Biography of William Norreys 1441-1507

Paternal Family Tree: Norreys

1457 John Neville married Isabel Ingaldsthorpe

1460 Battle of Northampton

1461 Battle of Towton

1462 Vere Plot to Murder Edward IV

1471 Battle of Barnet

1483 Death of George Neville

1485 Battle of Bosworth

1487 Battle of Stoke Field

Before 1437 [his father] John Norreys (age 37) and [his mother] Alice Merbrook were married.

Around 1441 William Norreys was born to John Norreys (age 41) and Alice Merbrook at Yattendon Castle [Map].

After 1450 [his father] John Norreys (age 50) and Eleanor Clitherow were married.

John Neville married Isabel Ingaldsthorpe

On 25 Apr 1457 John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 26) and [his future wife] Isabel Ingaldsthorpe (age 16) were married by Cardinal Thomas Bourchier (age 39) at Canterbury Cathedral [Map]. She the heir of her father Edmund Ingaldsthorpe who had died the previous year. Eight manors were settled on them in jointure. He the son of Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 57) and Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury (age 50). They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

In 1460 a petition noted "The Nevilles state that Isabel was found to be Ingoldisthorpe's daughter and heir. When they requested livery of the estates from the chancellor in Chancery, he refused on the grounds that the king had granted the marriage and wardship to the queen (age 27). The Nevilles disputed this as Isabel was 14, and not a minor at common law. John Neville (age 26) made recognizances in £1,000 to the queen on the understanding that if it was found that such a grant to the queen was not available, then she would not take any money from Neville. The Nevilles are unable to have a day in their law, and the queen has still levied part of the £1,000, and they are forced to sue a special livery at great expense. They request that the recognizances by annulled, and that women of the age of 14 when their ancestors die should have no problem of obtaining livery of their lands and tenements." See National Archives UK John Nevyll (Neville), knight; Isabel Neville, wife of John Neville, knight. SC 8/28/1398 1460.

1460 Battle of Northampton

On 10 Jul 1460 the Yorkist army led by the future King Edward IV of England (age 18) and including Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 31), Archbishop George Neville (age 28), William Neville 1st Earl Kent (age 55), Edward Brooke 6th Baron Cobham (age 45) and John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 22) defeated the Lancastrian army at the 1460 Battle of Northampton.

Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent (age 43) had started the day as part of the Lancastrian army but did nothing to prevent the Yorkist army attacking.

King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 38) was captured.

Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 57) was killed. His grandson Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham (age 5) succeeded 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 7th Earl Stafford, 8th Baron Stafford.

John Talbot 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 42) was killed. His son John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 11) succeeded 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury, 3rd Earl Waterford, 8th Baron Furnivall, 12th Baron Strange Blackmere, 9th Baron Talbot.

Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (age 37) was killed.

John Beaumont 1st Viscount Beaumont (age 50) was killed. His son William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont (age 22) succeeded 2nd Viscount Beaumont, 7th Baron Beaumont.

William Lucy (age 56) was killed apparently by a member of the Stafford family who wanted his wife Margaret Fitzlewis (age 21).

Thomas Tresham (age 40) fought.

William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont (age 22) and William Norreys (age 19) were knighted.

Thomas "Bastard of Exeter" Holland was executed following the battle.

The battle was fought south of the River Nene [Map] in the grounds of Delapré Abbey.

Battle of Towton

On 29 Mar 1461 the Battle of Towton was a decisive victory for King Edward IV of England (age 18) bringing to an end the first war of the Wars of the Roses. Said to be the bloodiest battle on English soil 28000 were killed mainly during the rout that followed the battle.

The Yorkist army was commanded by King Edward IV of England (age 18) with John Mowbray 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 45), William Neville 1st Earl Kent (age 56), William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 30) (knighted), Walter Blount 1st Baron Mountjoy (age 45), Henry Bourchier 2nd Count Eu 1st Earl Essex (age 57), John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 23) and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 61).

The Lancastrian army suffered significant casualties including Richard Percy (age 35), Ralph Bigod Lord Morley (age 50), John Bigod (age 28), Robert Cromwell (age 71), Ralph Eure (age 49), John Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby (age 51), John Beaumont (age 33), Thomas Dethick (age 61), Everard Simon Digby, William Plumpton (age 25) and William Welles (age 51) who were killed.

Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 39) was killed. His son Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland (age 12) succeeded 4th Earl of Northumberland, 7th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 15th Baron Percy of Topcliffe. Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland (age 3) by marriage Countess of Northumberland.

Ralph Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland (age 49) was killed. He was buried at the nearby Saxton church where his chest tomb is extant. Baron Dacre Gilsland extinct.

Lionel Welles 6th Baron Welles (age 55) was killed. His son Richard Welles 7th Baron Willoughby 7th Baron Welles (age 33) succeeded 7th Baron Welles.

The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke Somerset (age 25), Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter (age 30), Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 39) and Andrew Trollope.

Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter (age 30) was attainted after the battle; Duke Exeter, Earl Huntingdon forfeit.

Those who fought for the Lancaster included William Tailboys 7th Baron Kyme (age 46), John Dudley 1st Baron Dudley (age 60), William Norreys (age 20), Thomas Grey 1st Baron Grey of Richemont (age 43), Robert Hungerford 3rd Baron Hungerford 1st Baron Moleyns (age 30), John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 12), Richard Welles 7th Baron Willoughby 7th Baron Welles (age 33), Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 56), James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde (age 40), John Butler 6th Earl Ormonde (age 39), William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont (age 22), Henry Roos and Thomas Tresham (age 41). Cardinal John Morton (age 41) were captured.

After 29 Mar 1461 William Norreys (age 20) and Jane Vere were married. She the daughter of John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford (age 52) and Elizabeth Howard Countess of Oxford (age 51).

Before 20 Feb 1462 [his brother-in-law] Aubrey de Vere (age 21) and Anne Stafford Baroness Cobham Sternborough (age 16) were married. She the daughter of Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham and Anne Neville Duchess Buckingham (age 54). He the son of John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford (age 53) and Elizabeth Howard Countess of Oxford (age 52). They were third cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Vere Plot to Murder Edward IV

On 20 Feb 1462 [his brother-in-law] Aubrey de Vere (age 21) was executed at Tower Hill [Map].

Around 1464 [his son] Edward Norreys was born to William Norreys (age 23) and [his wife] Jane Vere.

Around 1465 [his son] Richard Norreys was born to William Norreys (age 24) and [his wife] Jane Vere.

Before 01 Sep 1466 [his father] John Norreys (age 66) and [his step-mother] Margaret Chedworth Duchess Norfolk (age 30) were married. The difference in their ages was 36 years.

On 01 Sep 1466 [his father] John Norreys (age 66) died. He was buried in the Norreys Chapel St Michael's Church Bray.

In 1467 [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth or Isobel de Vere (age 31) died.

In 1469 William Norreys (age 28) was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Edward IV of England (age 26).

Battle of Barnet

On 14 Apr 1471 Edward IV (age 28) commanded at the Battle of Barnet supported by his brothers George (age 21) and Richard (age 18), John Babington (age 48), Wiliam Hastings (age 40) (commanded), Ralph Hastings, William Norreys (age 30), William Parr (age 37), John Savage (age 49), William Bourchier Viscount Bourchier (age 41), Thomas St Leger (age 31), John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet (age 45), Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh (age 40), John Scott Comptroller (age 48) and Thomas Strickland.

The Yorkists William Blount (age 29), Humphrey Bourchier (age 40), Humphrey Bourchier (age 36), Henry Stafford (age 46) and Thomas Parr were killed.

The Lancastrians ...

Warwick the Kingmaker (age 42) was killed. Earl Salisbury forfeit on the assumption he was attainted either before or after his death; the date of his attainder is unknown. If not attainted the Earldom may be in abeyance. Baron Montagu and Baron Montagu abeyant between his two daughters Isabel Neville Duchess Clarence (age 19) and Anne Neville Queen Consort England (age 14).

John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 40) was killed. Marquess Montagu extinct. He was buried at Bisham Abbey [Map].

William Tyrrell was killed.

William Fiennes 2nd Baron Saye and Sele (age 43) was killed. His son Henry Fiennes 3rd Baron Saye and Sele (age 25) succeeded 3rd Baron Saye and Sele. Anne Harcourt Baroness Saye and Sele by marriage Baroness Saye and Sele.

Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter (age 40) commanded the left flank, was badly wounded and left for dead, Henry Stafford (age 46) and John Paston (age 27) were wounded, [his brother-in-law] John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford (age 28) commanded, and John Paston (age 29) and William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont (age 33) fought.

Robert Harleston (age 36) was killed.

Thomas Hen Salusbury (age 62) was killed.

Thomas Tresham (age 51) escaped but was subsequently captured and executed on 06 May 1471.

On 25 Apr 1472 William Norreys (age 31) and Isabel Ingaldsthorpe (age 31) were married. The date the anniversary of her marriage fifteen years before to John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

Around 1473 Thomas Fitzwilliam (age 24) and [his step-daughter] Lucy Neville (age 5) were married. She the daughter of John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Isabel Ingaldsthorpe (age 32). She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Before 1475 [his brother-in-law] George de Vere (age 47) and Margaret Talbot were married. He the son of John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford and Elizabeth Howard Countess of Oxford (age 64). She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

On 20 May 1476 [his wife] Isabel Ingaldsthorpe (age 35) died. She was buried with her first husband John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu at Bisham Abbey [Map].

In 1478 William Norreys (age 37) and Anne Horne were married.

After 15 Oct 1479 William Stonor (age 29) and [his former step-daughter] Anne Neville (age 13) were married. She the daughter of John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Isabel Ingaldsthorpe. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Around 1480 [his son] Lionel Norreys was born to William Norreys (age 39) and [his wife] Anne Horne.

Around 1481 [his daughter] Katherine Norreys was born to William Norreys (age 40) and [his wife] Anne Horne.

In or before 1482 [his son] Edward Norreys (age 18) and [his daughter-in-law] Frideswell Lovell were married. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Around 1482 [his daughter] Anne Norreys was born to William Norreys (age 41) and [his wife] Anne Horne.

Around 1483 [his daughter] Jane Norreys was born to William Norreys (age 42) and [his wife] Anne Horne.

Death of George Neville

On 04 May 1483 [his former step-son] George Neville 1st Duke Bedford (age 22) died. He being the son of John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu, the nephew of Warwick the Kingmaker who should, perhaps, have inherited the Earldoms of Warwick and Salisbury from his mother that had been appropriated by George Neville 1st Duke Bedford (age 22) and King Richard III of England (age 30). The timing somewhat suspicious. The future Richard III would now enjoy the whole of the Warwick inheritance.

Calendars. 23 Oct 1483 King Richard III of England (age 31). Leicester, Leicestershire [Map]. Precept to the Sheriff of Devon to issue a proclamation (English) denouncing Thomas Dorset, late Marquess of Dorset (age 28), who holds unshameful and mischievous woman called Shore's wife in adultery, Sir William Noreys (age 42), Sir William Knevet (age 43), Sir Thomas Bourghchier of Barnes, Sir George Broun, knights, John Cheyne, John Noreis, Walter Hungerford, John Russh and John Harecourt of Staunton, who have assembled the Person by the comfort of the great rebel the late duke of Bukyngham (age 29) and bishops of Ely and Salisbury, and offering rewards for their capture and pardon for all who withdraw from them. By K.

Around 1484 [his daughter] Elizabeth Norreys was born to William Norreys (age 43) and [his wife] Jane Vere.

Battle of Bosworth

On 22 Aug 1485 King Richard III of England (age 32) was killed during the Battle of Bosworth. His second cousin once removed Henry Tudor  (age 28) succeeded VII King England. Earl Richmond forfeit.

Those supporting Henry Tudor included:

John Blount 3rd Baron Mountjoy (age 35).

John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne (age 43).

Richard Guildford (age 35).

Walter Hungerford (age 21).

Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby (age 50).

John Wingfield.

Edward Woodville Lord Scales (age 29).

Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon (age 26).

Rhys ap Thomas Deheubarth (age 36).

Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford (age 53).

William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont (age 47).

Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney (age 34).

William Stanley (age 50).

Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley (age 52).

Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney (age 38).

William Brandon (age 29) was killed.

James Harrington (age 55) was killed.

John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk (age 60) was killed and attainted. He was buried firstly at Thetford Priory, Norfolk [Map] and therafter at Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham [Map]. Duke Norfolk, Baron Mowbray, Baron Segrave forfeit.

John Sacheverell (age 85) was killed.

Philibert Chandee 1st Earl Bath

William Norreys (age 44), Gilbert Talbot (age 33), [his brother-in-law] John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford (age 42) and John Savage (age 41) commanded,.

Robert Poyntz (age 35) was knighted.

Those who fought for Richard III included:

John Bourchier 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby (age 47).

John Conyers (age 74).

Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland (age 17).

William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley (age 59).

Richard Fitzhugh 6th Baron Fitzhugh (age 28).

John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 48).

Thomas Scrope 6th Baron Scrope Masham (age 26).

Henry Grey 4th or 7th Baron Grey of Codnor (age 50).

Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent (age 68).

Ralph Neville 3rd Earl of Westmoreland (age 29).

John de la Pole 1st Earl Lincoln (age 23).

Humphrey Stafford (age 59).

George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 17).

Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk (age 42) was wounded, captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London [Map] for three years. He was attainted; Earl Surrey forfeit.

Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell (age 29) fought and escaped.

John Zouche 7th Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 26) was captured.

John Babington (age 62), William Alington (age 65), Robert Mortimer (age 43), Robert Brackenbury, Richard Ratclyffe (age 55) and Richard Bagot (age 73) were killed

Walter Devereux Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 53) was killed.

William Catesby (age 35) was executed at Leicester, Leicestershire [Map] after the battle.

George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster (age 25) held as a hostage by Richard III before the Battle of Bosworth.

Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland (age 36) betrayed King Richard III of England (age 32) by not committing his forces at the Battle of Bosworth.

John Iwardby (age 35) was killed.

Before 05 Nov 1486 [his former step-daughter] Anne Neville (age 20) died.

Battle of Stoke Field

On 16 Jun 1487 a Lancastrian army defeated a Yorkist army at the Battle of Stoke Field; considered by many to be the last battle of the Wars of the Roses.

The Lancastrian army of Henry Tudor comprised:

[his brother-in-law] John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford (age 44).

Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford (age 55).

George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 19).

Henry Willoughby (age 36).

John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne (age 45).

John Mordaunt (age 31).

Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape (age 19).

William Norreys (age 46).

[his son] Edward Norreys (age 23) wounded.

John Paston (age 43).

George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster (age 27).

Edward Woodville Lord Scales (age 31).

Thomas Lovell, knighted.

Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney (age 40).

Edward Belknapp of Blackfriars in London

William Lyttelton (age 37) who was knighted after the battle.

The Yorksists:

John de la Pole 1st Earl Lincoln (age 25) was killed. Earl Lincoln extinct.

Thomas Fitzgerald (age 29) and Martin Schwartz were killed.

Lambert Simnel (age 10) fought and was captured. He was pardoned by King Henry VII and put to work in the in the royal kitchen as a spit-turner. When he grew older, he became a falconer. Almost no information about his later life is known.

Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell (age 31) fought and escaped. He was attainted. Baron Deincourt, Baron Lovel of Titchmarsh, Baron Holand forfeit.

After 16 Jun 1487 [his son] Edward Norreys (age 23) died.

In or before 1492 William Smythe (age 12) and [his former step-daughter] Isabel Neville (age 34) were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Isabel Ingaldsthorpe. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

After 1492 Anthony Browne (age 48) and [his former step-daughter] Lucy Neville (age 24) were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years. She the daughter of John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Isabel Ingaldsthorpe. They were fourth cousins. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Before 14 Aug 1499 [his brother-in-law] George de Vere (age 71) and Margaret Stafford (age 49) were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years. He the son of John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford and Elizabeth Howard Countess of Oxford. They were fourth cousins.

In 1503 [his brother-in-law] George de Vere (age 75) died.

Around 1505 [his son-in-law] John Cheney (age 23) and [his daughter] Jane Norreys (age 22) were married.

Around 10 Jan 1507 William Norreys (age 66) died.

[his daughter] Margaret Norreys was born to William Norreys and Jane Vere.

[his daughter] Elizabeth Norreys was born to William Norreys and Anne Horne.

[his son] Richard Norreys was born to William Norreys and Anne Horne.

[his daughter] Anne Norreys was born to William Norreys and Anne Horne.

William Fermor and [his daughter] Elizabeth Norreys were married.

Royal Descendants of William Norreys 1441-1507

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 1

Ancestors of William Norreys 1441-1507

GrandFather: William Norreys

Father: John Norreys

William Norreys

Mother: Alice Merbrook