Sir William Parr
Encyclopedia
William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Kendal, KG (1434 – 1483) was an English courtier and soldier. He was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Parr (1405–1464) and his wife Alice (who was the daughter of Sir Thomas Tunstall of Thurland, Lancashire).
Castle and one-fourth part of the barony of Kendal
, which continued in the family till after the death of William Parr, Marquis of Northampton, when the Marquis's widow surrendered it to Queen Elizabeth I.
It was known as 'The Marquis Fee.' This branch of the family resided at Kendal.
His paternal grandparents were John Parr (c. 1383–1409) and Agness Crophull, widow of Walter Devereux. From her previous marriage she was mother to a younger Walter Devereux and paternal grandmother to Walter Devereux, Lord Chancellor of Ireland
.
Sir Thomas Parr, the courtier's father, was sub-vice comes for Westmorland
from 1428 to 1437, and was sheriff from 1461 to 1475. He was assaulted in going to Parliament in 1446, the case being noticed in Parliament and took an active part in the wars of the Roses
on the Yorkist side; he was attainted in 1459, with the other leading Yorkists (iborn v.348-50). Doubtless his attainder was reversed in 1461, as he died in 1464.
Sir Thomas left three sons and six daughters; the daughters all married members of prominent northern families. Of the sons, the second, Sir John Parr, also a Yorkist, was rewarded by being made sheriff of Westmoreland for life in 1462; he married a daughter of Sir John Yonge
, Lord Mayor of the City of London, and must have lived until after 1473, as in that year he was one of those exempted from the resumption act (iborn vi.81). The third son, Thomas, was killed at Barnet
in 1471.
and was exempted from the Resumption Act of 1464. He was on the side of the Nevilles at Banbury in 1469, was sent by George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence
and Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
to Edward in March 1470, just before the battle of Lose-Coat-Fields, and was entrusted by Edward with his answer.
When Edward IV returned from exile in 1471 Parr met him at Nottingham, and was rewarded with the comptrollership of the household, which he held till Edward's death. He swore to recognise Edward, Prince of Wales
, as heir to the throne in 1472 (iborn vi. 234), and was exempted from the resumption act of 1473 (iborn vi.81).
Parr sat as knight of the shire for Westmoreland
in 1467 and 1473, and was High Sheriff of Cumberland
from 1473 to 1483. He was sent to the Kingdom of Scotland
to arrange about the breaches of the truce probably in 1479. He was exempted from the act of apparel in 1482, was chief commissioner for exercising the office of constable of England in 1483, and took part in the funeral of Edward IV.
It seems probable that he died about this time (cf. Beltz, Memorials of the Garter, pp. 210, lxxii, clxvii), and that the William Parr present at the meeting of Henry VII of England
and Philip I of Castile
at Windsor, in 1506, was his second son.
Secondly, Lady Elizabeth FitzHugh, daughter of Henry, Lord FitzHugh and Lady Alice Neville
, who survived him and remarried Sir Nicholas Vaux
; by her Parr left a daughter Anne, who married Sir Thomas Cheney of Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, and three sons: Sir Thomas Parr
, Sir William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Horton, and John Parr.
The eldest son, Sir Thomas Parr
, was knighted and was sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1509; he was master of the wards and comptroller to Henry VIII. He was rich, owing to his succeeding, in 1512, to half the estates of his cousin, Lord FitzHugh, and also to his marriage with Maud Green
, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Thomas Green
of Boughton and Greens Norton
in Northamptonshire. He died on 12 November 1518, and was buried in Blackfriars Church, London. His widow died on 1 September 1532, and was buried beside him. Of their children, Catherine Parr
, queen of Henry VIII
, and William Parr
(afterwards Marquess of Northampton), are separately noticed; while a daughter, Anne
, married William Herbert, first Earl of Pembroke of the tenth creation.
The second son of Sir William Parr was William
, who was knighted on 25 December 1513, was sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1518 and 1522, and after his niece's Catherine Parr
's promotion became her chamberlain. On 23 December 1543 he was created Baron Parr of Horton
, Northamptonshire. He died on 10 September 1547, and was buried at Horton (for his tomb, see Bridges, Northamptonshire, i. 370). By Mary, daughter of Sir William Salisbury, he left four daughters. His daughter Maud and her husband, Sir Ralph Lane, are ancestors of Albert II of Monaco. The late Princess of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer, was also a descendant of Maud and Mary Parr..
A third son of Sir William Parr, named John, married Constance, daughter of Sir Henry Vere of Addington, Surrey. They had no issue.
Ancestry
The Parr family originally came from Parr, Lancashire. Sir William's great-grandfather, Sir William de Parre (died 1405), son of Sir John de Parre, lord of Parr; married, in 1383, Elizabeth, daughter of John de Ros, and granddaughter and heiress of Sir Thomas de Ros, baron of Kendal; through his marriage he acquired KendalKendal
Kendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
Castle and one-fourth part of the barony of Kendal
Barony of Kendal
The Barony of Kendal is a subdivision of the English county of Westmorland. It is one of two baronies in the county, the other being the Barony of Westmorland, and contains within it the wards of Kendal and Lonsdale...
, which continued in the family till after the death of William Parr, Marquis of Northampton, when the Marquis's widow surrendered it to Queen Elizabeth I.
It was known as 'The Marquis Fee.' This branch of the family resided at Kendal.
His paternal grandparents were John Parr (c. 1383–1409) and Agness Crophull, widow of Walter Devereux. From her previous marriage she was mother to a younger Walter Devereux and paternal grandmother to Walter Devereux, Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
.
Sir Thomas Parr, the courtier's father, was sub-vice comes for Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
from 1428 to 1437, and was sheriff from 1461 to 1475. He was assaulted in going to Parliament in 1446, the case being noticed in Parliament and took an active part in the wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
on the Yorkist side; he was attainted in 1459, with the other leading Yorkists (iborn v.348-50). Doubtless his attainder was reversed in 1461, as he died in 1464.
Sir Thomas left three sons and six daughters; the daughters all married members of prominent northern families. Of the sons, the second, Sir John Parr, also a Yorkist, was rewarded by being made sheriff of Westmoreland for life in 1462; he married a daughter of Sir John Yonge
John Yonge
John Yonge , English ecclesiastic and diplomatist, was born at Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, and educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford, where he became a fellow in 1485. Probably the son of John Yonge, Lord Mayor of London...
, Lord Mayor of the City of London, and must have lived until after 1473, as in that year he was one of those exempted from the resumption act (iborn vi.81). The third son, Thomas, was killed at Barnet
Barnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
in 1471.
Life
William was made a knight of the Garter by Edward IV of EnglandEdward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
and was exempted from the Resumption Act of 1464. He was on the side of the Nevilles at Banbury in 1469, was sent by George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence
George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence
George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, 1st Earl of Salisbury, 1st Earl of Warwick, KG was the third son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville, and the brother of kings Edward IV and Richard III. He played an important role in the dynastic struggle known as the Wars of the...
and Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville KG, jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury and 8th and 5th Baron Montacute , known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was an English nobleman, administrator, and military commander...
to Edward in March 1470, just before the battle of Lose-Coat-Fields, and was entrusted by Edward with his answer.
When Edward IV returned from exile in 1471 Parr met him at Nottingham, and was rewarded with the comptrollership of the household, which he held till Edward's death. He swore to recognise Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward V of England
Edward V was King of England from 9 April 1483 until his deposition two months later. His reign was dominated by the influence of his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who succeeded him as Richard III...
, as heir to the throne in 1472 (iborn vi. 234), and was exempted from the resumption act of 1473 (iborn vi.81).
Parr sat as knight of the shire for Westmoreland
Westmorland (UK Parliament constituency)
Westmorland was a constituency covering the county of Westmorland in the North of England, which returned Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The constituency had two separate periods of existence....
in 1467 and 1473, and was High Sheriff of Cumberland
High Sheriff of Cumberland
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
from 1473 to 1483. He was sent to the Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
to arrange about the breaches of the truce probably in 1479. He was exempted from the act of apparel in 1482, was chief commissioner for exercising the office of constable of England in 1483, and took part in the funeral of Edward IV.
It seems probable that he died about this time (cf. Beltz, Memorials of the Garter, pp. 210, lxxii, clxvii), and that the William Parr present at the meeting of Henry VII of England
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
and Philip I of Castile
Philip I of Castile
Philip I , known as Philip the Handsome or the Fair, was the first Habsburg King of Castile...
at Windsor, in 1506, was his second son.
Wives and children
Sir William married, first, Joan Trusbut (died 1473), widow of Thomas Colt of Roydon, Essex; her issue, if any, did not survive Parr.Secondly, Lady Elizabeth FitzHugh, daughter of Henry, Lord FitzHugh and Lady Alice Neville
Alice Neville
Alice Neville , Baroness FitzHugh of Ravensworth, was the wife of Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron FitzHugh. She is best known for being the great-grandmother of Queen consort Catherine Parr and her siblings, Anne and William, as well as one of the sisters of Warwick the 'Kingmaker'. Her family was one of...
, who survived him and remarried Sir Nicholas Vaux
Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden
Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden was a soldier and courtier in England and an early member of the House of Commons...
; by her Parr left a daughter Anne, who married Sir Thomas Cheney of Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, and three sons: Sir Thomas Parr
Sir Thomas Parr
Sir Thomas Parr was an English knight, courtier and Lord of the Manor of Kendal in Westmorland during the Tudor period. He is best known as the father of Catherine Parr, queen consort of England and the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII.-Life:Thomas was the son of Sir William Parr of Kendal...
, Sir William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Horton, and John Parr.
The eldest son, Sir Thomas Parr
Sir Thomas Parr
Sir Thomas Parr was an English knight, courtier and Lord of the Manor of Kendal in Westmorland during the Tudor period. He is best known as the father of Catherine Parr, queen consort of England and the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII.-Life:Thomas was the son of Sir William Parr of Kendal...
, was knighted and was sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1509; he was master of the wards and comptroller to Henry VIII. He was rich, owing to his succeeding, in 1512, to half the estates of his cousin, Lord FitzHugh, and also to his marriage with Maud Green
Maud Green, Lady Parr
Maud Green was best known as the mother of Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII of England. She was a close friend and lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon...
, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Thomas Green
Sir Thomas Green
Sir Thomas Green was Lord of Greens Norton, Northamptonshire, England. He was the son of Sir Thomas Greene , Lord of Greens Norton, and Matilda Throckmorton. He is best known for being the father of Maud Green and grandfather to queen consort Katherine Parr and the last male heir to the Lordship...
of Boughton and Greens Norton
Greens Norton
Greens Norton is a village in South Northamptonshire, England, just over from Towcester. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 1,587 people.-Facilities:It has a pub called the Butchers Arms, a post office, and a...
in Northamptonshire. He died on 12 November 1518, and was buried in Blackfriars Church, London. His widow died on 1 September 1532, and was buried beside him. Of their children, Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
, queen of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, and William Parr
William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, 1st Earl of Essex and 1st Baron Parr, KG was the son of Sir Thomas Parr and his wife, Maud Green, daughter of Sir Thomas Green, of Broughton and Greens Norton...
(afterwards Marquess of Northampton), are separately noticed; while a daughter, Anne
Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke
Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, Baroness Herbert of Cardiff was lady-in-waiting to each of Henry VIII of England's six wives. She was the younger sister of his sixth wife, Catherine Parr.-Early years:...
, married William Herbert, first Earl of Pembroke of the tenth creation.
The second son of Sir William Parr was William
Baron Parr of Horton
William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Horton was the son of William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Kendal and his wife Elizabeth Fitzhugh, Baroness Vaux of Harrowden.-Life:...
, who was knighted on 25 December 1513, was sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1518 and 1522, and after his niece's Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
's promotion became her chamberlain. On 23 December 1543 he was created Baron Parr of Horton
Baron Parr of Horton
William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Horton was the son of William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Kendal and his wife Elizabeth Fitzhugh, Baroness Vaux of Harrowden.-Life:...
, Northamptonshire. He died on 10 September 1547, and was buried at Horton (for his tomb, see Bridges, Northamptonshire, i. 370). By Mary, daughter of Sir William Salisbury, he left four daughters. His daughter Maud and her husband, Sir Ralph Lane, are ancestors of Albert II of Monaco. The late Princess of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer, was also a descendant of Maud and Mary Parr..
A third son of Sir William Parr, named John, married Constance, daughter of Sir Henry Vere of Addington, Surrey. They had no issue.