• General Notes

  *********************
  V. Robert D'Oyly, of Adderbury, co. Oxford, progenitor of the D'Oylys of Adderbury, &c.
  
  ******************************
  Robert D'Oyly, Gent., son of Robert D'Oyly Esq. of Merton (by his second wife Katharine Tregyan),[590] succeeded to his father's purchased estates at Adderbury, and Milton, viz. the manors of Browne's and St. Amond's, near Banbury, in Oxfordshire, subject to his mother's jointure therein for life. She, however, died in Sept. 1585, and Robert D'Oyly, then within age, succeeded her, and became the Queen's ward in consequence of his minority, having been born on the 12th Sept. 1566, and thus only then 19 years of age.[591] After which, in 1592 (34th Eliz.), having neglected to sue out his livery at the proper time, we find him petitioning the Court of Wards for a mitigation of the penalty he had thereby incurred; and his petition being accordingly complied with, in May, 35th Eliz. he sued out his livery.[592]—Meanwhile he had married his first wife, Elizabeth, dau. of— Weston,[593] of the neighbouring town of Banbury; one of whose family, Nathaniel Weston, became a celebrated convert to Quakerism, at the foundation of that sect, half a century after, and was so devoted to his creed, and so violent in maintaining it, that he was once ordered out of Banbury church[594] by Samuel Welles, the Vicar: a clergyman who is mentioned under D'Oyly of Albourn, as having married into that family. By this lady he had issue two sons, both born between 1590 and 1597. They were,
  
  
  **************************************************
  And surviving her, Robert D'Oyly married secondly at Adderbury, Nov. 1598, Anne, daughter of Leonard Yates of Whitney in Oxfordshire; — a marriage followed by misery and dissension; for this lady was a wicked unprincipled woman, who spared no endeavour to disinherit her husband's son by his former wife; and evidently married him for no good end, as they were scarcely united a year ere she commenced her plots. —After various minor attempts to induce her husband to settle his estates on herself and her issue (in all which, though he was a very weak man, she completely failed,) she at last resorted to the extremity of suing out a commission of lunacy against her said husband, on account of his palpable eccentricities; and thus, in 42d Eliz. 1599-1600, a "commission de lunatico inquirendo" was issued, directed to Francis Harbye, Esq. and others therein mentioned, to inquire after the lunacy of Robert D'Oyly of Adderbury in Oxfordshire, Gentleman.[595]" In consequence thereof, an inquisition was taken at the city of Oxford, Jan. 42d Eliz.; when the jury found that the said Robert D’Oyly had been unable to govern himself, his lands, goods, and chattels, for sixteen years past, viz. since Dec. 1583,—since he was seventeen years of age. It was also found that he was seised in his demesne, as of fee, of the manor of St. Amond's held in chief, and the manor of Browne's held de quo vel quibus; that he was married; and that his son and heir apparent, John D’Oyly, was æt. six years and six months.—But the poor lunatic deemed himself unjustly used; and therefore presented a petition to the Court of Wards: which terminated in a reversal of his entire lunacy,[596] but seems to have left him in the position of a lunatic per lucida intervalla; for the Court of Wards retained the management of his estates (probably to prevent his wife obtaining any power over them,) in 1631, the Court being applied to increase the allowance to his son John out of them.[597]—At the Oxfordshire Visitation, in 1634, Robert D'Oyly of Adderbury recorded his pedigree, but was not, like his kindred, allowed the arms of the Barons D'Oyly undifferenced.[598] He died, æt. 73, and was buried, 20 May 1640, at Adderbury; his Inquis. post. mort. being made 16 Car. I.[599] By Anne, his second wife, who survived him, and was buried, April 1648, at Adderbury, he had further issue,
  
  

Details of Robert's family with Anne Yates

Details of Robert's family with Elizabeth Weston