McDonald and Potts family tree » Thomas Coningsby (1550-1625)

Persönliche Daten Thomas Coningsby 

• Er wurde geboren am 9. September 1550 in Hampton Court, Herefordshire, England. UK.
• Beruf: sheriff en M.P. Herefords.
• Er ist verstorben am 30. Mai 1625 in Hampton Court, Herefordshire, Eng, er war 74 Jahre alt.

Familie von Thomas Coningsby

Er ist verheiratet mit Phillipa Fitzwilliam.

Sie haben geheiratet.

Kind(er):

1. ANNE CONINGSBY  1570-1615
2. Humfrey Coningsby  1586-????
3. Thomas Coningsby  1588-< 1602
4. Fitzwilliam Coningsby  ± 1589-1666
5. Elizabeth Coningsby  ± 1595-< 1665
6. Ursula Coningsby  1615-1635
7. Robert Coningsby  < 1619-????
8. Phillipa Coningsby  
9. Katherine Coningsby  ????-1632
10. Sydney Coningsby  ????-1627

Notizen bei Thomas Coningsby

2nd son

1586 Appointed by Queen Elizabeth as baliff of the Manor of Marden, an office which he continued to hold until 1602, when Tomas Wooton suceeded him. (Robinsons Manorsof Hererfordshire)

Soldier - knighted by the Earl of Essex 8 Oct, 1591,

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Served in Normandy 1591, knighted in 1591

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He appears in the Public Records office E157/1 f.11 in a list of licences for travel beyond the seas from1572 - 1578

"Thomas Coningbsy of HamptonCourt, in the County of Hereford, esquire, three years Jan 1572

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Coningsby visited Italy with Sir Philip Sidney in 1573, and he was intimate with Sidney until Sir Phillips death, although their friendship was severly strained on their Italian journey by an unfounded charge of robbery brought by Sidneyagainst Coningsby.

See extract below from Sir Philip Sidney by Fox Bourne:-

"Sidney's third companion, was Thomas Coningsby, a youth of about equal rank with our hero, whose cousin, Philippa Fitz-William, he subsequently married.

Coningsby was a good friend to Sidney as long as he lived ; but there was near chance of their intimacy being broken in the course of the journey to Italy.

The circumstance, of small value in itself aptly illustrates Philip's temperament, quick and fiery, and therefore often likely to bring him into mischief. The party put up for a night at some inn on the road, and, as has been no uncommon thing ever since the beginning of inns, were cheated by the inn-keeper. The fellow managed to get his bill paid twice, and Sidney, not knowing the true state of the case, but finding his purse emptier than he thought for, charged Coningsby with pilfering the money. It was an awkward blunder to make, and delicate management was needed before proper explanation restored peace. The time had then gone by for getting the money back from the real thief.*"

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Coningsby went to Normandy in attendance on the Earle of Essex in 1591, and took part in the seige of Rouen, fighting against the forces of the League. He acted as muster-master to the English detachment, was in frequent intercourse with Henri of Navarre before Rouen, and was knighted by Essex on 8 Oct 1591. (Harlian. MS 6063, art 26)

Coningsby was MP for Hereford in 1593 and 1601 and sheriff of the county in 1598.

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The following is taken from Members of Parliament'

"CONINGSBY.

Sir Thomas 1550 - 1625 of Hampton Court Herefordshire and the Black Friars, Hereford.

MP Herefordshire1593, 1597 , 1601

9 Oct.1550. yr. S. of Humphrey. Coningsby 1 of Hampton Court by Anne. da. of Sir Thomas. Englefield of Englfield, Berks, m. Phillipa da. of Sir William Fitzwilliam 2nd of Milton nr. Peterborough, Northants.

6 sons, 5 daughters, suc. Brother Edward 1516 Kntd. 1591.

J.P. Herefordshire by 1580, sheriff 1582 - 3, 1598 -9. Dep.Lt. by 1590, commander, musters, recorder, Leominster bef 1584. Dep steward 1591, steward c. Mar 1601; steward of Marden, Herefordshire by 1588, of Ewyas. Herefords 1597; (jt with Herbert Croft) steward of crown lands, Herefords 1604; gent pens1591/3 -1603; member, council in the marches of Wales 1617. 3

Hon adm G Inn Feb 1584; hon.MA Oxf 27 Sept 1592.

Coningsby was one of the major landowners in the Welsh. border country throughout most of the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. Following the death in quick succession of his father and elder brother he inherited as a boy, extensive estates, which, supplemented by later purchases, comprised the Herefordshire manors of Hampton Court, Bodenham, and Pencome, the site of the Black Friars at Hereford, lands at Orleton and elsewhere in Leicestershire, Shropshire and Worcestershire

This landed wealth enabled him to play a leading part in border politics, especially when his fortunes became linked to those of the Earl of Essex, and it was obviously just a matter of time before he came up against the other leading border families, the Crofts, and especially against Sir James Croft, comptroller of the Queens household, who had been for 20 years the dominant figure in Herefordshire politics.

Is was only when he had reached the age or about 30 that Coningsby began to challenge Croft's supremacy. Earlier he had been visiting ltaly with Philip Sidney'. The long standing friendship between the Coningsby's and the was severely strained on their journey when Sidney charged his companion with robbery,but it was resumed and strengthened by Coningsby's marriage to one of Sidneys cousins.. The first evidence of Coningsby's awakening interest in Herefordshire affairs occurs in 1577 when he complainedto Walsingham about the appointment of William Rudhall as sheriff. Next he acquired the recordership of Leominster, despite Croft's nomination of his step-son Thomas Wigmore. One of Wigmores servantsthen caused an affray with a Coningsby follower in the town. which in turn set off outbreaks of violence lasting intermittently for several years, during the course of which at least one man was killed. Coniningsby. Who was prosecuted in the Star Chamber by the attorney general, no doubt at Crofts request, maintained that his servants were merely defending themselves. Twice he wrote to Wigmore in neighbourly and friendly sort, or so he claimed, asking for an end to the violence. but each time the reply came back 'very sharply and in abusive language. What seems to have angered Coningsby above all was being called an Italianate knave in Leominster market place. Clashes took place in other towns in the country - in Kington and in Hereford itself - and even in London. According to Wigmore.'sixty or more of Coningsby's men attacked five or six of his at Hereford and Coningsby himself threatened Judge Roger Manwood, who was conducting the assizes, with a pistol.

In 1590 the balance shifted in Coningsby's favour with the death of Sir James Croft and Coningsby's own attachment to the Earl of Essex, she new steward of Leominster, whose deputy Coningsby now became. He accompanied Essex to Normandy in 1591,where he acted as part time muster master to the English attachments, and he wrote an account of the siege of Roen where he was knighted by Essex. Referring to the expedition in his will, he mentioned that 'Essex promised me a treasurership, but was not able to perform with me.' He describes several meetings with the King of France; returning from one he was involved in the fighting near Rouen when he could 'sensibly feel the wind of the bullets in my face'. Coningsby's hard won prominence in Herefordshire in his election as senior knight of the shire for Elizabeth's last three Parliaments.

In 1593 he served on two committees concerned with the subsidy (28 Feb., 1 March ) and on three others disabled soldiers (30 Mar.), to take fresh water to Stonehouse town (26 March) and cloth (15 March). In 1597-8 he spoke at least twice on matters affecting the border counties. He opposed (12 Dec.) guiding a new bridge over the Wye at Ross on three grounds: the poverty of the country, the existing heavy taxation and the repeated damage done to the existing bridge. He disagreed (17 Dec.) with the proposal that Shropshire should be brought within the statute to encourage the growth of corn, hoping that 'as Herefordshire and the other counties adjoining were the barns few the corn, so this shire might and would be the dairy house to the whole realm'.

He was named to committees concerned with armour and weapons (8 Nov.), defence (12. 16 Jan 1598). excess apparel (19 Jan.), and mariners and soldiers (.6 Jan.). and as knight of the shire was eligible to attend committees concerning enclosures (5 Nov.), poor law (5. 2, Nov.), penal laws (8 Nov.), monopolies (10 Nov.) and the subsidy(15 Nov.),. The county election of 1601 was hotly contested. but Coningsby still wrote to Cecil that he had been chosen against his will, being altogether unable to mount a horse'.

A Contemporary wrote about this contest:

"It is thought that there will be at least 10,000 men at Hereford at the election, and this I can assure you Of, they shall be sworn andtold by poll to the last man, 'which imagine you what time it will require."

Coningsby was named to a committee on 11 Nov. 1601, concerning the shortening of the Michaelmas lawterm;. As knight for Herefordshire he was eligible to attend two Committees: the order of business (3 Nov.) and monopolies (23 Nov.),

Coningsby's office at Leominster gave himsome Parliamentary patronage there, and he twice returned relatives. On the fall of Essex ("that Lord of most honour') he succeeded him as steward, in the face of Cecil's recommendation of Herbert Croft, with whom Coningsby's rivalry now became almost as desparate as it had been with Croft's grandfather. His delight in forcing Croft to share his job as steward of crown lands in Herefordshire is apparent in a letter he wrote to Robert Sidney:

'Had your lordship been but present to have observed the alteration of his countenance I think you would have judged with me thatit was a thing very displeasing onto him to be offered a colleague in place wherein a chief part of his greatness and unjust profit hath long accrued.'

Coningsby who is thought to have been the prototype of Sir Puntarvolo in Ben Jonson's Everyman in His Humour. Became more difficult as he grew older. Hardly a year passed when he was not involved in legal proceedings. He quarrelled incessantly with his only surviving son and demanded impossible terms row the hand or his daughter Anne, the negotiation for whose marriage to Sir Ruben Harley continued intermittently throughout 1603 and 1604. By early 1605 Harley's patience was exhausted. In a final letter, he expressed the hope that Coningsby would 'deal with others better than you have done with me, or else you will hardly get a good husband for your daughter'.

Coningsby remained active throughout much of James's reign, being appointed a member of the council in the Marches of Wales in 1617. His name had been suggested as early as 1591 and again in 1604. but he must then have been considered unsuitable. Following his work in Parliament for disabled soldiers, he founded a hospital for them in Hereford in 1614. and when he made his will on 10 Aug. 1616 he increased his provision for the Hospital. The will, to which several codicils were added. is a lengthy document. He recorded that he was old in years, ' accidentally lame of legs, but far from dotage' for which he gave 'glory to god on high'. He provided four of his daughters but not for Anne, who was 'not to be disappointed'The sums involved - £3,000 to one daughter, £2,000 to another - testify to his wealth. His son Fitzwilliam's debts caused him concern but after frequently changing his mind, he appointed lhim soleexecutor in a final codicil dated 2 July 1623. He left him lands 'worth £500 a year. 'all procured by myself' , 'my plate worth £1,000 - and I began with six dishes when I went into Normandy'. 'valuable' household goods, and much else besides, urging him to spend no more than £1,000 a year. The final codicil also provided for his son's children by his marriage to Cecily daughter of Lord Bergavenny's heir. Coningsby died at Hampton Court on 10 May 1613, aged 74. and was buried at Hope Church next to his wife. "

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"23 August 1588

St James'

A letter to the Lord Cheife Baron that their Lordships send unto his Lordship th'informacion of the discredit and misbehaviour committed by Mr Cunisbie at the last Assises at Hereford, and because his Lordship and certain of his servantes are said to have been present at some of the said misbehaviours, and his said servantes at the murder committed on the person of Walter Lewes, a servant of Thomas Wigmore, his Lordship is desired to send hither his knowlege and reporte of so muche as his Lordship uppon examination taken did find to be verified, and to send hither his servantes named Thomas Wooddward, Collard Rumney and Thomas Pennell, that their examinacions maie be heere taken for the bolting out of the truth.

A letter to Thomas Connisbie esquire, to make his undelaied appearance before their Lordships.

A letter to Thomas Wigmore esquire, that uppon his complaint Mr Conisbie is sent for, and therfore he is required to repaire hither assone as he can to verifie thaccusacion and information by him delivered."

Source:Public Record Office

Title: Privy Council Register. Elizabeth vii p.265-266

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On 12 Nov 1617 he joined the Council for Wales under the presidency of William, Lord Compton.

In 1614 Coningsby founded a hospital in the Suberbs of Hereford for superanuated soldiers and servants called ' Coningsby's Company of Old Servitors' and died on 30 May 1625.

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Coningsby Hospital

One of the best known of Hereford's almshouses is the Coningsby Hospital in Widemarsh

Street. The site was formerly occupied by a house of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, and

parts of the hall and chapel date from this period, the 13th century. The almshouse was founded by Sir Thomas Coningsby of Hampton Court, Herefordshire, in 1614. Here he built twelve cottages with stone from parts of the existing structureas well as from the adjacent Blackfriars Abbey. This religious house had fallen into disrepair following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536 by Henry VIII and had subsequently passed by inheritance to Coningsby's wife, Philippa. The Hospital was intended as a refuge for eleven "worn out" soldiers or mariners. The twelfth cottage was occupied by a man placed in charge of the pensioners and given the rank of Corporal. There was also a chaplain to administer to the pensioners spiritual needs who, Coningsby stipulated, had to be from Oxford University. They received free food, fuel, clothing and a small weekly allowance which was paid on Monday mornings after prayers. A uniform was provided which they were required to wear. It consisted of a ginger "fiston" suit, a hat with a white andred border, a military style jerkin, a "Monaco" or Spanish-style cap and a sword "for when he goeth abroad." The ensemble was completed by "a seemely gowne of redd cloth reaching downe to the ankle,lined likewise with redd baise." The twelve men were known as the Coningsby Servitors.

The Coningsby Hospital is still in use, although no longer a charity. Pensioners are entitled to wear the uniform and are chosen by interview. They must still be of good character and be retired servicemen or women or their surviving spouses. The Chapel is still in use as a place of worship and the old dining hall serves as a medieval museum.

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John Davies of Hereford addressed a sonnet to him.

A portrait of him with his favorite dog is at Cashiobury House, Hertfordshire, in the possesion of the Earle of Essex.

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He married Phillipa, second daughter of Sir William Fitzwilliam of Melton, near Peterborough, and Sir Phillip Sidney's cousin, by whom he has six sons and three daughters. All his sons except one, Fitzwilliam, died before him.

He was the author of an interesting diary of action of the English troops in France in 1591. It proceeds day by day through two periods, 13th aug to 6th Sept and 3rd Oct to 24 Dec, when it abruptly terminates. The original manuscript is numbered 288 (ff 253-79) among the Harleian MSS of the British Museum. It was first printed and carefully edited by Mr J.G.Nichols in the first volume of the Camden Societies 'Micellanies' (1847)

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MANOR HOUSES OF HEREFORDSHIRE.

Page 146/147

Lucy, daughter of Richard, Lord Grey of Codnor, he had, (with other children) a daughter, Elizabeth, who became, eventually, his co-heir, and brought Hampton Court to her husband, Thomas Cornewall, Baron of Burford, whose grandson sold it, circa 1510, to Sir Humphry Coningsby, Justice of the King's Bench, the progenitor of an illustrious family. Sir Thomas Coningsby held high command under the Earl of Essex (by whom he was knighted) in the army sent to aid Henry IV. of France, in his resistance to the league in 1591. He was present at the Siege of Rouen and left in MS. an account of the campaign which was printed in 1847. No doubt he was a gallant soldier, but that he was also "as great a humourist as any of his age" we feel very certain. Extremely quaint are many of the rules which he drew up for the management of the Hospital in Hereford, founded by him "in thankfulness to God for his defence and protection as well in travels by sea and land, as also against malice and practice at home." And there is good reason to believe that he supplied Ben Jonson with the model for the fantastic knight, Puntarvolo, in the play of "Every Man out of his Humour."

( L There is a good story told of Sir Thomas by Auditor Harley (MS. penis Lady F. V. Harcourt). Fhe players took the trouble to procure from Hampton Court a suit of the knight's clothes and when Puntarvolo made his appearance, Sir Thomas, who was among the audience, began to doubt his own identity and cried out distractedly, "Am I Sir Thomas Coningsby or is that Sir Thomas Coningsby." The portrait of Sir Thomas with his favourite dwarf, Cricket, is in the possession of Lord Essex, who exhibited it at South Kensington in 1866. Lord Essex also has the handkerchief with which Lord Coningsby stanched the wound which, but for his intervention, might have proved fatal to King William.)

His son, Fitzwilliam, bravely defended Hereford for Charles I., and suffered such losses in his estate that his wife a Neville was reduced almost to absolute want. But the fortunes of the family revived in the person of Thomas Coningsby, who was successful as a politician and a soldier. In the former capacity he was a consistent supporter of the Whigs, and in the latter he was instrumental in saving the life of William III. on theday before the battle of the Boyne. The King made him a Lord Justice and associated him with Lord Sydney and Sir C. Porter in the government of Ireland, where his arbitrary conduct procured for him the titles of "Nero, tyrant, petty king," and his extortionate practices made him especially detested. Yet, to his skill the nation owed the Treaty of Limerick, and the debt was paid by his elevation to the peerage in 1692. In the same year he purchased the Crown Manor of Leominster-a dearly-bought bargain which embittered his life. Believing that this purchase conferred upon him royal rights throughout the entire lordship, he clung with characteristic obstinacy to the idea until it became a positive monomania, involving him in perpetual lawsuits, and at last procuring him a brief sojourn in the Tower.

Lord Coningsby's otherwise noble character was marred by an utter want of self-control. In his passages of arms with Lord Oxford and Bishop Atterbury in the Houseof Lords, he was thoroughly discomfited, and the violent language which he used in connection with his law-suit, to Lord-Chancellor Harcourt, was perfectly unjustifiable. To the antiquary, the monomania to which we have referred has been of service, for it induced Lord Coningsby to employ Anstis, the Herald, to collect a voluminods mass of valuable records, which have been printed in the " Case of the Manor of Marden," a rare book, abounding in libelous statements.

Lord Coningsby died in I 729, leaving two daughters,

The elder, Margaret, Countess of Coningsby, married Sir Michael Newton of Barr's Court, co. Glouc., Bart., created K.B in 1725. Their only offspring, John, Viscount Coningsby, d. inf., the victim of an accidental fall, said to have been caused by an ape that frightened its nurse.

The younger of whom eventually inherited Hampton Court, and by her husband, Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, the witty politician, left a daughter and co-heir who married William Ann, Earl of Essex. His son sold the estate, in 1808, to Richard Arkwright of Willersley Castle, grandfather of the present proprietor.

The Court has undergone great alterations at different times,

From some letters, penes Rev. T. W. Webb, it is evident that about the year 1615, much was done to prepare Hampton Court for the reception of Fitzwilliam Coningsby. On the 26 May, 1618, the bailiff (Michael Coningsby) writes" We are nowe very busie in digginge stone for the gardinge wall and thecellar and allso for the Butteres for the Cathouse." Sir Thomas Coningsby chiefly lived at the Bower, in Rock, co. Worc. As Hampton Court was occupied by some of the Parliamentary troops in 1652, it is very probable that, through their violence, as well as through the impoverished condition of the owner, the buildings fell into decay; Mr. Webb's forth-coming work will, doubtless, throw much lighton the history of Hampton Court at this period.

The Court has undergone great alterations at different times, but chiefly by Lord Coningsby, who employed Colin Campbell (see Vilruvbes Britannicus) to modernize the building. The changes effected at later dates have been in better taste, and as a whole Hampton Court is undoubtedly the first of the Mansions of Herefordshire inbeauty and interest.: (Manors and mansion Houses)

Lord Essex has removed to Cassiobury the portrait of Henry IV., which is said to have been given by that monarch to 3k R. Lenthull; and his lordship has also in his possession many of the Coningsby portraits. Of the latter, however, there is still an interesting collection at Hampton Court (See Gent's A£fag., 1825.) The view of Hampton Court in its earlier state, is taken from an oil painting, made apparently for Lord Coningsby. Of modern pictures, there are some good portraits of the Arkwright family, by Wright of Derby.

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WIKISOURCE 2012:-

CONINGSBY, Sir THOMAS (d. 1625), soldier, was son and heir of Humphrey Coningsby, esq., of Hampton Court, Herefordshire, by Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Inglefield, judge of the common pleas. His father was gentleman-treasurer to Queen Elizabeth. Coningsby visited Italy with Sir Philip Sidney in 1573, and he was intimate with Sidney until Sir Philip's death, although their friendship was severely strained on their Italian journey by an unfounded charge of robbery brought by Sidney against Coningsby. Coningsby went to Normandy in attendance on the Earl of Essex in 1591, and took part in the siege of Rouen, fighting against the forces of the league. He acted as muster-master to the English detachment, had much intercourse with Henri of Navarre before Rouen, and was knighted by Essex 8 Oct. 1591 (Harl. MS. 6063, art. 26). Coningsby was M.P. for Herefordshire in 1593, 1597, and 1601, and sheriff of the county in 1598. On 12 Nov. 1617 he joined the council of Wales under the presidency of William, lord Compton. In 1614 Coningsby founded a hospital in the suburbs of Hereford for superannuated soldiers and servants called 'Coningsby's Company of Old Servitors,' and died on 30 May 1625. John Davies of Hereford addressed a sonnet to him. A portrait of him with his favourite dog is at Cashiobury House, Hertfordshire, in the possession of the Earl of Essex. He married Philippa, second daughter of Sir William Fitzwilliam of Melton, near Peterborough, and Sir Philip Sidney's cousin, by whom he had six sons and three daughters. All his sons except one, Fitzwilliam, died before him. Fitzwilliam married Cicely, daughter of Henry, seventh lord Abergavenny, and their son, Humphrey, was father of Thomas, earl Coningsby [q. v.] Of his daughters, Katharine married Francis Smallman of Kinnersley Castle, Herefordshire; Elizabeth married Sir Humphrey Baskerville of Erdesley Castle, Herefordshire, and Anne married Sir Richard Tracy of Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

Coningsby is the author of an interesting diary of the action of the English troops in France in 1591. It proceeds day by day through two periods, 13 Aug. to 6 Sept., and 3 Oct. to 24 Dec., when it abruptly terminates. The originalmanuscript is numbered 288 (ff. 253-79) among the 'Harleian MSS.' at the British Museum. It was first printed and carefully edited by Mr. J. G. Nichols in the first volume of the Camden Society's 'Miscellanies' (1847). Internal evidence alone gives the clue to the authorship.

[J. G. Nichols's Introduction to the Camd. Soc. Miscell. i. pt. ii.; Clutterbuck's Hertfordshire, i. 444; Duncumb's Collections for Herefordshire, i. 405; Price's Hist. Acc. of Hereford, 213; Fox-Bourne's Life of Sir Philip Sidney, pp. 69-70; John Davies's Works, ed. Grosart.]

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Victoria County History

Publication

A History of the County of Worcester: volume 3 -Breedon

Cutsdean (manor) in 1872 and 1880, but William Price is said to have been lord of the manor in 1872 and his widow Mrs. Price held the manor in 1876 and 1892. This estate was bought soon after by the Earl of Wemyss, (fn. 133) who owned the other part of the manor, and Lord Elcho, his eldest son, is now the lord of the whole.

The other two thirds of the manor were held by Sir Thomas Coningsby at the time of his death in 1626. (fn. 134) His son Fitz William Coningsby held the estate in 1658, when he and his son Humphrey agreed to assign a rent from this manor to Sampson Wise. (fn. 135) Humphrey son of Fitz William was in possession in 1660. (fn. 136)

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