John Wyndham (died 1573)
Sir John Wyndham (died 1573)[1] of Orchard Wyndham in the parish of Watchet, Somerset, was born a member of a prominent gentry family in Norfolk and founded his own prominent gentry family in Somerset, which survives today at Orchard Wyndham.
Origins
John Wyndham was the second [2] son of Sir Thomas Wyndham (d.1521) of Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk, by his first wife Alianore Scrope (c.1470-1505), daughter and heiress of Richard Scrope of Upsall, Yorkshire. Sir Thomas was knighted in 1512 by Sir Edward Howard, Admiral of the Fleet. His will was dated at Felbrigg 22 October 1521 and he was buried in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Norwich Cathedral, from which his body was later moved to the Jesus Chapel. He was the son and heir of Sir John Wyndham (d.1503) by his first wife Lady Margaret Howard, 4th daughter of Sir John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk. Sir John the father was knighted by King Henry VII in 1489 at the Battle of Stoke, but after having turned against that king was beheaded in 1503 as a traitor, together with James Tyrrell. He was buried at Austin Friars, London.
Marriage
Whilst visiting Dunster Castle in Somerset, the home of his sister Margaret Wyndham, wife of Sir Andrew Luttrell (1484–1538), feudal baron of Dunster, Sir John Wyndham met and later married in 1528[3] Elizabeth Sydenham, a daughter and co-heiress of Sir John Sydenham of Orchard Sydenham in the parish of Watchet, Somerset. Through his wife he inherited the manor of Orchard, which later became known as Orchard Wyndham, which estate is occupied today by his descendants in a direct male line.
Progeny
By his wife Elizabeth Sydenham he had the following progeny:
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- John Wyndham (d.1572), of Orchard, who predeceased his father by one year, having married Florence Wadham (1538–1597), a sister and co-heiress of Nicholas Wadham (1531-1609) of Merryfield, Ilton, in Somerset and of Edge, Branscombe in Devon, a posthumous co-founder, with his widow Dorothy Petre (d.1618), of Wadham College, Oxford. A pair of monumental brasses depicting John Wyndham and his wife Elizabeth Sydenham exists at Watchet Church,[4] erected by his son and heir Sir John Wyndham (1558–1645), which brasses are identical to those in St Mary's Church, Ilminster (considered the finest of their style in England), of Nicholas Wadham and Dorothy Petre, whose eventual co-heir was Nicholas's nephew Sir John Wyndham (1558–1645). They had issue one son only:
- Sir John Wyndham (1558–1645), of Orchard Wyndham, ancestor of all living Wyndhams in England today.[5]
- Edmund Wyndham, Esq. (d.1616), of Kentsford (purchased for him by his father from his brother-in-law Sir Andrew Luttrell (1484–1538) feudal baron of Dunster)[6] in the parish of Watchet, Somerset, who married Margery Chamberlayne. His monumental brass survives in St Decuman's Church, Watchet, before the high altar, inscribed as follows:
- Ecce quid eris ("Behold what thou shalt be"). Here lyeth the body of Edmund Windham of Kinsford Esquire who died the 12 of November An(no) D(omi)ni 1616 who maried Margery the daughter of Richard Chamberlayne, Alderman of London, who had issue by her Thomas, Edmund, John, Zacharias, Frauncis, George & Hughe and one daughter named Margarett."
Monumental brass
Most of what is known of the life of Sir John Wyndham (d.1573) is derived from the text accompanying his monumental brass on his chest-tomb in St Decuman's Church, Watchet. The text under the figure of Sir John is as follows:[7]
"Although a man be never so posseste
With all the gyftes that fortune can bestowe.
And thoughe his mynde be bewtified and bleste
With everye grace that from the Heavens do flowe,
Yet at the laste, this fickle life we owe,
Perforce must fele the stroke of fatal knyfe,
Suche is the frayltie of our present lyfe.
A perfeight patterne to approve the fame,
Lo here the corps of Syr John Wyndham knight,
Whose faultles lyfe hathe purchaste such a fame,
As deathe with all his darts shall never frighte.
The sonne itself shall soner lose his lighte,
Then he shall want his well-deserved praise,
Suche were the deedes of his forepasled dales.
This worthie Knight of knightlie parentage
In Norfolk borne the midle sonne of thre.
Who when he was but yet of fornige age,
Put forthe such buddes of proofe what he wolde be,
As being stirred with zeale to hear and see
The worlde whereby himselfe he mighte advaunce,
He paste the seas to serve the King of Fraunce.
Where entertaynde in place of good accompte,
Here to the Prince in favour lyved still,
Till care of countrey soil (which doth fui...)unte)
Did drawe him home, where bending witie at will.
To feates of armes and other warlike skill.
His liege in lieu of loyal service done
Advaunste him to the seat of knightlie rome.
Thus happele led this worthie knighte his life.
And died in faith by Chrift of future joye.
How good and virtuous Ladye to his wyfe
He had, what seed, hir epitaphe doth showe.
To us behinde thereby this fruyte dothe growe,
First in his deathe, Godes power and praise is knowne.
Then by his life we learn to mende our owne."
The text below the figure of his wife reads as follows:
"An Epitaphe upon the deathe of the Ladye Elizabeth Wyndham.
That goodly grafte which earste in Orchard grewe,
Drawn by discente from worthie Sydnam's race,
Looe here yt lyes by aime of outwarde vewe,
Wrapte in the webbe of thrice unhappy case.
But yet indeede (through undeserved grace)
Is planted nowe in such a pleasant soyle.
As springs for aye, and yet requires no toyle.
What cause hir deathe dothe offer to lamente,
None knowes so well as Sir John Wyndham, knight.
Withe whome twise two and forty yeres she spentc.
In blissfull state of bothe theire hartes delyghte.
To whom hir frutefull wombe brought unto lighte
A race of children fittinge hir degree.
Of daughtere sixe, her sonnes were fower and three.
Those goodly gyftes that did hir mind possesse.
As zealous love to God and to his lawes,
Hir awnswringe lyfe to that shie did professe,
Hir redye hande to helpe the porest cause.
Since fame resounds my sillie penne shall pawse,
And praie to God, that we whiche here abyde.
May treade the stepps of such a parfight guyde.
Obiit primo die Januarii, 1571."
(i.e. "she died on the first day of January, 1571")
Sources
- Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 15th Edition, ed. Pirie-Gordon, H., London, 1937, pp.2510-12, pedigree of Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham
- Collinson's History of Somerset, Vol.3, pp.486-496
- Blomefield, Francis, An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk, Vol.8, pp107-119, Felbrigg
References
- ↑ Burke's, 1937, p.2511, regnal date 16 Elizabeth
- ↑ Burke's, 1937, p.2511; See his arms sculpted on his tomb showing a crescent, heraldic difference for a second son
- ↑ Ketton-Cremer, p.25
- ↑ See:
- ↑ Ketton-Cremer, Robert Wyndham, Felbrigg, the Story of a House, London, 1962, p.30
- ↑ Delderfield, Eric, West Country Historic Houses and their Families, Newton Abbot, 1968, pp.86-8: Kentisford Farm, p.87
- ↑ Collinson's History of Somerset, Vol.3, pp.493-4