Family:Whitney, Eustace (s1525-1599)
Eustace Whitney, Esq. of Clifford (James, Eustace, John, [possibly] Eustace, Robert, Robert, Robert, Eustace, Eustace, Robert, ...), son of James and Sybil (Parry) Whitney, was born say 1525,[1] Clifford, Herefordshire, and died 1599.
He married Constance Vaughan, daughter of Sir Richard Vaughan of Bredwardine, Knighted 1513, Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1530 and 1541 (Bartrum Drymbenog 2(A sub 2) Welsh Genealogies 1400-1500 v.3; see: DWB p. 992) by Ann, daughter of John Butler of Dunraven. Sir Richard Vaughan was the son of Thomas ap Watkin Vaughan of Bredwardine by Eleanor, daughter of Robert Whitney, Esq. (Bartrum, Drymbenog 2(A sub 2) v. 3)
The will of Eustance Whitney of Clifford was a will made by word of mouth, or a will nuncupative. A common distinction between a spoken and a written and signed will is that a testator's signature has to be witnessed by non-beneficiaries, whereas a will nuncupative is witnessed or attested by persons present when it was spoken, who may include beneficiaries, but they must unanimously report what the testator willed.
The bequests in this will are mainly of household and personal effects, farm stock and implements and standing crops. Beneficiaries are son James Whitney and children (not named) of James; Robert Duppa who had married his daughter Blanche, and their (unnamed) children; and Thomas Wenland who had married his daughter Sibill, and their daughter Blanche Wenland. A repayment is made, with added interest, of a sum of money he owed to his sister Blanche Whitney (that is, an aunt of the Blanche who was wife of Robert Duppa. The will does not mention landed property or an owned residence. The witnesses of the will were recorded as Sible Wenland, Rbt Duppa, Blanche Duppa, Eustance Whytney, Blanche Wenland and James Whytney. It is possible that this Eustance Whytney was the head of the principal family, from the adjoining parish of Whitney, but James Whitney's eldest son was also named Eustance, and he was old enough to have become married by about 1607.
In other documents Eustance Whitney is described as "of Gorsington, Clifford", that being the name of what is now known as Upper Court, fairly near the remains of Clifford Castle.
Children of Eustace and Constance (Vaughan) Whitney:
i. James Whitney, gent., m. Ann Vaughan. ii. Blanche Whitney, m. Robert Duppa of Whitney, gent. The will of Robert Duppa of Whitney, Herefordshire, gent., 29 July 1600 mentions "my wife Blaunch" and two sons. To son John Duppa is given lands at Dorstone but it is son James Duppa who is described as "son and heir" and is given Robert's most valuable personal effects and other property, subject to its use by Blanche for her lifetime. Apart from property in Dorstone the will mentions property in Michaelchurch,"Parnes Castell" (Painscastle) in the parish of Clyro, and in Whitney and Clifford. There are provisions for six daughters Elizabeth, Blaunch, Maude, Sibbell, Anne and Alice. Furthermore, "all the legacies bequeathed to my children by Eustanus Whitney my father in law are to be paid to them by my executors". There is mention of "my brother in law James Whitney, gent.," who, with "my cousin James Penoyer, my cousin Robert Jones and my kinsman Thomas Parry, gents.", are to be overseers of the will. Executors are named as "my friend Eustance Whitney, Esq., my kinsman Jeffrey Duppa gent. and my wife". Probate was granted 11 June 1601 to Blaunch Duppa, widow, Eustance Whitney and Jeffrey Duppa renouncing. Children:
1. James Duppa. 2. John Duppa. 3. Elizabeth Duppa. 4. Blaunch Duppa. 5. Maude Duppa. 6. Sibbell Duppa. 7. Anne Duppa. 8. Alice Duppa.
iii. Sibyl Whitney, m. Thomas Wenland. 1. Blanche Wenland.
iv. Anne Whitney, m. James Prosser of Campston, Grosmont.
References
- Elwyn Ll. Evans, "The Whitneys of Clifford, Herefordshire: Forebears of the Duppa Family of Hollingbourne, Kent," typescript at Hereford County Record Office.
1. ^ His approximate birthdate is derived from the fact that his father James was the administrator of his father's will in 1525 indicating James had the legal capacity to act and thus must have been at least 20 to 24 years of age. As the pedigrees indicate this Eustace was the eldest son and heir, he was probably born to James when James was in his mid-twenties, then sometime around 1525, perhaps a little early, or even some years later to allow for elder daughters or males who died in infancy.
Copyright © 2006-2008, Robert L. Ward, Tim Doyle, Adrian Benjamin Burke and the Whitney Research Group
