MRP: Lady Mary Widdrington
Lady Mary Widdrington
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30/09/11, CSG: Created page
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THIS ENTRY REQUIRES REVISION AND STYLISTIC IMPROVEMENT. FURTHER RESEARCH IS REQUIRED TO EXPLORE WIDDRINGTON CONNECTION TO ELIZABETH DALLISON
Mary Widdrington (XXXX-XXXX) was born Mary Thorold, the eldest daughter and heir of Sir Anthony Thorold (XXXX-XXXX) of Marston and of Blankney, Lincolnshire. Her mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Molineux, of Houghton in Nottinghamshire, Esq.[1]
She married in 1629 or 1635 CHECK THESE TWO ALTERNATIVE DATES GIVEN IN SECONDARY LITERATURE William Widdrington (1610-1651), who was son and heir of Sir Henry Widdrington (d. 1623). Sir William was high sherriff of Northumberland in 1636, and served in the Commons between 1640-1642, before expulsion for his support for the royalist cause. He was involved in extensive military action in the first English Civil War and served as governor of Lincoln in 1643. Created a baronet in 1642, he was advanced to peer of the realm in 1644 - the first Baron Widdrington of Blakney in 1644 by the King. After exile with the Duke of Newcastle in Hamburg sometime after 1644, he returned in 1650 with Charles II and died in battle at Wigan in 1651. His estates were confiscated in 1648 following condemnation to death in his absence by the Commons.[2]
Following her husband’s death Mary Widdrington had financial difficulties, as a result of the confiscation of her husband’s estates.
In May 1657 the name of “Elizabeth Dalyson of London, widow” appears as the counterparty on a mortgage of the manor of Martin for £600 with the “Rt Hon Mary, Lady Widdrington, widow of the Rt Hon Sir William Widdrington bart, and Lord Widdrington of Widdrington Castle, son and heir of Lady Mary.”[3]. Martin is a village in central Lincolnshire, under fifteen miles south-east of Lincoln and just four miles to the east of Blankney, the ancestral home of Mary's paternal family. It is situated on a large fen through which the river Witham runs.[4]
The manor of Martin was probably one of a number of manors, including the manor of Blankney, which had been conveyed by Mary's father, Sir Anthony Thorold, by a deed dated Dec. 11 Car. I (1635) which he settled on Sir William Widdrington following their marriage.[5] On January 1st 1652 the Committee for Removing Obstructions reported a favourable opinion that Mary, together with her eldest son William, and her six younger sons, "should have the benefit of the deed of Dec. 11 Car., thus restoring control of the Lincolnshire estates to Mary Widdrington"[6]
The 1657 mortgage had not been repaid at the time of Elizabeth Dalyson’s death in 1665 and in September 1675 her brother and surviving executor, Sir Henry Oxenden conveyed the property through a bargain and sale to Robert Raworth, whose name is presumably named in the original mortgage. Sir Henry was acting in accordance with a proviso of the mortgage indenture which stated that “that if Lady Widdrington paid £636, being the principal sum of £600 together with the interest, the estate would be null and void.” However, the principal sum was still unpaid at Elizabeth Dallison's death, and so Sir Henry conveyed the manor, together with the rents and profits thereof, to Raworth.[7] Subsequently the manor came back into the possession of the Widdrington family.
It is unknown what the link was between Elizabeth and Mary. Presumably there was a social connection, not just a financial one. Perhaps there was a bond between the two widows facing adversity together?
No obvious family connection exists, though Mary’s birth in Lincolnshire, the county with which Elizabeth’s husband was associated with in addition to Kent, may mean there was such a connection. It is also unknown whether Mary Widdrington, following her husband’s death, took up residence in London, or remained in Lincolnshire.
Mary Widdrington’s financial difficulties appear to have continued. In 1662 Mary objected to the sale by the “now Lord Widdrington” on the pretence of raising portions, and for other purposes, and that if such Act pass, petitioners’s younger children would be left destitute.[8]
She died in XXXX.
Notes
Background
Possible primary sources
- ↑ William Betham (ed.), The baronetage of England (London, 1801), p. 479; J. Burke & J.B. Burke, A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies of England (London, 1838), p. 564
- ↑ Arthur Collins, Collins's peerage of England; genealogical, biographical, and historical, vol. 9, p. 422; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Widdrington,_1st_Baron_Widdrington, viewed 30/09/11
- ↑ http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplaySearchResults.aspx?oid=612524&mode=c, viewed 29/09/11
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin,_Lincolnshire, viewed 30/09/11; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blankney, viewed 30/09/11; http://www.macla.co.uk/blankney/hall.php, viewed 30/09/11
- ↑ '1651. Sept. 24 Lady Widdrington begs stay of rents in tenants' hands till allowance of her claims to the manors of Blankney, etc.. co. Lincoln, which her father Sir Anthony Thorold...settled upon Sir William on their marriage ...the said lands being by the late Act, appointed to be sold. - Referred to Mr. Reading.' in Richard Welford (ed.), Records of the Committees for compounding, etc., with delinquent royalists in Durham and Northumberland during the civil war, etc., 1643-1660 (Durham, 1905), p. 380
- ↑ Richard Welford (ed.), Records of the Committees for compounding, etc: with delinquent royalists in Durham and Northumberland during the civil war, etc., 1643-1660 (Durham, 1905), p. 380
- ↑ http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplaySearchResults.aspx?oid=612524&mode=c, viewed 29/09/11
- ↑ Proceedings, Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (XXXX, 1905), p. 86
