Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk was born Abt. 1443 in Tendring Hall, Stokes-by-Nayland, County Suffolk, and probably baptized at St. Mary, about 6 miles southwest of Hadleigh30, and died May 21, 1524 in Framlingham Castle and buried at Thetford, County Norfolk, about 14 miles north of Bury St. Edmunds, County Suffolk and buried June 26, 1524 at Thetford Abbey, County Norfolk31. He married (1) Elizabeth Tilney, Countess of Surrey April 30, 147233, daughter of Frederick Tilney and Elizabeth Cheney. She was born in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk, about 11 miles southwest of Norwich, and died April 4, 1497. He married (2) Agnes Tylney, Duchess of Norfolk Aft. 1497, daughter of Hugh Tylney and Tailboys. She was born in Skirbeck, County Lincolnshire, and died Abt. May 31, 1545 in England and buried at Thetford Abbey, County Norfolk.
Sir Thomas fought at Barnet for Edward IV and was made Steward of the royal household and created Earl of Surrey in 1483 (at the same time that his father was created the 1st Duke of Norfolk). Taken prisoner at Bosworth Field while fighting for Richard III, he remained a captive until January 1489, when he was released and restored to his earldom of Surrey but not to the dukedom of Norfolk. He was then entrusted with the maintenance of order in Yorkshire and with the defense of the Scottish borders. Sir Thomas was made Lord Treasurer and a Privy Councillor in 1501. He helped to arrange the marriage between Margaret, the daughter of Henry VII, and James IV of Scotland. Henry VIII, too, employed him on public business, but the earl grew jealous of Thomas Wolsey and for a short time he absented himself from court. He commanded the army that defeated the Scots at Flodden in September 1513, and was created Duke of Norfolk in February of the following year. In his later years Sir Thomas worked more harmoniously with Wolsey. He was guardian of England during Henry VIII's absence in France in 1520, and he acted as Lord High Steward at the trial of his friend Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, in 1521 - "Dictonary of National Biography," Volume 10, p. 62-64
Children of Thomas Howard and Elizabeth Tilney are:
+ 19 i. Thomas6 Howard, K.G., 3rd Duke of Norfolk, born 1473 in Kenninghall, County Norfolk, about 12 miles southwest of Ashwellthorpe and about 12 miles northeast of Thetford; died August 25, 1554 in Kenninghall, County Norfolk, and buried at St. Michael, Framlingham, County Suffolk, October 2, 1554, in a tomb located south of the High Altar..
20 ii. Edward Howard, Lord High Admiral, born Abt. 1476; died Abt. April 25, 1513 in battle against the French in Whitsand Bay. He married Alice Lovel35.
Sir Edward began his military experience at the tender age of about fifteen under the command of Sir Edward Poynings. In 1497 he served under his father in the army in Scotland and was then knighted. At the jousts held at the coronation of Henry VIII, he was one of the "entertainers." On May 20, 1509 he was appointed Standard-bearer.
In July 1511, it is said he commanded, in company with his brother, Thomas, the ships which captured the two Scottish pirates, Robert and Andrew Barton. There is no official record of this, and many legends have sprung up involving their supposed involvement in this exploit. The details given in the ballad, "Sir Andrew Barton," which was adopted by Sir Walter Scott, are unquestionably apocryphal.
On April 7, 1512, Sir Edward was appointed Admiral of the Fleet and charged with supporting the Pope and King Ferdinand, King of Aragon against the French. With a fleet of about twenty large ships, he first landed in Bertheaume Bay, and drove the French out of their bulwards, defeated them in several skirmishes, and marched inland. On Monday, May 23, he landed at Conquet, torched the town and the house of Sieur de Portzmoguer.
During a subsequent battle in August, his brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Knyvet, died, and Sir Edward swore revenge. The following year, on April 25,1513, he had his opportunity. Taking command of a small barge, Sir Edward and his men rowed through a storm of shot, grappled the galley belonging to Commander, Chevalier Pregent de Bidoux. Sword in hand, Sir Edward sprang on board followed by about seventeen of his men.
In the confusion of battle, the grappling hook was cut, and Sir. Edward's boat was swept away by the tide, and he found himself and his companions unsupported. His other boats, unable to get through the enemy's fire, and unaware that he was in trouble, retired. It took some time for them to understand that their admiral was missing. Under a flag of truce they inquired as to what had become of Sir Edward. They were told that all but one man had been driven overboard.
Emboldened by their small victory, the French crossed over from Brest and ravaged the coast of Sussex. Sir Edward's death was considered a national disaster. In a letter to the King of England, James IV of Scotland wrote: "Sureley, dearest brother, we think more loss is to you of your late admiral, who deceased to his great honour and laud, than the advantage might have been of the winning of all the French galleys."
There have been stories circulating for generations that Sir Edward's body was found on a beach and recognized by a small golden horn which he wore suspended from his neck as the mark of his rank and office. However, if any body had indeed been found, the "small golden horn" may have been merely a pipe or whistle worn by an ensign.
- "Dictionary of National Biography," Volume 10, p. 10-11
+ 21 iii. Edmund Howard, Marshal of the Horse, born Abt. 1480 in Tisbury, County Wiltshire; died March 19, 1535/36.
22 iv. Henry Howard, I, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1480 in County Norfolk; died February 2, 1499/00.
23 v. John Howard, I, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1482; died March 23, 1501/02.
24 vi. Charles Howard, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1483 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk; died March 3, 1511/12.
25 vii. Henry Howard, II, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1484; died February 22, 1511/12.
+ 26 viii. Elizabeth Howard, Lady Boleyn, born Abt. 1486 in County Norfolk; died April 3, 1538 in London.
+ 27 ix. Muriel Howard, Countess Lisle, born Abt. 1486; died December 14, 1512 in Lambeth, London and buried January 8, 1513 at Lambeth.
28 x. Richard Howard, I, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1486 in Buckenham Castle, County Norfolk; died December 14, 1512 in Lambeth, and buried January 8, 1511 at Lambeth.
Children of Thomas Howard and Agnes Tylney are:
29 i. Katherine6 Howard, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1497 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk, about 10 miles southwest of Norwich and christened in 1497; died Abt. May 11, 1554 in England and buried May 11, 1554 in the Howard Chapel at Lambeth, County Surrey. She married (1) Rhysap Griffith. She married (2) Henry Daubeney, 1st Earl of Bridgewateer; born 1493; died 1548.
30 ii. Elizabeth Howard, Countess of Sussex, born Abt. 1506 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk, about 10 miles southwest of Norwich and christened in 1506. She married Henry Radcliffe, Earl of Sussex; born Abt. 1506; died 1557.
+ 31 iii. William Howard, K.G.,1st Baron of Effingham, born Abt. 1510 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk; died January 11, 1571/72 in Hampton Court, County Herefordshire and was buried January 29, 1572 at Reygate, County Surrey.
32 iv. Dorothy Howard, Countess of Derby, born Abt. 1511 in Lathom, County Lancashire. She married Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby; born 1508; died 1572.
33 v. Thomas Howard, of Ashwellthrope, born Abt. 1512 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk, about 10 miles southwest of Norwich and christened in 1512; died October 31, 1537 in Tower Hill. He married Margaret Douglas; born 1515; died 1578 in Hackeny and buried Westminster Abbey36.
Lord Thomas Howard became engaged to her without the permission of her uncle, King Henry VIII. They were both imprisoned in the Tower of London as a result. After Lord Thomas' death, she was released and married Lord Lennox. She died in poverty at Hackeny and was buried at the expense of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. She and her husband had four daughters and four sons.
34 vi. Anne Howard, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1514.
35 vii. George Howard, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1514 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk, about 10 miles southwest of Norwich and christened in 1514.
36 viii. Catherine Howard, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1516.
37 ix. Richard Howard, II, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1516 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk, about 10 miles southwest of Norwich and christened in 1516; died March 22, 1515/16 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk.
38 x. John Howard, II, of Ashwellthorpe, born Abt. 1517 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk, about 10 miles southwest of Norwich and christened in 1517; died March 23, 1521/22.
+ 39 xi. Anne Howard, Countess of Oxford, born Abt. 1518 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk, about 10 miles southwest of Norwich and christened in 1518; died February 22, 1556/57.
40 xii. Henry Howard, III, of Ashwellthorpe, born Bef. 1524 in Ashwellthorpe, County Norfolk.