Xmera / Gloucestershire Gentry / Lord Berkeley

Lord Berkeley

Berkeley Castle (c. 1708)

Maurice (d. 1506)

A younger son of James, lord Berkeley (d. 1463) and Isabel (d. 1452), daughter of Thomas Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, he inherited the barony on the death of his brother William, marquess Berkeley (d. 1491). William had alienated much of his inheritance, including Berkeley castle, in order to acquire and maintain his rank. Maurice spent much of the last 15 years of his life pursuing the restitution of property alienated by William. His comparative poverty meant that he was never recognised as a baron. He leased Yate Court to provide the family with an appropriate residence in Gloucestershire.

He married Isabel, daughter of Philip Mead of Wraxall, Som.

Maurice - see below
James (d. 1514) married Susan, daughter of William Veel of Tortworth - their daughter Mary married her uncle's ward Sir Thomas Perrot of Haroldston, Pemb.
Thomas - see below
Anne married Sir William Denis of Dyrham

Maurice (1467-1523) Son

He had a successful military career, eventually becoming lieutenant of Calais castle. He married Katherine (d. 1525), daughter of Sir William Berkeley of Stoke Gifford. Having no children by his wife, he adopted his nephew Thomas as his heir. His will also made provision for an illegitimate son he fathered in Calais. He was called to parliament shortly before his death.

Thomas (1472-1532) Brother

He married Eleanor (d. 1526), daughter of Sir Marmaduke Constable of Flamborough, Yorks. and widow of John Ingilby of Ripley. His father and brother settled manors in Yorkshire inherited through his mother on him at the time of his marriage.

Thomas - see below
Maurice (d. 1547) married his step-sister Frances Rowdon. He inherited a life interest in Mangotsfield from his father, although his possession of the manor was disputed by his brother. His sons Edward (d. 1577) and Maurice died without heirs.
Mirriell married Robert Throckmorton of Coughton, Warws.
Joan (d. 1564) married 1) Sir Nicholas Poyntz (d. 1556) of Iron Acton and 2) Sir Thomas Dyer (d. 1565) of Weston, Som.

The family moved to Gloucestershire following the death of his brother James, when the manor of Mangotsfield was purchased from Sir Robert Dormer.

Following Eleanor's death he married Cicely (d. 1559), widow of Richard Rowdon of Gloucester and sister of John Arnold, steward to Gloucester Abbey.

Thomas (1505-34) Son

His early life was spent in Yorkshire, until he was adopted by his uncle and taken to Calais when the rest of his family moved to Gloucestershire. He entered the service of his kinsman (through his great-grandmother) Thomas, duke of Norfolk. A marriage was planned between him and Norfolk's daughter Katherine (d. 1529), but this never took place. Instead he married:

Mary (d. 1533), daughter of George, lord Hastings
Anne (d. 1564), daughter of John Savage of Clifton, Ches.
- Henry - see below
- Elizabeth (1533-82) married Thomas, earl of Ormond and went to live in Ireland. They had no children and separated, when she returned to live in Bristol.

He was a member of the Boleyn faction at court and his second marriage was reputedly instigated by the king and queen. He died before the birth of his son.

Henry (1534 - 1613) Son

He was born two months after the death of his father. On the death of Edward VI the property that William, marquess Berkeley had alienated to Henry VII and his male heirs, which included Berkeley castle, reverted to the Berkeleys.

He married Katherine (1539-96), daughter of Henry Howard, earl of Surrey and sister of Thomas, duke of Norfolk.

Sir Thomas (1575-1611) married Elizabeth (1576-1635), daughter of Sir George Carey, 2nd lord Hunsdon. The marriage was troubled and Thomas spent much of his time abroad.
- George - see below
- Theophila (1596-1643) married Sir Robert Coke (1587-1653), eldest son of the jurist Sir Edward Coke. They had no children, but adopted her nephew George.
After his death Elizabeth married the lawyer Thomas Chamberlain (d. 1625).
Mary (1557 - after 1596) married John Zouch (c1564-1611) of Codnor Castle, Derbys. They had two children, John and Anne, but separated by 1590.
Frances (1561-95) married Sir George Shirley of Staunton Harold, Leics.
Ferdinand, Katherine and Jane died as children.

Having recovered Berkeley castle, he sold the remainder of the lease on Yate Court, but lived predominantly at Caludon castle, near Coventry. A lengthy lawsuit and extravagant living depleted his resouces and there were significant sales of land. After the death of Katherine he married Jane (c1547-1618), daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope of Shelford, Derbys. and widow of Sir Roger Townshend of Raynham, Norf. by whom she had two sons.

George (1601-58) Grandson

He was married as a child to Elizabeth (1604-69), daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope and niece of his grandfather's second wife. The marriage was not a happy one and he spend much of his adult life abroad, leaving the management of his estate to his mother, sister and wife.

Charles (1623-41) drowned while crossing the channel.
George - see below
Elizabeth married Edward Coke, grandson of the jurist and nephew of her aunt's husband Robert.

George (1627-98) Grandson

He was adopted by his aunt and uncle and raised by them at Durdans, Surrey. In 1646 he married Elizabeth (d. 1708), the daughter of John Massingberd, treasurer of the East India Company. Following the example of his father-in-law he became involved in colonial trade and, assisted by the dynastic accident that made him heir of his father and his aunt, restored the family fortunes. He was created Earl of Berkeley in 1679.

Charles - see below
George (d. 1694), a clergyman became a prebendary of Westminster and married Jane, daughter of George Cole of Woolfardisworthy, Devon and had a daughter Elizabeth.
Elizabeth (d. 1681) married William Smythe Esq. (d. 1721), paymaster of the band of pensioners. Their daughter Theophila married Arthur Moore and their youngest son James (1702-1734), the playwright, was made his grandfather's heir on condition that he took the name of Smythe.
Theophilia (1650 - 1707) married 1) Sir Kingsmill Lucy (d. 1678) of Faccombe, Hants and 2) the religious writer Robert Nelson (1656-1718), who she met in Rome.
Arabella (d. 1729) married Sir William Pulteney of Misterton, Leics. as his second wife. His sister Ann married Charles, duke of Cleveland, son of Charles II and Barbara Villiers.
Mary (d.1719) married 1) Ford, lord Grey of Warke (from 1695 first Earl of Tankerville), by whom she had a daughter Mary and 2) Richard Rooth of Epsom, an Irishman who had previously been married to Jane, the widow of Arthur Chichester, lord Donegal.
Henrietta (d. 1706) was seduced by her sister Mary's husband in 1681, leading her father to take his son-in-law to court for debauching her.
Arethusa (d. 1743) married Charles Boyle, viscount Dungarvan.

Charles (1649-1710) Son

He married Elizabeth Noel, daughter of Baptist Noel, viscount Campden.

Charles, viscount Dursley (1679 - 1699)
James (d. 1736) was a distinguished naval officer. After succeeding his father as earl of Berkeley, he was made a lord of the bedchamber. He became first lord of the Admiralty in 1717. He married Louisa (1694-1716), daughter of Charles Lennox, duke of Richmond.
Henry (d. 1736), married Mary, daughter of Col. Henry Cornewall, MP of Moccas, Herefs.
George (d. 1746), married Henrietta (1689-1767), daughter of Sir Henry Hobart of Blickling and widow of Charles Howard, earl of Suffolk, mistress of George II
Mary married Thomas Chambers of Hanworth, Middx., whose father had been Agent in Madras for the East India Company.
Elizabeth (d. 1769), married Sir John Germain (d. 1718), a soldier of Dutch origin who had had a notorious affair with and subsequently married Mary, duchess of Norfolk (d. 1705).
Penelope (d. 1699)