Difference between revisions of "MRP: Theobald family"

Latest revision as of 10:39, February 10, 2012

Theobald family

THIS ENTRY REQUIRES FURTHER RESEARCH AND EDITING

Editorial history

07/09/11, CSG: Created page

Theobalds of Stonepitt and Seale, Kent

The Theobald family of Seale, Kent, was related by marriage to the Oxenden family in several generations.

Henry Oxenden (1549-c.1620), the builder of the mansion house of Deane, Kent, took as his second wife Mary Theobald. Mary was the daughter of Richard Theobald (?-c.1570), a substantial gentleman of Seale, Kent and the manor of Sudulphs Place, Kent. He was secondary of the Queen's Remembrance. Although Henry and Mary Oxenden had no children, it appears that there was a relatively close relationship, and she was buried at Wingham in 1636, despite a second marriage to a Londoner.

The Theobald-Oxenden family relationship was consolidated by Catherine Theobald, a daughter of John Theobald, Richard Theobald's younger brother, marrying Laurence Piers, whose son, (Sir) Thomas Piers subsequently married Jane Oxenden, a granddaughter of Henry Oxenden.

A grandson of the earlier Richard Theobald had inherited the house of Stonepitts, which was originally in the hands of John the elder's elder brother, Richard Theobald. This grandson sold his house of Stonepitt, Seale, to (Sir) Thomas Piers, ca. 1640.

A further strong family link is provided by the marriage in 1570 of Ann, another daughter of Richard Theobald, to Thomas Nevinson. Thomas (?-1590) and Ann Nevinson (?-1594) of Eastry, Kent, were the parents of Margaret Nevinson, who married Sir James Oxenden in XXXX. Thus Sir James was married to the daughter of a Theobald and had a number of cousins by marriage who were Theobalds

Sir George Theobald and William & Elizabeth Dallison's financial affairs

George Theobald (?-1662/63), later Sir George Theobald (knighted in 1638), was one of those cousins by marriage of Sir James Oxenden. He was a grandson of Richard Theobald, and a first cousin to Margaret Oxenden (nee Nevinson), Sir James Oxenden's wife. His father, John Theobald, and Anne Nevinson (nee Theobald), were siblings.

He was admitted to Gray's Inn in 1613. He appears later to have been associated with the Charles I's court, and is described as a "gentleman pensioner" in a calendar record for 1634. The record reveals a degree of excitement. Attending a ball in the presence of the King and Queen, Sir George Theobald had been grasped by the throat by a Mr. Morley, who called him "base rascal, base dunghill rogue" and threatened "revenge." After the departure of the monarch from the dance Morley challenged Sir George and they went out into the yard where blows were struck. As simply George Theobald, gentleman, he is mentioned in Privy Council record as "one of the Prince's servants." He received a pass for three years with the proviso that he should not travel to Rome.

George Theobald's relationship with the Oxenden family was probably relatively close. Published sources give his place of death as Deane, Kent. Sir George proved the will of his sister, Catherine (Katherine) Sandes (nee Theobald), who was the widow of Laurence Piers (Pearse), and mother to Sir Thomas Piers.

There is no direct evidence that Sir George Theobald knew Elizabeth Dallison, but it seems likely, given the proximity of his family's seat in Seale to Elizabeth's early married home at Halling (1631-1642), and his cousinship with Elizabeth's mother, Margaret Oxenden. As seen in Margaret's correspondence with her son Sir George Oxenden in the 1660s, Margaret was a big supporter and admirer of Elizabeth, and may well have encouraged her husband to seek Sir George Theobald's help in the late 1630s when Elizabeth's husband was in financial difficulties.

It appears that Sir George Theobald assisted Sir James Oxenden, his cousin's husband, when Sir James Oxenden intervened to assist the troubled financial affairs of William and Elizabeth Dallison in 1639. See C 3/429/50 Stone v Dalison 1640-1642. The nature of the help is not yet clear, but seems to have involved some form of financial assistance.

Further financial help to Sir James Oxenden in the same matter appears to have come from Sir William Culpepper. The Culpepper family of Kent and Sussex may also have been related to the Theobald family.

Sources

PRIMARY

C 3/429/50 Stone v Dalison 1640-1642
Will of Katherine Sandes of Leatherhead, Surrey, wife of Taos. Sandes, formerly widow and executrix of Laurence Pearse (Piers) of Westfield, Sussex, Esq. Will [91 Twisse] pr. June 22 by brother Sir George Theobald Kt.

SECONDARY

Acts of the privy council of England, vol. 12 (London, 1932), p.277
Burn, J.S. (ed.), The Star chamber: Notices of the court and its proceedings; with a few additional notes of the High commission (London, 1870), pp. 138-139
Bannermann, H.W. (ed.), Genealogica Miscellanea, 4th ser., 5th vol. (London, 1914), pp. 310-311
Foster, J. (ed.), The register of admissions to Grays Inn, 1521-1889 (London, 1889), fol.682, p. 133

Possible primary sources

NATIONAL ARCHIVES

C 9/15/121 Peirs v. Theobald, knt. 1654
C 22/299/32 Theobald v Peeres Between 1558 and 1714
C 22/716/78 Theobald v. Theobald Between 1558 and 1714

WEST SUSSEX RECORD OFFICE

The Wiston Archives: TITLE DEEDS, SETTLEMENTS, WILLS AND MANORIAL DOCUMENTS [no ref. or date]: KENT [no ref. or date]: SEVENOAKS AREA [no ref. or date]:
- Substantial deposit of Theobald (Thebolde; Thebaud; Thebawd; Tebold; dating from 1351, when there were already links to Seal ("la Zele"). Link to Inner Temple in mid-C16th (Steven Tebolde of Inner Temple, gent., 1583), The last record is 1619.

Images

The two images displayed on this page are page extracts from HW Bannermann (ed.), Genealogica Miscellanea, 4th ser., 5th vol. (London, 1914), pp. 310-311. This publication is out of copyright