Agnes Baynton

• Agnes Rice1
• F, #412640
• Last Edited=26 Nov 2013
• Agnes Rice is the daughter of Rhys ap Griffith and Lady Katharine Howard.1 She married Sir Edward Bayntun, son of Sir Edward Bayntun and Elizabeth Sulyard.1
• Her married name became Bayntun.1 She and William Stourton, 7th Baron Stourton were associated.1
• Child of Agnes Rice and Sir Edward Bayntun
  • 1.Sir Henry Bayntun2 b. 1572, d. 24 Sep 1616
• Citations
• 1.[S37] BP2003 volume 1, page 1255. See link for full details for this source. Hereinafter cited as. [S37]
• 2.[S3268] Hans Harmsen, "re: Chester Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 21 August 2008. Hereinafter cited as "re: Chester Family."
• From: http://www.thepeerage.com/p41264.htm#i412640
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• Catherine HOWARD (C. Bridgewater)
• Born: ABT 1499
• Died: 12 Apr 1548
• Buried: 11 May 1554, Lambeth, Surrey, England
• Father: Thomas HOWARD (2º D. Norfolk)
• Mother: Agnes TILNEY (D. Norfolk)
• Married 1: Rhys AP GRIFFITH FITZURYON RHYS (b. 1500 - d. 1531, beheaded)(son of Sir Griffith ap Rhys, Knight and Catherine St.John)
• Children:
  • 1. Griffith AP RHYS
  • 2. 'Agnes AP RHYS (d. 19 Aug 1574) (m. Edward Bayntun - assoc. with William Stourton, 7º B. Stourton)
• Married 2: Henry DAUBENEY (1° E. Bridgewater)
• Children:
  • 1. Dau. DAUBENEY
  • 2. Son DAUBENEY
  • 3. Son DAUBENEY
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/HOWARD1.htm#Catherine HOWARD (C. Bridgewater)
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• William STOURTON (7º B. Stourton of Stourton)
• Born: 1484, Stourton, Wiltshire, England
• Acceded: 1535
• Died: 16 Sep 1548, Newhaven, Dorsetshire, England
• Notes: See his Biography.
• Father: Edward STOURTON (6º B. Stourton of Stourton)
• Mother: Agnes FAUNTLEROY
• Married: Elizabeth DUDLEY (B. Stourton of Stourton) ABT 1516, Stourton, Wiltshire, England
• Children:
  • 1. Francis STOURTON
  • 2. Ursula STOURTON (B. Clinton of Marstoke)
  • 3. Dorothy STOURTON
  • 4. Charles STOURTON (8º B. Stourton of Stourton)
  • 5. Andrew STOURTON (b. ABT 1523)
  • 6. Arthur STOURTON (M.P.)
  • 7. William STOURTON
  • 8. George STOURTON (b. ABT 1527)
  • 9. Giles STOURTON (b. ABT 1529)
  • 10. John STOURTON (b. ABT 1531)
  • 11. Francis STOURTON
• Associated with: Agnes AP RHYS (d. 19 Aug 1574) (dau. of Rhys Ap Griffith Fitzuryon Rhys and Catherine Howard, C. Bridgewater)
• Children:
  • 12. Mary STOURTON
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/STOURTON.htm#William STOURTON (7º B. Stourton)
• _________________
• William Stourton, 7th Baron Stourton (c. 1505 – 1548) was the eldest son of Edward Stourton, 6th Baron Stourton, and his wife Agnes Fauntleroy, daughter of John Fauntleroy of Dorest.
• He succeeded his father as Baron Stourton in 1535. His wife was Elizabeth Dudley, daughter of Edmund Dudley. They had seven sons and two daughters, including Ursula who married Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln.
• His affair with Agnes Rice, daughter of Rhys ap Gruffyd and grand-daughter of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, caused much comment. He moved in with Agnes, living apart from his wife in their later years. At his death he left much of the Stourton estates to Agnes, resulting in years of litigation between her and his son Charles, who had quarreled bitterly with his father, calling him a "false hypocrite". He and Agnes had one daughter, also called Agnes.
• He was a Member of the Parliament of England for Somerset in 1529, although he admitted to finding the office a burden, as he was then managing the family estates in place of his aged father; he asked that both of them be excused from further attendance. He seems to have been more skilled as a military commander than as a politician: he played a part in suppressing the Pilgrimage of Grace, and saw military action in Scotland, and later in France, where he spent much of his last years, serving with distinction as the English Deputy at Newhaven.[1]
• He was succeeded as Baron Stourton by his eldest son Charles, who was executed for murder nine years later in 1557.
• From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stourton,_7th_Baron_Stourton
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• BAYNTON, Edward (c.1520-93), of Bromham and Rowden, Wilts.
• b. c.1520, 2nd s. of Sir Edward Baynton† of Bromham by his 1st w. Elizabeth, da. of Sir John Sulyard; bro. of Andrew, half-bro. of Henry Baynton I. m. (1) c.1553, Agnes (d.1574), da. of Sir Griffith Rhys of Carew castle, Pemb. by Katherine, da. of Thomas, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, at least 2s. inc. Henry Baynton II. 4da.; (2) Anne (d.1578), da. of Humphrey Packington of London and wid. of (1) Humphrey Style, (2) Edward Jackman and (3) James Bacon, s.p. suc. bro. Andrew 21 Feb. 1564. Kntd. 1574.2
• Baynton’s first wife was the mistress of William, Lord Stourton (d.1548), who settled on her a life interest in a large part of the Stourton inheritance. This she had to defend against the heir Charles, Lord Stourton, in a series of lawsuits in which Baynton naturally became involved. It was not until after the execution of Charles, Lord Stourton, for murder in 1557, that Baynton and she succeeded in establishing a claim to some of the Stourton lands on the borders of Wiltshire and Somerset. Next, in 1559, Baynton’s elder brother Andrew was persuaded to disinherit his daughter by entailing his estates upon Edward, which brought about another series of lawsuits, this time against Gabriel Pleydell and other executors of Andrew Baynton’s nuncupative will. These suits ended about 1566, when Pleydell and others gave up, leaving Baynton in possession of sufficient property to make him one of the biggest landowners in north Wiltshire.3
• His career under Elizabeth was uneventful. In spite of his father’s friendship with Latimer, his religious convictions were lukewarm, and he was classified as ‘no hinderer of religion in the bishops’ report of 1564. Although the Bayntons had been followers of the Seymours there is no evidence that Edward was connected with the Earl of Hertford, his return for the county, as well as for Devizes and Caine (at a by-election) being due to his own local standing. In 1571 Baynton was appointed to the committee concerning tillage and the navy (21, 25 May), and on 13 Mar. 1576 he was named to the committee dealing with Lord Stourton’s bill, in which he was obviously an interested party. After 1581 he seems to have preferred to allow his brother, and then his son, to sit for the local boroughs.4
• Baynton’s eldest son William died as a child in 1564, allegedly by witchcraft practised by one Agnes Mills (who was duly hanged) at the instigation of Baynton’s sister-in-law Dorothy, who hoped that her children would succeed to the entailed estates. At his death, on 21 Mar. 1593, Edward’s surviving son and heir Henry, born shortly before his mother’s death, inherited the Baynton property, considerably increased by purchase during the previous 30 years. Baynton’s will, dated 21 Sept. 1592, included bequests of a £20 annuity to his half-brother Henry, and smaller sums of money and jewels to friends and relatives. He also remembered the poor of Caine and Chippenham. He appointed his son executor, and John Danvers an overseer.5
• From: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/ba...
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• Rhys ap Gruffydd (1508–1531) was a powerful Welsh landowner who was accused of rebelling against King Henry VIII by plotting with James V of Scotland to become Prince of Wales. He was executed as a rebel.
• Rhys was the grandson of Rhys ap Thomas, the most powerful man in Wales and close ally of Henry VII. Rhys was a descendant of the medieval Welsh king Rhys ap Gruffydd (1132–1197), his namesake. His father, Gruffydd ap Rhys ap Thomas, died in 1521, leaving him his grandfather's heir. In 1524 Rhys married Catherine Howard, daughter of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk.[1]
• As his grandfather's heir, Rhys expected to inherit his estates and titles. When Rhys ap Thomas died in 1525, Henry VIII gave his most important titles and powers to Walter Devereux, Lord Ferrers, leading to a feud between Rhys and Ferrers which escalated over the next few years.
• Rhys attempted to increase his status in Wales, petitioning Cardinal Thomas Wolsey to be given various posts. Potential for conflict with Ferrers increased when both men were given the right to extend their number of retainers; this led to the emergence of competing armed gangs.[2] The bad-blood between Rhys and Ferrers reached a crisis-point in June 1529 when Ferrers made a display of his status during preparations for the annual Court of Great Sessions in Carmarthen. Rhys, surrounded by forty armed men, threatened Ferrers with a knife. Rhys was arrested and imprisoned in Carmarthen Castle. Rhys's wife Catherine escalated the situation by collecting hundreds of her supporters and attacking the castle. She later threatened Ferrers himself with an armed gang. In the conflict between the two factions several of Ferrers's men were killed. The factions continued to cause other disruptions over the coming months, leading to deaths in street-fights and acts of piracy.
• The rebellious actions of Rhys's supporters led to Rhys's transfer to prison in London by 1531. By this stage Henry was claiming that Rhys was attempting to overthrow his government in Wales. Rhys had added the title Fitz-Urien to his name, referring to Urien, the ancient Welsh ruler of Rheged, a person of mythical significance. Rhys's accusers claimed that this was an attempt to assert himself as Prince of Wales. He was supposed to be plotting with James V of Scotland to overthrow Henry in fulfilment of ancient Welsh prophesies.
• Rhys was convicted of treason and was executed in December 1531. The execution caused widespread dismay and he was openly said to have been innocent.[2] Contemporary writer Ellis Gruffudd, however, argued that the arrogance of the Rhys family had caused their downfall, saying that "many men regarded his death as Divine retribution for the falsehoods of his ancestors, his grandfather, and great-grandfather, and for their oppressions and wrongs. They had many a deep curse from the poor people who were their neighbours, for depriving them of their homes, lands and riches."[3]
• Historian Ralph Griffith asserts that "Rhys's execution...was an act of judicial murder based on charges devised to suit the prevailing political and dynastic situation". Since it was linked to Henry's attempt to centralise power and break with the church of Rome, he argues that it "in retrospect made him [Rhys] one of the earliest martyrs of the English Reformation."[2] Rhys was believed to be opposed to the Reformation and had spoken disparagingly of Anne Boleyn. He had also been friendly with Katherine of Aragon and Cardinal Wolsey, so ridding himself of Rhys helped Henry to prepare the ground for the Reformation.[4] The execution led to fears of a Welsh rebellion. One clergyman was concerned that the Welsh and Irish would join together.[2]
• With his death Rhys' vast possessions were forfeit to the crown. His children are known by the Anglicised surname "Rice". His son, Griffith Rice (c.1530–1584), was restored to some of the family estates by Queen Mary.[1] His daughter Agnes Rice had a celebrated affair with William Stourton, 7th Baron Stourton, and in defiance of his widow and children, inherited much of the Stourton estates after his death. She later married Sir Edward Baynton, and had children by both William and Edward.
• From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhys_ap_Gruffydd_(rebel)
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• BAYNTON, Henry II (c.1571-1616), of Bromham, Wilts.
• b. c.1571, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Edward Baynton by his 1st w. educ. L. Inn 1588. m. Lucy, da. of Sir John Danvers of Dauntsey, 1s. Edward† 1da. suc. fa. 1593. Kntd. 1601.2
• From: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/ba...
• _________________________ Agnes Rhys was the daughter of Sir Rhys ap Griffith of Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire (c.1505-x.January 4,1531) and Katherine Howard (1508-1554). She was raised in the household of her grandmother, Agnes, dowager duchess of Norfolk, along with her two sisters. She became the mistress of William Stourton, 7th baron Stourton (1484-September 16, 1548) and lived with him after his separation from his wife, Elizabeth Dudley. In a chancery case in 1553, Agnes claimed they had been married in January 1547 in the chapel at Stourton House, but if so, it was a bigamous marriage since Lady Stourton was still living at the time of her husband's death. Agnes traveled with Stourton and persuaded him to give her mother a house at Stourton Caundle. They had a daughter, Mary. Stourton left Agnes most of his goods and chattels, as well as a sum of money owed to him at the time of his death. Agnes then removed jewels, plate, and cash from his house in Lambeth, Surrey and took up residence in Stourton House, refusing to be evicted by Stourton's heir, Charles. According to John Bellamy's Strange, Inhuman Deaths: Murder in Tudor England, Agnes "locked the gates and placed servants to guard them with bows, guns, and other weapons. She kept charge of the gates herself and allowed into the manor house only the sheriff, his servants, and her ally, [William] Hartgill." Further, she took possession of some of the livestock at Stourton, in spite of the objections of Charles's wife. It was 1550 before Charles could remove her from Stourton House. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to get her to return the jewels and plate. The estate was finally settled in 1557, after Charles was executed for murder. Meanwhile, around 1553, Agnes married Sir Edward Baynton (c.1520-1593), by whom she had thirteen children, including William (d.1564), Henry (1571-1616), Anne (d.1587), Margaret (d. yng), and Elizabeth (d.1593+). In 1564, Agnes's only son to that point, William Baynton, while still an infant, was allegedly murdered by witchcraft. There were charges and counter charges made but the gist of the story is that Dorothy Mantill or Mantell, wife of Sir Edward's brother Henry (b.c.1520), enticed one Agnes Mills or Mylles to bewitch the child, thinking that by his death her husband would inherit. Agnes Mills was hanged for the crime, but in spite of proceedings in Chancery the following year, Dorothy does not seem to have been prosecuted. Dorothy and Henry Baynton already had three sons—Henry (b.1553), Edward (b.1555), and Roger (b.1557)—and two daughters. Confusing the issue was the testimony of one Jane Marshe, who first supported the accusation against Dorothy and then, fearing she would never be let out of prison if she did not change her story, accused Edward and Agnes of bribing her to accuse Dorothy. Jane's fate, too, is unknown. One further bit of confusion is caused by the fact that Sir Edward Baynton had two brothers named Henry. The younger, actually his half brother, was born c. 1536 and married Anne Cavendish. He was not implicated in the murder of young William. Portrait: memorial brass at Bromham, Wiltshire, which she shares with her husband and his second wife, Anne Packington (d.1578).

Source: A Who’s Who of Tudor Women, visited Aug. 2, 2013.

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References

• The Thomas book, giving the genealogies of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, K. G., the Thomas family descended from him, and of some allied families Author Thomas, Lawrence B. (Lawrence Buckley), 1848-1914. “Rice, of Dynevor.” Page 471 - 472. Archive.Org