Spring Baronets
Encyclopedia
The Spring Baronetcy, of Pakenham in the County of Suffiolk, is a title in the Baronetage of England.
(principally Suffolk) between the late 15th and the early 18th centuries, when the family’s wealth and status began to go into decline. They originated from the town of Lavenham
in Suffolk, where the family were important merchants in the cloth and wool trade during the Middle Ages
. At the height of the wool trade in the late 1400s, the Springs were one of the richest families in England
. The family owned sixteen manor houses in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk
, Cambridgeshire
and Essex
, including Cockfield Hall
, which they built in the 16th century, and Newe House
.
Several members of the family were knighted before the creation of the Baronetcy. Sir John Spring of Suffolk (d. 1549) was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Spring
(1456–1523), who had been knighted by Henry VII
. Sir John ran the Spring family wool and cloth business upon the death of his father, before his brother Richard took over from him. He was also knighted by Henry VII. He married Dorothy Waldegrave (d. 1564), the daughter of Sir William Waldegrave of Smallbridge. Spring aided the dukes of Norfolk
and Suffolk
in suppressing the Lavenham revolt of 1525, when he removed the church bells of Lavenham so that the rebels could not be called to arms.
Their son, William
, became High Sheriff of Suffolk
in 1578 having served as MP for Suffolk
and was knighted by Elizabeth I
. His grandson was in turn knighted by James I
, also serving as MP and High Sheriff of Suffolk.
On 11 August 1641, William Spring was created a Baronet, of Pakenham
in the County of Suffolk, in the Baronetage of England by King Charles I
, in an attempt by the king to buy over parliamentarian gentry families in the lead up to the Civil War
. He was the High Sheriff of Suffolk and later served as MP for Bury St Edmunds and Suffolk, and was an active recruiter for the Parliamentarian army during the war. Following the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the family was issued with a general pardon
for their actions against the king. Sir William's son, the second Baronet, was also a MP for Suffolk and one of the earliest members to be designated a Whig. The baronetcy became dormant on the death of the sixth Baronet in 1769.
The family have a monument erected to them in the church of St Peter and St Paul in Lavenham and the parclose screen in the north aisle is to their chantry. The Springs funded the construction of the church, along with the de Veres
. Despite intense local rivalry during the late 1500s, the Springs and the Veres would later become united through marriage. The Springs were patrons of several other Suffolk churches, notably Cockfield
and Pakenham
.
History
The Spring family were major landowners in East AngliaEast Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
(principally Suffolk) between the late 15th and the early 18th centuries, when the family’s wealth and status began to go into decline. They originated from the town of Lavenham
Lavenham
Lavenham is a village and civil parish in Suffolk, England. It is noted for its 15th century church, half-timbered medieval cottages and circular walk. In the medieval period it was among the 20 wealthiest settlements in England...
in Suffolk, where the family were important merchants in the cloth and wool trade during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. At the height of the wool trade in the late 1400s, the Springs were one of the richest families in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The family owned sixteen manor houses in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
and Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, including Cockfield Hall
Cockfield Hall
Cockfield Hall in Yoxford in Suffolk is a Grade I listed private house standing in of historic parkland, dating from the 16th century. It was built by the Spring family, wealthy cloth merchants and later baronets of Pakenham....
, which they built in the 16th century, and Newe House
Newe House
Newe House is a Grade II* listed Stuart-era manor house in the village of Pakenham, Suffolk.Newe House was built in 1622 by Sir Robert Bright and today the façade of the house remains largely unmodified. Sir Robert had bought the land surrounding Pakenham from the Bacon family several years before...
.
Several members of the family were knighted before the creation of the Baronetcy. Sir John Spring of Suffolk (d. 1549) was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Spring
Thomas Spring of Lavenham
Sir Thomas Spring , also known as Thomas Spring III, was an English merchant in Suffolk during the early 1500s. He lived in Lavenham, Suffolk. He had inherited the Spring family cloth business from his father, also Thomas Spring. During Spring’s lifetime, the cloth trade was at its most profitable...
(1456–1523), who had been knighted by Henry VII
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....
. Sir John ran the Spring family wool and cloth business upon the death of his father, before his brother Richard took over from him. He was also knighted by Henry VII. He married Dorothy Waldegrave (d. 1564), the daughter of Sir William Waldegrave of Smallbridge. Spring aided the dukes of Norfolk
Duke of Norfolk
The Duke of Norfolk is the premier duke in the peerage of England, and also, as Earl of Arundel, the premier earl. The Duke of Norfolk is, moreover, the Earl Marshal and hereditary Marshal of England. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the...
and Suffolk
Duke of Suffolk
Duke of Suffolk is a title that has been created three times in British history, all three times in the Peerage of England.The third creation of the dukedom of Suffolk was for Henry Grey, 3rd Marquess of Dorset, in 1551. The duke also held the title Baron Ferrers of Groby...
in suppressing the Lavenham revolt of 1525, when he removed the church bells of Lavenham so that the rebels could not be called to arms.
Their son, William
William Spring of Lavenham
Sir William Spring of Lavenham was an English politician and merchant, the son of Sir John Spring and Dorothy Waldegrave. Spring was MP for Suffolk in 1570. He was High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1578/9 and oversaw Elizabeth I's visit to the county in 1578...
, became High Sheriff of Suffolk
High Sheriff of Suffolk
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Suffolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
in 1578 having served as MP for Suffolk
Suffolk (UK Parliament constituency)
Suffolk was a county constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1290 until 1832, when it was split into two divisions.-Boundaries and franchise:...
and was knighted by Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. His grandson was in turn knighted by James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, also serving as MP and High Sheriff of Suffolk.
On 11 August 1641, William Spring was created a Baronet, of Pakenham
Pakenham
-People:* Edward Pakenham , British general* Thomas Pakenham, several people including:** Thomas Pakenham , British admiral* William Christopher Pakenham , British admiral...
in the County of Suffolk, in the Baronetage of England by King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, in an attempt by the king to buy over parliamentarian gentry families in the lead up to the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. He was the High Sheriff of Suffolk and later served as MP for Bury St Edmunds and Suffolk, and was an active recruiter for the Parliamentarian army during the war. Following the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the family was issued with a general pardon
Indemnity and Oblivion Act
The Indemnity and Oblivion Act 1660 is an Act of the Parliament of England , the long title of which is "An Act of Free and General Pardon, Indemnity, and Oblivion"....
for their actions against the king. Sir William's son, the second Baronet, was also a MP for Suffolk and one of the earliest members to be designated a Whig. The baronetcy became dormant on the death of the sixth Baronet in 1769.
The family have a monument erected to them in the church of St Peter and St Paul in Lavenham and the parclose screen in the north aisle is to their chantry. The Springs funded the construction of the church, along with the de Veres
Earl of Oxford
Earl of Oxford is a dormant title in the Peerage of England, held for several centuries by the de Vere family from 1141 until the death of the 20th earl in 1703. The Veres were also hereditary holders of the office of master or Lord Great Chamberlain from 1133 until the death of the 18th Earl in 1625...
. Despite intense local rivalry during the late 1500s, the Springs and the Veres would later become united through marriage. The Springs were patrons of several other Suffolk churches, notably Cockfield
Cockfield, Suffolk
Cockfield is a village and civil parish located approximately 3½ miles from Lavenham in Suffolk, England. The village consists of a central point and several outlying hamlets: Buttons Green, Colchester Green, Cross Green, Great Green, Oldhall Green, Smithwood Green and Windsor Green...
and Pakenham
Pakenham
-People:* Edward Pakenham , British general* Thomas Pakenham, several people including:** Thomas Pakenham , British admiral* William Christopher Pakenham , British admiral...
.
Motto
The family motto is Non mihi sed Patriae (Latin), Not for myself but for my country.Spring Baronets, of Pakenham (1641)
- Sir William Spring, 1st BaronetSir William Spring, 1st BaronetSir William Spring, 1st Baronet was a British politician and a member of the wealthy and prominent Spring family of Pakenham, Suffolk.-Life:...
(1613–1654) - Sir William Spring, 2nd BaronetSir William Spring, 2nd BaronetSir William Spring, 2nd Baronet , a British politician, member of the wealthy and prominent Spring family and MP for Suffolk 1679-1684....
(1642–1684) - Sir Thomas Spring, 3rd Baronet (1672-1704)
- Sir William Spring, 4th Baronet (1697-1737)
- Sir John Spring, 5th Baronet (1674–1740)
- Sir John Spring, 6th Baronet (d. 1769)
External links
- Pakenham - Village of Two Mills (History section)
Further reading
- Medieval Clothing and Textiles, by Robin Netherton and Gale R. Owen-Crocker
- The Springs of Lavenham and the Suffolk Cloth Trade in the XV and XVI Centuries, by Barbara McClenaghan