General Notes

John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk,  was born Abt. 1420, and died August 22, 1485 in the Battle of Bosworth Field, near Market Bosworth, County Warwickshire.  He married (1) Katherine Moleyns, of Stoke Poges Abt. 1442, daughter of William Moleyns and Margery Whalesborough.  She was born in Stoke Poges, County Buckinghamshire, possibly, about 5 miles west of Uxbridge, and died November 3, 1465 in Stoke by Nayland, County Suffolk, and buried at The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Stoke-by-Nayland, County Suffolk, in the South Chapel18,19.  He married (2) Margaret Chedworth Bef. January 22, 1466/6720, daughter of John Chedworth, Knt..  She died 1494.

                Sir John's first recorded military experience was on July 17, 1453, when he was present at the battle of Chastillon.  He entered into the service of his kinsman, John Mowbray.  He was knighted by Edward IV in 1461 and appointed constable of Colchester Castle, County Essex.  He also served as Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, and was one of the King's Carvers, known to have "great fellowship" with the King.  In 1462 he was named constable of Norwich Castle, and received grants of several manors.

        He again participated in battle, first with Lords Fauconberg and Clinton in the battle for Brittany, and took Croquet and the Isle of Rhe.  He also served against the Lancastrians in the north, and  saw battle at Warkworth, and in the spring of 1464 assisted in securing the country for the King.

        Sir John returned home on June 8, 1464 and resumed his friendship with King Edward.  His joy was short lived, however.  On November 3, 1465, his wife, Lady Katherine, died.  She was buried at St. Mary, at Stoke-by-Nayland.  Her elaborate monumental brass was engraved about 1535, which explains her Tudor costume instead of the Lancastrian period of her time.  Her fingers are adorned with several rings, a rarely seen feature on brasses.  Three of the Howard quarters - Brotherton, Howard, and Segrave - appear on the dexter, or left, side of her robe.  The parental arms of the Moleyns are on the sinister, or right, side.  Beneath her Pedimental headdress, her hair is bound in a net. 

        He married the following January and in April was elected knight of the shire for County Suffolk.  He is also made Treasurer of the Household, an office he held until 1474.  He escorted King Edward's sister, Princess Elizabeth, to Flanders for her marriage to Charles, Duke of Burgundy.

        His illustrious career continued when he was created Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshall on June 28 1483.  At the coronation of King Richard III in July, Sir John acted as High Steward, bore the Crown, and as Marshall, rode into Westminster Hall after the ceremony and "voided the hall."  A few days later he was appointed Admiral of England, Ireland, and Aquitaine.

        A Fortnight before his death, he wrote to his friend, John Paston III a letter dated about August 12, 1485.

        "Well-beloved friend, I commend me to you, letting you to understand that the King's enemies be a land [Henry Tudor landed at Milford Haven on August 7], and that the King [Richard III] would have set forth as upon Monday but only for Our lady Day [The Assumption, August 15]; but for certain he goeth forward as upon Tuesday, for a servant of mine brought to me the certainty.

        Wherefore I pray you that ye meet with me at Bury [Bury St. Edmunds, County Suffolk], for by the grace of God I purpose to lie at Bury as upon Tuesday night; and that ye bring with you such company of tall men as ye may goodly make at my cost and charge, beside that ye have promised the King.  And I pray you beside that ye have promised the King.  And I pray you ordain them jackets of my livery, and I shall content you at your meeting with me."

        Sir John is remembered as a wise and experienced politician, and an expert and valiant soldier, careful in the management of his own affairs, and a faithful adherent of the House of York.

- "Dictionary of National Biography," Volume 10, p. 42-44

       

Children of John Howard and Katherine Moleyns are:

+      10               i.    Thomas5 Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, born Abt. 1443 in Tendring Hall, Stokes-by-Nayland, County Suffolk, and probably baptized at St. Mary, about 6 miles southwest of Hadleigh; 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 Norfolk.

        11              ii.    Anne Howard, of Stoke by Nayland21, born in Tendring Hall, Stokes-by-Nayland, County Suffolk, and probably baptized at St. Mary, about 6 miles southwest of Hadleigh.  She married Edward Gorges, of Wraxall, County Somerset22.

        12             iii.    Isabel Howard, of Stoke by Nayland23, born in Tendring Hall, Stokes-by-Nayland, County Suffolk, and probably baptized at St. Mary, about 6 miles southwest of Hadleigh.  She married Robert Mortimer, Knt., of County Essex.

        13             iv.    Jane Howard, of Stoke by Nayland23, born in Tendring Hall, Stokes-by-Nayland, County Suffolk, and probably baptized at St. Mary, about 6 miles southwest of Hadleigh.  She married John Timperley.

        14              v.    Margaret Howard, of Stoke by Nayland24, born in Tendring Hall, Stokes-by-Nayland, County Suffolk, and probably baptized at St. Mary, about 6 miles southwest of Hadleigh.  She married John Wyndham, of Crownthorpe and Felbrigg; born  in Crownthorpe and Felbrigg, County Norfolk, possibly.  He is an ancestor of the Wyndhams, Earls of Egremont25.



       

Child of John Howard and Margaret Chedworth is:

+      15               i.    Katherine5 Howard, Baroness of Berners, born in Tendring Hall, Stokes-by-Nayland, County Suffolk, and probably baptized at St. Mary, about 6 miles southwest of Hadleigh; died March 12, 1534/35.