Revision as of 07:32, September 30, 2011

Lady Mary Widdrington

Mary Widdrington

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 William Widdrington (1610-1651). 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 created a baronet in 1642 and a peer, the first Baron Widdrington of Blakney in 1644. After exile with the Duke of Newcastle in Hamburg between 1648, 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, presumably 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] This 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’s death, and so Sir Henry conveyed the manor, together with the rents and profits thereof, to Raworth.^[4]

It is unknown what the link was between Elizabeth and Mary. Presumably there was a social connection. 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.^[5]

She died in XXXX.

1. ↑ 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
2. ↑ 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
3. ↑ http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplaySearchResults.aspx?oid=612524&mode=c, viewed 29/09/11
4. ↑ http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplaySearchResults.aspx?oid=612524&mode=c, viewed 29/09/11
5. ↑ Proceedings, Sciety of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (XXXX, 1905), p. 86