Paternal Family Tree: Southwell
In or before 1503 [his father] Francis Southwell [aged 26] and [his mother] Dorothy Tendering [aged 17] were married.
Around 1506 Robert Southwell was born to Francis Southwell [aged 30] and Dorothy Tendering [aged 21] at Windham Manor, Norfolk.
On 2nd September 1512 [his father] Francis Southwell [aged 36] died at Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk.
In 1520 [his mother] Dorothy Tendering [aged 35] died.
In or before 1524 [his son-in-law] Thomas Sydney [aged 23] and [his daughter] Mary Southwell were married.
In 1529 Robert Southwell [aged 23] was elected MP King's Lynn.
In 1531 Robert Southwell [aged 25] was obliged to pay £1,000 for a pardon for his involvement with his two brothers Robert Southwell and [his half-brother] Francis Southwell of Wymondham [aged 19] for the murder of Sir William Pennington. The pardon was later confirmed by Act of Parliament (25 Hen. VIII, c.32).
In 1534 Robert Southwell [aged 28] was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk and High Sheriff of Suffolk.
In 1536 Robert Southwell [aged 30] was elected MP King's Lynn.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1536 Robert Southwell [aged 30] was appointed Master of Requests.
On 1st May 1536 Robert Southwell [aged 30] and Margaret Neville [aged 16] were married at Mereworth, Kent.
On 24th March 1537 [his son] Thomas Southwell was born to Robert Southwell [aged 31] and [his wife] Margaret Neville [aged 17] at Mereworth, Kent.
In 1538 [his daughter] Anne Southwell was born to Robert Southwell [aged 32] and [his wife] Margaret Neville [aged 18]. She married before 24th August 1585 Edmund Bedingfield.
In 1539 Robert Southwell [aged 33] was elected MP King's Lynn.
In 1539 Robert Southwell [aged 33] was appointed Commissioner for the Suppression of Monasteries.
On 16th January 1542 Robert Southwell [aged 36] was appointed Master of the Rolls which position he held until 1550.
Around 1552 [his daughter] Dorothy Elizabeth Southwell was born to Robert Southwell [aged 46] and [his wife] Margaret Neville [aged 32]. She married before 4th May 1589 Thomas Bedingfield and had issue.
In October 1553 Robert Southwell [aged 47] was elected MP Kent.
On 28th January 1554 the Battle of Hartley was fought at Hartley Sevenoaks, Kent between a rebel force of Wyatt's Rebellion led by Henry Isley [aged 54] and a loyal royalist force led by Henry Neville 6th and 4th Baron Abergavenny [aged 24] and Robert Southwell [aged 48]. The rebels were defeated. Rebel Anthony Knyvet [aged 37] fought and was captured.
In October 1555 Robert Southwell [aged 49] was elected MP Kent.
On 26th October 1559 Robert Southwell [aged 53] died at Mereworth, Kent.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 8th November 1559. [The viij day of November was buried in Kent] ser Robartt Sowthwell [deceased] knyght, sum-tyme master of the rolles, with a harold of armes, and a standard, a penon of armes, a cot armur, a target, a elmett, and a viij dosen skochyons of armes.
Note. P. 217. Funeral of sir Robert Southwell. Constituted master of the rolls July 1, 1542; resigned in 1550. He was brother to sir Richard Southwell [aged 56], a member of the privy council, and executor to Henry VIII. Sir Robert resided at Jotes Place in the parish of Mereworth, Kent. (Hasted, iii. 269.)
On 25th December 1575 [his former wife] Margaret Neville [aged 55] died.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
[his daughter] Mary Southwell was born to Robert Southwell and Margaret Neville. She married (1) Thomas Sydney (2) in or before 1524 Thomas Sydney and had issue.
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Southwell of Felix Hall 
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Southwell
Grandfather: Richard Southwell
father: Francis Southwell
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Tendering
Grandfather: William Tendering
mother: Dorothy Tendering
Great x 1 Grandfather: William IV Sidney 
Grandmother: Thomasine Sidney