Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire - a photo on Flickriver

To John Shirley, knight, best deserving from history and the students of history, most loving to his country and a surviving ornament to his family, destroyed by an untimely death. George Shirley, his first born son, most devoted by nature and by obligations placed this monument of his piety and reverance. He died on the 13th day of September in the year of our Lord 1570 leaving behind four sons and three daughters only surviving, born of Jane his most excellent wife, daughter and heiress of Thomas Lovett knight
(Latin inscription round the edge "Johanni Shirley, armigero, de literis et literarum studiosis optime merito, patriae amantissimo, et familiae suae ornamento, superstite, immatura morte praecepto, Georgius Shirley, primogenitus ejus filius, natura et beneficio devinctissimus, hoc pietatis et observantiae suae monumentum posuit. Obiit vero decimotertio die Septembris anno Dni millesimo quingentissimo septuagesimo quatuor filios et tres filias tantummodo supstites ex Jana lectissima sua conjuge filia et haerede Thomae Lovett armigeri, procreatos, relinquens.) www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/x4Ve9k

John Shirley 1570 son of Francis Shirley 1533-1571 of Ettington & Staunton Harold by Dorothy www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/008T2m daughter of John Giffard of Chillington and Jane Hoord of Bridgnorth www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/9241228030/
His father Francis bought the former priory lands here from the Crown in 1539
John lies in armour, sword by his side, his head resting on a tilting helmet, his feet on a lion . Around the sides are heraldic shields of arms
John m 1558 Jane heiress daughter of Thomas Lovett 1586 www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/5356352947/ of Astwell by Elizabeth daughter of Sir Richard Fermor of Easton Neston & Anne Browne flic.kr/p/hXBKm5 .
They lived at Ragdale Hall
Jane brought several manors to the Shirleys including Astwell Northants, South Newington (Newton) Oxon , Dorington Gloc; and St. Botolph's Bridge Hunts +++
Children
1. George 1559- 1622 m1 Frances www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/K98cLK daughter of Henry 7th Baron Berkeley and Katherine Howard www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/9496809132/ m2 Dorothy www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/2401560660/ daughter of Sir Thomas Wroughton: widow of Henry Unton
2. John dsp studied law at the Inner Temple & Grays Inn; died of wounds received in Flanders, in the service of the King of Spain.
3. Thomas of Gray's Inn, He released his interest in Brailesford, Warks to his brother George upon the settling of Shirley manor upon him for a term of years
4. Ralph b 1562 of Stretton Staffs, died on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1582 intended for the church as a priest, he died before taking orders. His brother George granted him an annuity.
1. .Anne 1567-1624 m1 Roland Wybenbury 1606 of Adderley m2 William Grosvenor 1641 of The Brand Shrops & Norton in Hales (another source, History & Antq. of Leic. says she was unmarried)
2..Dorothy 1571-1609 m George Dyer
3. Elizabeth 1565- 1641 -a nun at Lovain

After John died, Jane m2 William Gray of East Donilands Essex, son of John Graye and Elizabeth Mayhew who in turn m2 Mary f Mary Bode / Boade (Jane & William had 1 son Thomas Graye)
Jane died in August 1582

Alabaster effigy made for £22 by Richard and Gabriel Royley, father and son, of Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. It wasn't erected until 1585.
The Shirley family bought the manor after it was surrendered to the Crown in 1539 during the Reformation

+++ Agreement 1st May 1563 between Francis Shirley of Staunton Harold, esq., and Thomas Lovett of Astwell esq., in consid: of £400 and of a marriage between John Shirley son and heir of Francis and Jane Lovett, dau. and heiress of Thomas Lovett, that:
1. Thomas Lovett, John Shirley and Jane his wife, and John Lovett (brother of Thomas) shall levy a fine unto William Mathew and Edmund Foster of the manors of Astwell and Falcutt with 7 messuages, 7 tofts, 3 mills, 1 dovecot, 14 gardens, 200 acres of land, 140 acres of meadow, 500 acres of pasture, 200 acres of wood, 300 acres of furze and heath, 10 acres of moor and 10 acres of marsh and fishing, and £10 rent in Astwell and Falcutt by which the property shall pass to Mathew & Foster and his heirs.
2. It is to be held to the use of Thomas Lovett during his life. After his death as much as is of the yearly value of £20 is to be to the use of the same Thomas's executors for 12 years towards the execution of his will and after this the whole property is to be to the use of any future wife or wives of Thomas and after their death to his eldest son, then any other sons, then to the use of John and Jane aforesaid and their heirs with reversion to heirs of Thomas.
3. If Thomas Lovett makes any leases of the same property for not more than 99 years at the accustomed (or greater) rents then Mathew and Foster shall be seised of the same and the terms of leases shall stand.

The contract with the Royleys for the making of the tomb still survives . agreeing that they would '. . . arttificiallie, conninglie, decentlie, and substantiallie to devise, worke, and perfectlie and fullie set up at Bredon, before the feaste of the Annuciation of Our Lady next ensueinge, at or near the grave of John Shirley, Esquire, deceased the father of George Shirley, a very goode faier, well chosen, and durable allabaster stone. And on the upper part of the said tomb to make a very fair, decente, and well proportioned picture or portraiture of a gentleman, representinge the said John Shirley, with furniture and ornaments in armoure and aboute his necke a double cheyne of gold with creste and helmett under his heade, with sword and dagger by his syde, a lyon at his feete, and as being upon a matte. And on the north side to make three decente, usuall, and well proportioned escutcheons, with comptments aboute every one of them, the first whereof shall contain the very trewe arms of the said John Shirley only; the second, the very trewe arms of the said John and Jane his wife, empannelled together; and the third, the arms of the said Jane only, with one frenche pilaster between everyone of the said escutcheons, and likewise at ye west and east end of ye tomb an escutcheon of the said John and Jane quartered together; the whole to be painted and gilt, with good and convenible oyells, golde, and culloures.'
- Church of St Mary & St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire
www.shirleyassociation.com/NewShirleySite/NonMembers/Engl...
books.google.co.uk/books?id=_vQRAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA81&...
effigy monument - Breedon on the Hill church Leicestershire

Taken on: September 25, 2019

Tags:

breedon

hill

breedon on the hill

leicestershire « less

Sets appears in: • Leicestershire - Breedon on the Hill

Groups appears in: • Traveller's World • European Church Monuments more » • Church Photography • Escudos heráldicos / Heraldry • Church Monument Heraldry • ANCIENT RELICS « less

Stats: 1,168 views