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Sir William Brereton

William was born about 1488 in Malpas.¹

Birth Notes
- William Brereton, born between 1487 and 1490, was the seventh son of Sir Randle Brereton of Ipstones, Shocklach, and Malpas, Knight Chamberlain of Chester, Knight Banneret and Knight of the body of Henry VII.

William's father was Sir Randle Brereton IV and his mother was Eleanor Dutton. He had a brother named Randle. He had a half-brother and a half-sister, named Roger and Eleanor. He died by execution, Beheaded, on May 17th, 1536 in London. His burial was in London.²¹

Death Notes
- In May 1536, William Brereton, the queen's brother, George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford, Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and a musician, Mark Smeaton, were all tried and executed for treason and adultery with Anne Boleyn, the King's second wife.
  
  Many historians are now of the opinion that Anne Boleyn, Brereton and their co-accused were innocent. Brereton's words as he faced the executioner's axe, "The cause whereof I die, judge not. But if you judge, judge the best," may be interpreted as a cautious declaration of his innocence which would avoid the forfeiture of his estates.
  
  An indication of his wife's continued trust in her husband is provided by her bequest to her son 9 years later: "one bracelet of gold, the which was the last token his father sent me."
  
  Name:    Sir William Brereton
  Birth Date:    1487
  Birth Place:    Cheshire, England
  Death Date:    17 May 1536
  Death Place:    London, City of London, Greater London, England
  Cemetery:    Chapel of Saint Peter-ad-Vincula
  Burial or Cremation Place:    London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Greater London, England
  Has Bio?:    Y
  Father:    Randle Brereton
  Mother:    Eleanor Brereton
  Spouse:    Elizabeth Brereton
  URL:    https://www.findagrave.com/mem...

General Notes
- William was the son of Sir Randal Brereton IV of Malpas and Eleanor Dutton.
  
  William Brereton (with several others) was accused of treason and adultery with Anne Boleyn, the King's second wife. He was tried by Oliver Cromwell and lost his head but kept his lands.

Occupation Details
- William's occupation was Groom of the Privy Chamber for Henry VIII, in London.

Ancestor Pedigree Chart
- Sir Randle Brereton IV
  - b.1464 in Malpas d.1530
  
  Sir William Brereton
  - b.~ 1488 in Malpas d.17 May 1536 in London
  
  Eleanor Dutton
  - b.~ 1464 in Halton d.Jun 1522

Personal Timeline

Click here for details of William's family with Lady Elizabeth Savage (nee Somerset)

¹ Wikipedia
² FindAGrave