Jane Grey (Staresmore) - Source for Jane Staresmore

Private User I have matters close to home to deal with off geni. I hope the new year finds you well.. if and when things clear up I'll help try and track some stuff for you.
check your email.
Mike.

There are sources cited in the profile overview notes (I can't vouch for them - just reading them now)

From http://vdbrempt.be/genealogie/parentelen/nkdg_dd/nkdg_dd-0019.htm

...

XXIX.718 Lord Thomas III GREY, born circa 1510, died on 27-04-1555 in Tower Hill.
Married to Jane STARESMORE, born 1514 in Harwich.
From this marriage:
1.  Richard GRAY, born circa 1551, died circa 1602.

....

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In the Visitation of Leicester in 1619 it looks like she's named Margeria?? Daughter of Francis Staresmore. Sister Jane married Henry Gilman

https://books.google.com/books?id=1kIEAAAAIAAJ&lpg=PA6&ots=...

Page 6

Pamela if you're looking into Margaret Astley her husband's History of Parliament biography has this note:

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/as...

(John Astley married) (2) 13 Oct. 1565, Margaret Lenton alias Grey, illegit. da. of Lord Thomas Grey, 3s. 3da.

....

His will, made in January 1593, was proved by his widow on 10 Aug. 1596. Astley left detailed instructions about the division among his children of his property, including Allington, ‘had of my gracious mistress and sovereign’. The widow and sole executrix, who was to keep the ‘great house’ at Maidstone, was forbidden to cut down trees on the estates. The main charitable bequest was of 40 nobles to 40 poor persons of Maidstone, to be distributed at the discretion of the executrix. To assist her in administering the property, and to sell specified lands if necessary to meet her husband’s debts, five overseers were appointed, including Peter Osborne and Ralph Rokeby.5

Wow - wedding license noted here

https://archive.org/stream/cu31924091179501#page/n54/mode/1up
London marriage licences, 1521-1869 edited by Joseph Foster from excerpts by Colonel Chester. Published 1887 by Bernard Quaritch in London . Page 42

Ashley, John (Assheley), of City of London, esq. and Margaret Lenton, alias Grays, of co Essex, gen. Lic. , 13 Oct 1565

Her Kate Meerson Historical is here

http://www.kateemersonhistoricals.com/TudorWomenG.htm

MARGARET GREY (d.1601)
Margaret Grey, also called Margaret Lenton, was the illegitimate daughter of Lord Thomas Grey (x.1554), third son of the marquess of Dorset. By a license dated October 13, 1565, she married Sir John Astley, Master of the Queen’s Jewel House (c.1507-August 1, 1596). They had three sons, Sir John, William, and Francis, and three daughters. In a letter dated November 12, 1590, Margaret complains to her cousin, Vincent Skinner, that she can no longer use Astley’s lodgings in the Tower of London because of a new ban by the Privy Council on the residence of women there. In another letter to Skinner, in 1590, during an Exchequer suit over Astley’s Allingham property, she wrote: "It will shorten Mr. Astley’s life to see the son of a Welsh cobbler prevail against him by craft." Under Astley’s will, Margaret kept the "great house" at Maidstone but she was forbidden to cut down trees on the estates. As executrix she also had the responsibility to procure a discharge for the Crown Jewels. In 1593, Edmund Southerne dedicated his A Treatise concerning the right use and ordering of Bees to her. One source says that a poem, "The Wizard: A Kentish Tale," commemorated her death, but this was written in 1805 (Sir Edward Brydges, Censura literaria) and although it praises "fairest Margaret," when it goes on to say that "many a day Didst thou Eliza’s favor sway," it seems to be confusing her with Astley’s first wife, Katherine Champernowne.  

And ... It looks like Collins Peerage (1814) disputes the parentage:

https://books.google.com/books?pg=PA350&lpg=PA350&dq=Margar...

» I suspect this Margaret to have been of tile Greys of Barwcil, descended from a younger son of Reginald Grey and Joan Astley.

Her Epitaph at Maidstone

" Margaret, wife of John Astley, was daughter of Thomas Grey, branched out of the right honourable house of the Greys, Dukes of Suffolk, Marquises of Dorset, Barons Grey, of Gruby, Hanington, Bonville, and Astley. For the heir general of the last Baron Astley was mairied to Reginald Lord Grey, of Ruthcn ; and so the title and arms of the Barons Astley were conveyed to the Greys. She had issue one son, Sir John Astley; and three daughters; Margaret, married to Anthony Neville, of Nottinghamshire ; Bridget, to Sir Norton Knatchbull, of Mersham, Kent; and Eleanor, to Thomas Knatchbull of Maidstone, brother to the said Sir Norton.'' She died in June 1601. Gent. Mag vol Ixvii. p. 548.

And ... Now I see what the Collins editor refers to

https://books.google.com/books?id=1kIEAAAAIAAJ&lpg=PA6&ots=... (page 17)

Thomas Gray of Barwell married Margery, daughter of John Staresmore of Frolesworth

(children shown: an unnamed child married Harebottle; John married step sister Mary Cruse)

https://histfam.familysearch.org/getperson.php?personID=I37464&...

So my thoughts are

- Margaret Lenton alias Grey, wife of John Astley, could have been the daughter / heir of Thomas Grey, died 1555
- she was illegitimate but acknowledged (?)
- was her mother a Lenton?
- she was not a Staresmere, it doesn't work
- she had no brothers

Going back to the comments on her ancestry, Collins was picking up from this article published in the The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, Volume 67, Part 2:

EPITAPHS in Maidstone church (not hitherto punted) of John Astley, esq author of "the Art of Riding," 1584, and ,master of the jewels to Queen Elizabeth; and of Margaret (Grey), his second wife ... the epitaph to the former, and to his wife, has been strangely omitted in Newton's History of Maidstone.

Margaret, wife of the said John Astley, was daughter of Thomas Grey, branched out of the right honourable house) of the Greys, dukes of Suffolk, marquises of Dorset, barons Grey, of Groby, Harring;on, Bonville, and Astley. For the, heir-general of the last Baron Astley uoi married to Reginald Lord Grey, of Ruthen; and so the title and arms of the barons Astley was conveyed to the Greys.

Her arms are, Barry of six pieces, in chief 3 roundles, a crescent for difference, within a bordure Ermine. Yours, ttc. F # S.

https://books.google.com/books?pg=PA546&lpg=PA546&dq=Margar...

Private User I think this is ready for your help ... There is an identified coat of arms on the description of the memorial at Maidstone. Maybe that could answer better which branch of the Grays she is from?

Her arms are: Barry of six pieces, in chief 3 roundles, a crescent for difference, within a bordure Ermine.

And that Lenton alias Gray name on her wedding license is curious, does anyone have an idea?

By building around the Astley's -- she "had" to have a prestigious background; the Astley's were favored & trusted at court. Which among other issues makes me want to "think again" that her father was the participant in Wyatt's Rebellion; Elizabeth l forgave, but was cautious, particularly around the crown jewels ...

Hi Erica:
I am looking through some resources describing the armorials of people of this period so I will work on it. It should reference Grey of Groby, Harrington, Astley, Grey of Ruthin, and Bonville.

Chief three rondels would match the arms of Thomas Grey, 1 st Marquess Dorset line. Lenton was most likely her mother's name. She wouldnt have have been " officially" acknowledged, as she was a female illegitimate, but could inherit as last of a line and make a very good marriage, like Lucy Corona. Her arms being differentiated with a crescent would have indicated her legal use of her father's arms as a woman, and they would have been a lozenge shape.

The six rows Barry also match the same horizontal Grey line, even though they don't mention the colors/ metals.

The heraldry description fits with Collins.

Another thing to note: one of the other men executed was Lord Lennard/ Leonard. These families who rose up were all families of the north, devoutly Catholic, and related to each other closely by marriage, and were a real threat to Henry's crown as their bloodline was considered by many as more legitimate,and the succession was in doubt. Henry had executed and persecuted many of their families. They had been for centuries styled as independendent Princes and Emperors in documents, and the populace in the north was furious about the religious upheaval. Even mistresses had to be of the blood and Catholic to be with Lord Grey. Perhaps her mothers' name was Lennard ( misspelled) and that's why she would have been protected by both families, who considered their dead martyrs heroes.

Later, Elizabeth reinstated many of them, but others were determined to leave England as Puritans.

I agree that the Lenton name must refer to her mother. I had seen notes that the Visitations of Leicestershire were particularly poor; maybe there's another source for the Greys of Barwill to be found; that she already had (property) kinship with the Astley's makes sense. I'll also look for this cousin Vincent Skinner. They knew who she was at the time ...

Now - consider her marriage was especially good. Astley had been married to Katherine Champernowne, a very loyal & trusted attendant. Elizabeth l would not have hesitated to express displeasure if Astley's 2nd marriage was at all questionable; in fact it's the opposite, she stood godmother to at least 2 of their children.

I wish we had a plausible candidate from the Barwill Gray's to compare.

I realized above, I am referring to Margaret and the epitaph at Maidstone.

Perhaps here is the confusion. There are 2 Thomas Greys with sepulchral brasses in Barwell:
https://books.google.com/books?id=xLBbAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA42&lpg=...
Page 42
One dies in 1532 and his arms seem to match the description of Margaret Astleys'. Another dies in 1558, and was the one married to Jane Starsmore ( or Staresmore) which is reflected on his memorial brass with a very different description.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Grey_(by_1519-1558)

The 1558 Grey is the same family, but his arms are quartered with Staresmore.

https://books.google.com/books?id=kvsUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA243&lpg...

.???

Private User I know a little bit about the rutherin barons what do you need?

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/sites/default/files/publications/p...

Grey of Ruthin. Barry argent and azure with three roundels gules in chief.

Margaret's a variation?

From http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol6/pp15-22

Thomas, Marquess of Dorset, at his death in 1530 left a life interest in the manor of Astley to his widow Margaret, his son Henry being then less than 14 years of age. (fn. 39) This son, who later became Duke of Suffolk (fn. 40) and was father of Lady Jane Grey, took part in the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyatt, forfeited all his estates, and was executed 23 February 1554. (fn. 41)

(that would be the father of one of the possible father's of Margaret (Grey alias Lenton) Astley & congruent with Astley / Gray property.

From https://books.google.com/books?pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=grey+of+...

Barwell . . Thos. Grey, 1532: arms, barry of 6, ar. and blue, 3 torteauxes, in chief, a mullet on the bar.

Thomas Grey, 1558 : arms, Grey, impaling, ar., a fess, vert. between 3 torteauxes, for Starsmore.

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Are torteaux the same as roundels? No, right?

From http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Sir_Thomas_G...

BURKE, Sir Bernard, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales: Comprising a Registry of Armorial Bearings from the Earliest to the Present Time, London: Harrison & sons, 1884.

“ Grey (Lord Grey of Groby, Marquess of Dorset...). Same arms as Grey, of Codnor [Barry of six ar. and az. in chief three torteaux], with a lable of three points ermine. ”

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Barry_of_six_argent_and_...

And the grandfather is here

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_Sir_Henry_Gr...

(Grey in the upper left)

Compared to

http://greyhighschool.com/index.php/our-school/school-info/history-...

Sir George Grey, founder of the school, never properly established a Right to Arms with the College of Arms in London, and traditionally he claimed descent from the family Grey of Groby, alias Baron Ferrers of Groby (now represented by the Earl of Stamford), in spite of records that the lineage became extinct in 1554. The arms removed from the Grey Institute building are identical to the armorial bearings used by Sir George Grey and His progenitor, Edward, Lord Grey of Groby, whose Arms were blazoned ‘barry or six argent and azure, in chief three torteaux and a file (label) of three points ermine’.

http://greyhighschool.com/images/grey_shield2.gif

The Armorial Bearings of The Right Honourable Sir George Grey, K.C.B., Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and Her Majesty’s High Commissioner of British Kaffaria, 1854-1861
(The full achievement)

The armorial bearings of Sir George Grey were identical to the Arms used by his progenitors – Greys of Codnor, Greys of Wilton, Greys of Ruthyn and  Greys of Groby – who from generation blazoned their Arms ‘barry of six argent and azure, in chief three torteaux and an ermine label of three points.’ However, the family Grey, Lord and Viscount L’Isle (created 1483-extinct 1512) differenced his armorial bearings by emblazoning the shield ‘barrule of six argent and azure, in chief three torteaux and a label argent.’

Margaret Astley (Lenton aka Grey) is Sir Vincent Skinner, MP's wife's third cousin

http://www.geni.com/path/Sir-Vincent-Skinner-MP+is+related+to+Marga...

Through his wife. There has to be another path.

The letter she wrote him was pretty strong :

https://books.google.com/books?id=xVSeXkVJxZIC&lpg=PA3&ots=...

If you look at the other resources, in Barwell there is another variation, one with vert ( green). This is also a Thomas Grey. Unfortunately the Staresmore pedigree has no dates on it. The added vert variation belongs to the Thomas Grey who was married to one of the Staresmore girls. Unfortunately, none of the descriptions is a really complete heraldic description. But the one idescribed in All Saints church sounds like the main line, no variations are mentioned. Margaret's mysterious beginnings seem quite in step with her family being wiped out by the powers that were. Sounds like a familiar story?