 p229-32; L&P Henry VIII v10 (1536) edited by James Gardiner p4 #14 & v14(2) #782 p325.
- ↑ WaCRO, CR 580/ 13, 20 Nov 1536.
- ↑ WaCRO, CR 580/17/5. A. B. Beaven, The Alderrmen of the City of London 1913, ii, 27
- ↑ L&P Henry VIII v14(2) @1539 v15 #14 p6
- ↑ TNA E 179/192/153, 163, 172, 178, 179 & E 179/193//183, 186, 190.
- ↑ L&P Henry VIII v19(1) #27 p155
- ↑ D. S. Chambers, Faculty Office registers 1534-1549 OUP 1966 p265, 8 Nov 1545.
- ↑ "Compositions to avoid Knighthood 1 & 2 Mary" by E. P. Shirley, Herald & Genealogist, V, 1870, 18-24.
- ↑ TNA Prob 11/42b/641
- ↑ Barcheston's History 16th centrury
- ↑ TNA C 3/122/71, complaint of Robert Middlemore.
- ↑ FabPedigree
* 1901 "Some Account of Family of Middlemore" by W. P. W. Phillimore p38
* 1924 "William WILLINGTON of Barcheston: a 16th century Warwickshire Woolstapler" by Rees Price, Evesham Journal 12 Jan-9 Feb 1924.
* 1949 "Victoria County - History of Warwick" v5
Is William your ancestor? Please don't go away!
Login to collaborate or comment, or
ask our community of genealogists a question.
Login to collaborate or comment, or ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com
DNA
No known carriers of William's DNA have taken a DNA test.
No known carriers of William's DNA have taken a DNA test.
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
Featured National Park champion connections: William is 16 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 19 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 13 degrees from George Catlin, 14 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 22 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 16 degrees from George Grinnell, 23 degrees from Anton Kröller, 14 degrees from Stephen Mather, 20 degrees from Kara McKean, 19 degrees from John Muir, 14 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 25 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
W > Willington > William Willington
This was previously available in pdf format but, unfortunately, the link now appears to have been appropriated for commercial use.
edited by Robert King
[Wheare?] Roberte Midelmore of Edgebaston in the Countie of Warwick gent executor of the last wil[l] and testament of Anne Willington deceased exhibited a bill of complaynte into this honorable [court?] of Chancerie against Sir Ambrose Cave Knighte one of the Quene[?] maiesties moat honorable previe counsaile, Willm Sheldon [?] Fildings Esquiers and Willm (Barnes?) gent defendaunt declaring by the same that one William Willington late of Barcheston in the said Countie of War[wick?] was at the tyme of his deathe lawfullie possesed of and in [duise?] and greate sommes of money amounting to the Whole to the some of three Thousand pounds or there abouts [?]. And besides duise and sunderie specyalties conteyning duise and greate debt due to the said Willm Willington amountyng to the somme of two thousand pounds and above and also of and in a greate nomber of shepe cattell and housholde stuffe beying in and aboute the mannor of Barcheston in the said County of Warks and in Studley in the county aforesaid (is as far as I got :) )
There seems to be a discrepancy with the two spouses attached. They both have the same married date, but they are clearly two different people (different sets of parents, different lnab). Could you please take a look? Thanks!