Henry Hylton, de jure 12th Baron Hylton
Encyclopedia
Henry Hylton, de jure 12th Baron Hylton (1586 – 30 March 1641) was an English nobleman, considered eccentric and sometimes given the name the Mad Baron.
Hylton was the eldest son of Thomas Hylton (himself the son of William Hylton, de jure 11th Baron Hylton) and his wife, Anne née Bowes (daughter of Sir George Bowes
of Streatlam Castle
). In 1600, Hylton inherited the right to the barony of Hylton
from his grandfather (his father having died in c.
1598. However, no Barons Hylton
had been called to Parliament since the second baron in the 14th century, therefore Hylton was not technically a peer
.
As Hylton was only thirteen years old when he inherited the Hylton estates
in County Durham
, he became a royal ward. He was placed in the care of Henry Robinson, Bishop of Carlisle and later married off to Mary Wortley, the daughter of Sir Richard Wortley, who managed the Hylton estates during Hylton's minority
. The marriage was probably never consummated
as he lived apart from his wife for nearly 30 years, choosing instead to live with his cousin, Nathaniel Hylton, who was vicar
of Billingshurst
in Sussex
, and later with Lady Shelley at her home of Michelgrove, near Petworth
.
When Scotland
invaded County Durham and the Hylton estates in 1641 as part of the Bishops' Wars
, Hylton made his will that year and appointed Lady Shelley as his executrix. Not knowing how long the Scots would occupy his abandoned estates, he confirmed in his will that he had no children or male heirs and also left the bulk of his estate to the Corporation of London
for a lease of ninety-nine years. He also requested that he be buried in St Paul's Cathedral
"under a faire tumbe like in fashion to the tumbe of Dr. Dunne", however this was not carried out. His wife later married Sir Thomas Smith, the "title" passed to his brother, Robert and the estate was later reclaimed by Hylton's nephew, John Hylton, de jure 15th Baron Hylton.
Hylton was the eldest son of Thomas Hylton (himself the son of William Hylton, de jure 11th Baron Hylton) and his wife, Anne née Bowes (daughter of Sir George Bowes
George Bowes (soldier)
Sir George Bowes was an English military commander.-Life:George Bowes was the son of Richard Bowes and Elizabeth Aske. At the age of fourteen he was married to Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Mallory of Studley Royal. He early went to the Scottish war, and in 1549 is mentioned as being in command...
of Streatlam Castle
Streatlam Castle
Streatlam Castle was a Baroque stately home located near the town of Barnard Castle in County Durham, England. Owned by the Bowes-Lyon family, Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, the house was one of the family's two principal seats, alongside Glamis Castle in Forfarshire, Scotland. Streatlam...
). In 1600, Hylton inherited the right to the barony of Hylton
Baron Hylton
Baron Hylton is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England 1295 when Robert Hylton was summoned to the Model Parliament as Lord Hylton by writ. His son, Alexander, was called to...
from his grandfather (his father having died in c.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1598. However, no Barons Hylton
Baron Hylton
Baron Hylton is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England 1295 when Robert Hylton was summoned to the Model Parliament as Lord Hylton by writ. His son, Alexander, was called to...
had been called to Parliament since the second baron in the 14th century, therefore Hylton was not technically a peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
.
As Hylton was only thirteen years old when he inherited the Hylton estates
Hylton Castle
Hylton Castle is a ruined stone castle in the North Hylton area of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. Originally built from wood by the Hilton family shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066, it was later rebuilt in stone in the late 14th to early 15th century...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, he became a royal ward. He was placed in the care of Henry Robinson, Bishop of Carlisle and later married off to Mary Wortley, the daughter of Sir Richard Wortley, who managed the Hylton estates during Hylton's minority
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
. The marriage was probably never consummated
Consummation
Consummation is the initial sexual act made within a marriage.Consummation can also refer to:* Consummation , 1970 recordingSee also:* Consummation of days, event predicted in Daniel Chapter 12, verses 1-4...
as he lived apart from his wife for nearly 30 years, choosing instead to live with his cousin, Nathaniel Hylton, who was vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Billingshurst
Billingshurst
Billingshurst is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It lies thirteen kilometres south-west of Horsham, and nine kilometres north-east of Pulborough....
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, and later with Lady Shelley at her home of Michelgrove, near Petworth
Petworth
Petworth is a small town and civil parish in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. It is located at the junction of the A272 east-west road from Heathfield to Winchester and the A283 Milford to Shoreham-by-Sea road. Some twelve miles to the south west of Petworth along the A285 road...
.
When Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
invaded County Durham and the Hylton estates in 1641 as part of the Bishops' Wars
Bishops' Wars
The Bishops' Wars , were conflicts, both political and military, which occurred in 1639 and 1640 centred around the nature of the governance of the Church of Scotland, and the rights and powers of the Crown...
, Hylton made his will that year and appointed Lady Shelley as his executrix. Not knowing how long the Scots would occupy his abandoned estates, he confirmed in his will that he had no children or male heirs and also left the bulk of his estate to the Corporation of London
Corporation of London
The City of London Corporation is the municipal governing body of the City of London. It exercises control only over the City , and not over Greater London...
for a lease of ninety-nine years. He also requested that he be buried in St Paul's Cathedral
Old St Paul's Cathedral
Old St Paul's Cathedral is a name used to refer to the medieval cathedral of the City of London which until 1666 stood on the site of the present St Paul's Cathedral. Built between 1087 and 1314 and dedicated to St Paul, the cathedral was the fourth church on the site at Ludgate Hill...
"under a faire tumbe like in fashion to the tumbe of Dr. Dunne", however this was not carried out. His wife later married Sir Thomas Smith, the "title" passed to his brother, Robert and the estate was later reclaimed by Hylton's nephew, John Hylton, de jure 15th Baron Hylton.