Biography of Thomas Monson 1st Baronet 1565-1641

In 1565 Thomas Monson 1st Baronet was born to John Monson (age 18).

Around 1590 George Booth 1st Baronet (age 33) and [his future sister-in-law] Katherine Anderson Lady Dunham Massey (age 22) were married.

On 20 Dec 1593 [his father] John Monson (age 46) died.

In or before1599 Thomas Monson 1st Baronet (age 34) and Margaret Monson (age 29) were married.

In 1599 [his son] John Monson 2nd Baronet was born to Thomas Monson 1st Baronet (age 34) and [his wife] Margaret Monson (age 29).

In 1603 Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex (age 11) and Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 12) were married. They were separated after the wedding given their young age. Essex went on a European tour from 1607 to 1609. When he returned she avoided him having fallen for Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 16) whilst her husband was away. He was ill with smallpox. She sought an annulment with her father Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and uncle Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton (age 62) acting for her. She maintained the marriage had not been consummated and was examined by ten matrons and two midwives who found her hymen intact. It was widely rumoured at the time that Sir Thomas Monson's (age 38) daughter was a substitute, which is possible because she had requested to be veiled during the examination "for modesty's sake". He maintained he was capable with other women, but was unable to consummate his marriage blaming her. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 41) and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 39). He the son of Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex (age 36). They were fourth cousins.

Before 10 Aug 1605 [his brother-in-law] William Anderson (age 26) and Magdalena Smith (age 61) were married. The difference in their ages was 35 years; she, unusually, being older than him.

Before 1608 [his brother-in-law] Francis Anderson (age 27) and Audrey Boteler Countess Chichester were married.

On 29 Jun 1611 Thomas Monson 1st Baronet (age 46) was created 1st Baronet Monson of Carleton in Lincolnshire.

Before Dec 1611 John Sheffield and [his sister-in-law] Grizel Anderson (age 22) were married. He the son of Edmund Sheffield 1st Earl Mulgrave (age 45) and Ursula Tyrwhitt (age 71).

On 06 May 1613 Gervase Helwys (age 51) was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 46) having been recommended by Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton (age 73). Gervase Helwys (age 51) paid £2000 for the appointment of which £1400 went to Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton (age 73) and £300 to Thomas Monson 1st Baronet (age 48), Master of the Armory in the Tower, and a friend of Gervase Helwys (age 51).

After 01 Oct 1615 Gervase Helwys (age 54), Thomas Monson 1st Baronet (age 50), the gaoler Richard Weston, widow of a London doctor Mrs Anne Turner, and an apothecary James Franklin were tried for the murder of Thomas Overbury at the Guildhall [Map] by Edward Coke (age 63) and Francis Bacon 1st Viscount St Alban (age 54). It was ruled that "poisons" had been "administered" in the form of "jellies" and "tarts" by Weston, Turner and Franklin at the direction of Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 25). Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 25) admitted her guilt. Her husband Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 28) maintained his innocence despite King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 49) urging him to admit his guilt to avoid James being implicated. Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 25) and Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 28) were found guilty and sentenced to death. King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 49) commuted their sentence to life imprisonment. They, along with Monson (age 50), were subsequently pardoned.

The evidence for Gervase Helwys (age 54) appeared to indicated he had attempted to undermine the plot to poison Thomas Overbury.

On 22 Dec 1615 [his brother-in-law] Francis Anderson (age 34) died.

In Jan 1616 [his sister-in-law] Grizel Anderson (age 27) died.

Around 1625 [his son] John Monson 2nd Baronet (age 26) and [his daughter-in-law] Ursula Oxenbridge were married.

In or before 1634 [his son-in-law] Sapcote Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont of Swords (age 20) and [his daughter] Bridget Monson Viscountess Beaumont were married. She by marriage Viscountess Beaumont of Swords.

In Jan 1635 [his wife] Margaret Monson (age 65) died.

On 13 Feb 1639 [his former sister-in-law] Katherine Anderson Lady Dunham Massey (age 71) died at Bowdon Chester.

Around May 1640 [his daughter] Bridget Monson Viscountess Beaumont died.

On 29 May 1641 Thomas Monson 1st Baronet (age 76) died. His son [his son] John Monson 2nd Baronet (age 42) succeeded 2nd Baronet Monson of Carleton in Lincolnshire.

[his daughter] Bridget Monson Viscountess Beaumont was born to Thomas Monson 1st Baronet and Margaret Monson.