Biography of Algernon Sidney 1623-1683

Paternal Family Tree: Sidney

Maternal Family Tree: Emma de Dinan 1136-1208

1683 Popish Plot

1683 Indemnity and Oblivion Act

1683 Rye House Plot

In 1615 [his father] Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 19) and [his mother] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 17) were married. She the daughter of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 50) and Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 51). He the son of Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester (age 51) and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester (age 52).

On 14 Jan 1623 Algernon Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 27) and Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 25).

On 13 Jul 1626 [his grandfather] Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester (age 62) died. His son [his father] Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 30) succeeded 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Viscount Lisle. [his mother] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 28) by marriage Countess of Leicester.

On 20 Aug 1659 [his mother] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 61) died.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Oct 1662. He told me what great faction there is at Court; and above all, what is whispered, that young Crofts (age 13) is lawful son to the King (age 32), the King (age 32) being married to his mother1. How true this is, God knows; but I believe the Duke of York (age 29) will not be fooled in this of three crowns.

Note 1. There has been much confusion as to the name and parentage of Charles's mistress. Lucy Walter was the daughter of William Walter of Roch Castle, co. Pembroke, and Mr. S. Steinman, in his "Althorp Memoirs" (privately printed, 1869), sets out her pedigree, which is a good one. Roch Castle was taken and burnt by the Parliamentary forces in 1644, and Lucy was in London in 1648, where she made the acquaintance of Colonel Algernon Sidney (age 39). She then fell into the possession of his brother, Colonel Robert Sidney2. In September of this same year she was taken up by Charles, Prince of Wales. Charles terminated his connection with her on October 30th, 1651, and she died in 1658, as appears by a document (administration entry in the Register of the Prerogative Court) met with by the late Colonel Chester. William Erskine, who had served Charles as cupbearer in his wanderings, and was appointed Master of the Charterhouse in December, 1677, had the care of Lucy Walter, and buried her in Paris. He declared that the King (age 32) never had any intention of marrying her, and she did not deserve it. Thomas Ross, the tutor of her son, put the idea of this claim into his head, and asked Dr. Cosin to certify to a marriage. In consequence of this he was removed from his office, and Lord Crofts (age 51) took his place (Steinman's "Althorp Memoirs"). Lucy Walter took the name of Barlow during her wanderings.

Note 2. TT. Not clear who Colonel Robert Sidney is since Algernon Sidney (age 39) didn't have a brother called Robert. Algernon's brothers were [his brother] Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 43) and [his brother] Henry Sidney 1st Earl Romney (age 21).

On 02 Nov 1677 [his father] Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 81) died. His son [his brother] Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 58) succeeded 3rd Earl of Leicester, 3rd Viscount Lisle.

Popish Plot

Evelyn's Diary. 28 Jun 1683. After the Popish Plot, there was now a new and (as they called it) a Protestant Plot discovered, that certain Lords and others should design the assassination of the King (age 53) and the Duke (age 49) as they were to come from Newmarket, with a general rising of the nation, and especially of the city of London, disaffected to the present Government. Upon which were committed to the Tower [Map], the Lord Russell (age 43), eldest son of the Earl of Bedford (age 66), the Earl of Essex, Mr. Algernon Sidney (age 60), son to the old [his father] Earl of Leicester, Mr. Trenchard, Hampden, Lord Howard of Escrick, and others. A proclamation was issued against my Lord Grey, the Duke of Monmouth (age 34), Sir Thomas Armstrong, and one Ferguson, who had escaped beyond sea; of these some were said to be for killing the King (age 53), others for only seizing on him, and persuading him to new counsels, on the pretense of the danger of Popery, should the Duke live to succeed, who was now again admitted to the councils and cabinet secrets. The Lords Essex (age 60) and Russell (age 43) were much deplored, for believing they had any evil intention against the King (age 53), or the Church; some thought they were cunningly drawn in by their enemies for not approving some late counsels and management relating to France, to Popery, to the persecution of the Dissenters, etc. They were discovered by the Lord Howard of Escrick and some false brethren of the club, and the design happily broken; had it taken effect, it would, to all appearance, have exposed the Government to unknown and dangerous events; which God avert!

Evelyn's Diary. 12 Feb 1684. The Earle of Danby (age 51), late Lord Treasurer, together with the Roman Catholic Lords impeach'd of High Treason in the Popish Plot, had now their Habeas Corpus, and came out upon baile, after five yeares imprisonment in the Tower [Map]. Then were also tried and deeply fin'd Mr. Hampden and others for being suppos'd of the late Plot, for which Lord Russell and Col. Sidney suffer'd; as also the person who went about to prove that the Earle of Essex had his throat cut in the Tower by others; likewise Mr. Johnson, the author of that famous piece called Julian.

Indemnity and Oblivion Act

Evelyn's Diary. 05 Dec 1683. I was this day invited to a wedding of one Mrs. Castle, to whom I had some obligation, and it was to her fifth husband, a lieutenant-colonel of the city. She was the daughter of one Burton, a broom-man, by his wife, who sold kitchen stuff in Kent Street, whom God so blessed that the father became a very rich, and was a very honest man; he was Sheriff of Surrey, where I have sat on the bench with him. Another of his daughters was married to Sir John Bowles; and this daughter was a jolly friendly woman. There was at the wedding the Lord Mayor, the Sheriff, several Aldermen and persons of quality; above all, Sir George Jeffreys (age 38), newly made Lord Chief Justice of England, with Mr. Justice Withings, danced with the bride, and were exceedingly merry. These great men spent the rest of the afternoon, till eleven at night, in drinking healths, taking tobacco, and talking much beneath the gravity of judges, who had but a day or two before condemned Mr. Algernon Sidney (age 60), who was executed the 7th on Tower Hill [Map], on the single witness of that monster of a man, Lord Howard of Escrick, and some sheets of paper taken in Mr. Sidney's (age 60) study, pretended to be written by him, but not fully proved, nor the time when, but appearing to have been written before his Majesty's (age 53) Restoration, and then pardoned by the Act of Oblivion; so that though Mr. Sidney was known to be a person obstinately averse to government by a monarch (the subject of the paper was in answer to one by Sir E. Filmer), yet it was thought he had very hard measure. There is this yet observable, that he had been an inveterate enemy to the last king, and in actual rebellion against him; a man of great courage, great sense, great parts, which he showed both at his trial and death; for, when he came on the scaffold, instead of a speech, he told them only that he had made his peace with God, that he came not thither to talk, but to die; put a paper into the sheriff's hand, and another into a friend's; said one prayer as short as a grace, laid down his neck, and bid the executioner do his office.

Rye House Plot

On 07 Dec 1683 Algernon Sidney (age 60) was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map] during the Rye House Plot.

Evelyn's Diary. 15 Jul 1685. Ross, tutor to the Duke of Monmouth, proposed to Bishop Cozens to sign a certificate of the King's marriage to Mrs. Barlow, though her own name was Walters: this the Bishop refused. She was born of a gentleman's family in Wales, but having little means and less grace, came to London to make her fortune. Algernon Sidney, then a Colonel in Cromwell's army, had agreed to give her 50 broad pieces (as he told the Duke of York) but being ordered hastily away with his regiment, he missed his bargain. She went into Holland, where she fell into the hands of his brother [his father] Colonel Robert Sidney, who kept her for some time, till the King hearing of her, got her from him. On which the Colonel was heard to say, Let who will have her she is already sped and after being with the King she was so soon with child that the world had no cause to doubt whose child it was, and the rather that when he grew to be a man, he very much resembled the Colonel both in stature and countenance, even to a wort on his face. However the King owned the child. In the King's absence she behaved so loosely, that on his return from his escape at Worcester, he would have no further commerce with her, and she became a common prostitute at Paris. Life of King James II Vol I.

Royal Ancestors of Algernon Sidney 1623-1683

Kings Wessex: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 14 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 20 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 15 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Son of William "Lion" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 14 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 10 Grand Son of Philip "The Fair" IV King France

Ancestors of Algernon Sidney 1623-1683

Great x 4 Grandfather: William IV Sidney

Great x 3 Grandfather: Nicholas Sidney

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Sidney

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Brandon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Brandon

Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Sidney

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Pakenham

Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Pakenham

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Pakenham

GrandFather: Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Dudley 6 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Dudley 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bramshott

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Grey 1st Viscount Lisle 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Grey Viscountess Lisle 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Talbot Viscountess Lisle 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Dudley 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Guildford

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Guildford

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ann Pympe

Great x 2 Grandmother: Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor West 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Mortimer Baroness De La Warr and West 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Father: Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Gamage

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Gamage of Coity Castle 10 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John St John 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret St John 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Sybil of Lansgtone Manor

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Gamage of Coity Castle 11 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

GrandMother: Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Algernon Sidney 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Percy 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Spencer of Spencer Combe

Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Spencer Countess Northumberland 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Beaufort Countess Ormonde 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Harbottle 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Guiscard Harbottle 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Percy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Harbottle 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Willoughby 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Willoughby 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Markham

GrandFather: Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Neville 3rd Baron Latimer 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Stafford Baroness Latimer 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Neville 4th Baron Latimer of Snape 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George de Vere 6 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothy de Vere 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Stafford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Herbert 3rd Baroness Herbert Raglan 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Lucy Somerset Baroness Latimer Snape 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony Browne 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Browne Countess of Worcester 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Neville 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Mother: Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Devereux 9th Baron Ferrers of Chartley 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 1st Viscount Hereford 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily Bourchier Baroness Ferrers Chartley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Devereux 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Grey 1st Marquess Dorset 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Grey Baroness Ferrers Chartley 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily Bonville Marchioness Dorset 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Hastings 2nd Baron Hastings Baron Botreaux, Hungerford and Moleyns 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: George Hastings 1st Earl Huntingdon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Hungerford Baroness Hastings, 4th Baroness Hungerford, 5th Baroness Botreaux and 2nd Baroness Moleyns 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Hastings 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Stafford Countess Huntingdon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham Duchess Bedford 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

GrandMother: Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Knollys

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Knollys

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Troutbeck

Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Knollys

Great x 3 Grandmother: Lettice Peniston

Great x 1 Grandmother: Lettice Knollys Countess Essex 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Carey 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Carey 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Spencer 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Carey 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Boleyn 1st Earl Wiltshire and Ormonde 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Boleyn 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Howard Countess of Wiltshire and Ormonde 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England