Family:Whitney, William (c1552-c1579)
William Whitney, Gent. (James, Eustace, John, [possibly] Eustace, Robert, Robert, Robert, Eustace, Eustace, Robert, ...), son of James and Sybil (Parry) Whitney,[1] was born circa 1552,[2] probably Clifford, Herefordshire,[3] died after 1 Oct 1579 and before 11 Feb 1579/80. According to Somerville he was dead by 29 Jan 1579.
He was the receiver of the Honour of Tutbury in 1577, a position arranged by his Aunt Blanch Parry. This was an administrative position for the collection of lands in Staffordshire known as the "Honour of Tutbury", part of the royal Duchy of Lancaster. See: Archive:DL 4/22/66 William apparently had ties to London and may well have resided there or in Westminster. He also apparently owned lands in Lypiatt, Gloucestershire, which he sold to pay his mounting debts.
On 10 Dec 21 Elizabeth (1578), "William Whitney of Whitney, Gentilman", age 26 years, was deposed in an Exchequer case by The Queen against Marmaduke Spight.[4] The related deposition of Henry Rogers states that Marmaduke Spight "came to the lodging of the said Mr Whitney then lyeng in powles church yerde in london".[5] Thus, it appears that about 1577, William was residing in the church yard at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
- By the 16th century St Paul's Cathedral was decaying. Under Henry VIII and Edward VI, the Dissolution of the Monasteries and Chantries Acts led to the destruction of interior ornamentation and the cloisters, charnels, crypts, chapels, shrines, chantries and other buildings in the churchyard. Many of these former religious sites in St Paul's Churchyard, having been seized by the crown, were sold as shops and rental properties.[6]
References
1. ^ Source of parentage.
2. ^ "Money lent by Marmaduke Speight to William Whitney. Usury. London.", PRO E 133/3/515.
3. ^ Supposition.
4. ^ "Money lent by Marmaduke Speight to William Whitney. Usury. London.", PRO E 133/3/515.
5. ^ "Money lent by Marmaduke Speight to William Whitney. Usury. Brec.", PRO E 133/3/529.
6. ^ Wikipedia contributors. St Paul's Cathedral. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. April 18, 2008, 17:35 UTC. Accessed April 20, 2008.
Copyright © 20082009, Tim Doyle and the Whitney Research Group
