The Astley Family

The Astley Family

The Astleys, extinct and extant, derived their name from the manor of Astley, or as originally written Estley, in the county of Warwick, of which they were lords so early as the time of Henry I. Philip De Estley, grandson of the first proprietor, held three knights' fees, in the reign of Henry 11., (anno 1166), of William, Earl of Warwick, viz. Estley or Astley, in Warwickshire, Wedinton, Hillmorton, Melverton, and Merston Jabet, de veteri feoffamento, by the service "of laying hands on the earl's stirrnp when he did get upon, or alight from horseback." His great-grandson, Sir Thomas De Astley, knt. was constituted, in the 26th of Henry III., one of the king's justices for the gaol delivery at Warwick, and again the next year, when he paid £15 for his relief. Sir Thomas was afterwards one of the great leaders amongst the barons, and fell at Evesham in 1264, with Montford, Earl of Leicester, and other rebellious lords. By his first wife, Joane, daughter of Ehnald de Bois, a great man at that time in Leicestershire, Sir Thomas had a son, Andrew Astley, from whom sprang the Extinct Lords Astley, of Astley, and a daughter, Isabel, wife of William de Birmingham. By his second wife, Editha, daughter of Peter Constable, of Melton Constable, in Norfolk, and co-heir of her brother, Sir Robert Constable, knt., he left three sons, Thomas, Ralph, and Stephen, with a daughter, Agnes. The eldest of these sons, Thomas De Astley, inherited Hill Morton, he was succeeded by his brother, Ralph De Astley, of Hill Morton and Melton Constable.  

A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies, John Bernard Burke, page 22

Tracking down the correct branch of the Astley family to which Joan Clay belonged has been a troublesome task due to the number of branches of the family and that the name Thomas was used by all branches. Joan also had a cousin Joan who married Lord Grey of Ruthin and she always crops up on any search. There are several pedigrees where Joan doesn’t feature and one where she is replaced by an Elizabeth but Elizabeth is still married to Sir John Clay. Magna Carta Ancestry, Douglas Richardson, Page 55  Indeed if you look at the reference supplied by Richardson, Middlesex Pedigrees, Mundy, Pages 78-80 it does not mention an Elizabeth, it mentions a daughter of Astley. This is even in Richardsons references. So where Elizabeth came from, we have no idea. The branch we are interested in comes down from Andrew, the extinct line.

The Visitation of Shropshire 1623

The Visitation of Shropshire from 1623, gives us the pedigree that includes Joan.

As we can see, Joan came from quite a lineup of Noble names and backgrounds.

We have the Astleys themselves of course, long of noble name and we have Editha Constable, who was a daughter or grandaughter of  Cecilia Thweng daughter of Marmaduke de Thweng, their name will crop up again under the coat of arms section. Then we have Elizabeth Beauchamp, a daughter of the Earl of Warwick, who would have been grandmother or great grandmother to Joan. Joan's mother, also Elizabeth was the daughter of Richard d' Harcourt. The Harcourts had come to England under the Conqueror but still played significant parts in the history of France. We also come across the Harcourts again in the coats of arms section.

There are problems with this tree, the dates do not appear correct and it requires further inspection but for the sake of sanity, we will move on.

Sir John Astley KG

We believe  Sir John was born c1408 and very little is heard of him until 1438 when he was challenged to a tournament in Paris, by a Pierre de Massy, the tournament was to be held before the King of France who was to act as Judge. His Judgement wasn’t needed however as Sir John killed him by a blow to the head with his lance.

In 1441, a French Knight by the name of Phillipe Boyle arrived in England claiming that French knights lacked valour and could he have a fight with an Englishman, please.

Astley stepped  up and took the challenge, the fight was to be held at Smithfield in the January of 1472 with Henry VI as the judge.   The fight was to be fought on foot and with axes. John was the victor, with Henry VI intervening when Phillipe was at the mercy of Astley. Henry VI knighted him on the occasion and granted hima forty pound annuity for the rest of his life, this continued to be  paid to him by Edward VI.

Henry VI appointed Astley to the mayoralty of Bayonne in May 1453 but he was still waiting for transport across the channel in July of 1453.

Astley must have been a Yorkist supporter for in July 1461 he was appointed a Knight of the Garter, this was an order that had usually been reserved for foreign Kings. Only two other English knights were appointed at this time.

In 1462 and 1463, along with Sir John Clay he was in the north fighting Lancastrian rebels. Edward IV appointed him Captain of the garrison of Alnwick in 1463, however he was betrayed to the Lancastrians by his Lieutenant Sir Ralph Grey. Captured by the Lancastrians, he was imprisoned in France, However a substantial ransom was raised and he regained his freedom in 1467.

At the funeral of Edward VI in 1483, Astley and three other knights bore the canopy of Imperial colour fringed with blue and green silk.

Astley died sometime before November 1486, his widow Margery was granted 10 pounds for life, she died in 1488.

Back now to the parents of Sir John and Joan Astley as above, we have said that the dates in the pedigree above do not fit into the lives of Sir John and Joan, Thomas Astley supposedly was born in 1367 and died in 1399, so he could not have been their father or Elizabeth their mother.

But Margery in her will states that Sir Thomas and Joan Gresley were their parents.

We have this interesting piece of information from the book, St George's chapel, Windsor in the late Middle ages, Richmond & Scarff, page 130

Morte Dartinr, pp. 139-41. Sir John's widow Margery names her parents as Sir Thomas Astley and Lady Jane his wife in her will (PRO, PROB 11/8, f. 113V). Sir John's sister Jane married Sir John Clay of Cheshunt, Herts., and 'Shavesey', Cambs., (d. 1464) who calls his wife 'Jane' in his will and has an influential group of executors, including Hugh Fenne and Lord Wenlock (PROB 11/5. f. 4tr-v). Jane Clay died in the parish of St Benet Paul's Wharf, London, and died in 1477, making her brother one of her executors (PROB 11/6, f. 232r-v); The parish of Clay remained engraved in Margery Astley's will ten years later. Astley pedigrees vary in detail and do not include Jane Clay.

This is also in the Joan Astley Clay page. Surely she could not have been mistaken and we have the wills.  (see below) We have in the History of Parliament 1422-1461, a refrence to Joan being the daughter of Thomas Astley and Joan Gresley. There does not appear to be any reference to the Parish of Clays in the will.

We are grateful to R. Barber and his work in Arthurian Literature XII.

Click the link and it will take you to the will.

Transcription of the will

Modern English PROB11/8/182

Will of Margery Asteley

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I MARGERY ASTELEY Widow late the wife of Sir John Asteley, Knyght, remembering myself that I am mortal and that the time of my departing out of this world is to me uncertain now by my feeling that I am whole of mind and memory though I be feeble and sick in my body, make this my present Testament the 5th day of the month of March in the year of our Lord God 1487 And in the third year of the reign of King Henry the 7th in manner and form as follows;

First I commend my soul to my Lord God maker and Redeemer and to the blessed lady and virgin our Lady Saint Mary and to all the holy company of heaven and my body whence time shall require to be buried at White Friars in Fleet Street where the body of John Asteley, Knight, late my husband is buried

And I bequeath to the same £20 sterling to be spent in such way as may be profitable to the said place after the discretion of my Executors.

Item I bequeath 40 marcs to the exhibition of Scholars of Divinity in Oxford and Cambridge equally to be divided having care of them for the time being 4 or 5 marks after the discretion of Master John Breton parson of Saint Petrys in Cornehill to pray for my soul and for my said husband’s soul and John Asteley’s soul late the son of us both and for our fathers souls and our mothers souls, that is to say, of Thomas Kingston and Margaret his wife, Thomas Asteley and Dame Jane his wife.

Item I bequeath £10 to the marriage of 5 maidens of good name and same, that is to say, to every of them 40 shillings.

Item I bequeath to the reparations and mending of highways by Avenue Derby and Arsshum so that they be sufficiently repaired £10 as far as the same sum will extend.

Item I bequeath to RICHARD JORY servant at the law my law book covered with black velvet whom I make same and chief of my Executors and I bequeath to him for his labor £10.

Item I bequeath to CHRISTOPHER HANYNGTON of the Chancery £5 to be one of my Executors.

Item I bequeath to MASTER NICHOLAS LATHELL one of the barons of the King's Eschequer £5 for his labor to be one of my Executors and to endeavour himself to record my debts.

Item I bequeath to ELYANOR DERLYNG toward her marriage at such time as it shall please her founder and her to ask it of my Executors 5 marcs so that her said founder and she both be friendly to my Executors in execution of this my present Last Will and Testament.

Item I bequeath to RICHARD CHAMPENEYS the son of Thomas Champeneys of the parish of Saint Sepulcre without Newgate my primer covered with red velvet.

And I bequeath to every Godson and Goddaughter that I have in the same parish 3 shillings 4 pence.

Item I bequeath towards a Table of Saint John Baptist before the altar of Corpus Christi in the said church of Saint Sepulcre 20 shillings.

Item I bequeath to the high altar of the same church of Saint Sepulcre for my tithes forgotten if any such be and the vicar or his depute to pray specially for my soul 13 shillings 4 pence.

Item I bequeath to MARGERY LONG my goddaughter of the same parish of Saint Sepulcre 6 shilling 8 pence.

Item I bequeath to JOHANNE CROFTE my servant besides her wages 20 shillings. Item I bequeath to MABILL UNWYN servant with Thomas Derlington 3 shillings 4

pence.

Item I bequeath to WILLIAM WELTON servant to the said Thomas Derlington 6 shillings 8 pence.

Item I bequeath to WILLIAM HEYDON so that he continue out his apprenticeship with his master 6 shillings 8 pence.

Item I bequeath to AMBROSE METCALF and EDWARD THENCHMER servants with the said Thomas Derlyngton to either of them 20 pence, that is to say, 3 shillings 4 pence to them both.

Item I will that my sister MARGARET DERLINGTON have my scarlet gown edged with damask collar and sleeves whether I live or die. Also I will that she have a blue gown with a trim furred with calabre and edged with mink collar and sleeves, or else a fine mauvey [gown] furred with mink.

Item I bequeath to JANE NEVILL my Lord of Bergevenny’s sister a fine mauvey gown with a deep edge of gray.

Item I bequeath to NIGHOLAS KINGSSTONE’s wife a long gown and a short gown both furred with Ermine Also I will that she have a gilt Girdill1 of beyond see work the core [being of] black velvet.

Item I bequeath to my lady Sir Gilbert Debenhame's wife a gown of dark violet furred with gray with a deep edge and I bequeath to her a girdill1 with a green core with branches of gold.

Item I bequeath to the wife of Thomas Champeney a round scarlet gown furred with Martens.

Item I bequeath to EDWARD the son of Sir Robert Grene a salt partial gilt [page 2]

without a covering.

Item I bequeath to CECILI his sister a flat piece partial gilt without a covering.

Item I bequeath to the church of Saint Benet at Pauls Wharf 13 shillings 4 pence to buy a cotidian vestment for a priest to sing in mass.

Item I bequeath my great carpet to our lady altar at the White Friars in Fleet Street there to serve at high feasts.

Item I bequeath a violet Spaditt the silver thereof weighing about 10 ounces for a chalice to be made thereof for the altar next our Lady Altar at the said White Friars.

Item I bequeath to Thomas Derlington’s wife for a gown 40 shillings.

Item I will that my Executors send to the chapels of our Lady of Walsingham there to be

offered in the Worship of God and of our Lady 6 shillings 8 pence.

Item I bequeath to the Prior of the White Friars and about of the same place a chased piece partially gilt with a covering. Item I bequeath to the same prior and convent for to set me to my burying and to keep prayers and dirge by rote the day of my burying with mass of Requiem by rote the day next following and every day the month day prayers and dirge with mass of Requiem following without Moote and the month day prayers and dirge be rote with mass of Requiem following be note £5.

Item I will that my Executors provide and ordain the day of my burying 20 torches newly made and four covenable tapers of wax and 24 poor men to hold them having every man to hold them for his labor and to pray for my soul 8 pence.

Item I bequeath to the master and brethren of popery so that they carry my body to the place where I shall be buried and keep my dirge and mass within the month at Saint Sepulcres church 13 shillings 4 pence.

Item I will that my Executors so that I have a dirge and mass by Note the day of my obit or else within two days after at my parish church of Saint Sepulcre having every priest and clerk being present 8 pence.

Item I bequeath to Saint Petrys church in Cornehill towards a chalice to serve at Saint Georges altar there 13 shillings 4 pence.

Item I bequeath to MARGARET BRICE otherwise called MARAGET BUTTERELL my daughter if she be alive at the hour of my decease my less standing cup gilt with a covering having a knob and 10 marcs in money. And if she be not alive at the hour of my death that the same cup and money be disposed for my soul by my Executors after their discretion.

Item I bequeath to RAUF KNYSSTON of the Temple 10 marcs in money so that he let not nor trouble my Executors in the execution of this my present Testament.

Item I will that of my great standing cup gilt having a covering with a blue knob be made a chalice And I will that the same chalice be given to the prior and convent of the White Friars before named to serve there at mass in principal feasts.

Item I bequeath a carpet of 2 yards long and more, delivered to the prior of the White Friars before the sealing hereof to lie upon my husbands tomb and mine in principal feasts.

Item I will that the said MARGARET BRICE have a part of my napery after the discretion of my Executors.

And I make and ordain of this my present Testament the above named RICHARD JORY, CHRISTOFER HARYNGTON, and NICHOLAS LATHELL my true and faithful Executors.

AND THE Residue of all my goods above not bequeathed, after my funerals done and my debts paid and this my Testament and Last Will fulfilled, I wholly give and bequeath to the disposition and distribution of my Executors above named as it seems best to the pleasure of God and profit to my soul Except my best collar of gold which I bequeath to our blessed Lady of the Pew.

IN WITNESS whereof to this my present Testament and Last Will I the said DAME MARGERY have set my seal in the presence of Friar Thomas Pesood Prior of the White Friars, Thomas Brown Notary Public citizen and Scrivener of London and others.

The above will was proved before the Lord at Lambeth on the twenty-second day of the month of May in the year of our Lord [year not specified], by the oath of Thomas Pesood, Master Richard Baker, as Thomas Brown, writer of London, and was approved, etc., and administration, etc., was granted to the executors named in the said will, etc., to well and faithfully administer, etc., and to produce a full and faithful inventory of all and singular goods, etc., before the feast of St. John the Baptist next, etc., and also to render a full and true account, computation, or reckoning, etc.