Sir Hugh Willoughby

Biography of Sir Hugh Willoughby (c.1380-1448)

University of Nottingham, Manuscripts and Special Collections. < link >

Hugh was the son of Edmund Willoughby and Isabel Annesley, and great-grandson of Sir Richard Willoughby . By his second marriage to Margaret Freville he acquired the valuable manor of Middleton and other estates in Warwickshire, making him one of the wealthiest members of the Midlands gentry. Middleton was to become one of the family's principal residences. Hugh was knighted at the coronation of Henry VI in 1429 and held local offices appropriate to his status.

Sir Hugh and his first wife were buried in the church at Willoughby-in-the-Wolds under a tomb chest with elegant alabaster effigies.

Sir Hugh Willoughby, Knt. of Wollaton, Willoughby, Cossal, Bradmore, and Carcolston co. Notts. was the son of Edmund Willoughby, of Willoughby, co. Notts. and Isabel Annesley, daughter of Sir Hugh de Annesley, Knt. He was Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, 1430-1, and Sheriff of Lincolnshire 1438-9.

He was knighted in 1429 at the coronation of Henry VI. He acquired Middleton in Warwickshire and other estates and was one of the wealthiest members of the Midlands gentry.

Death and Burial

He left a will dated 15 Sep 1443, proved 15 Dec 1448. Hugh's will is at the Borthwick Institute , York. It was published in Testamenta Eboracensia 2, 130-4.

Sir Hugh and his first wife are buried in the church at Willoughby-in-the-Wolds.

Family

Sir Hugh married 1stly, c.1395, Isabel Foljambe (d 1417), and had:

1. Richard (d 1471)
2. Nicholas, no children
3. Thomas, no children

Also seen:

(1) Isabel Foljambe and they had one son, Richard Willoughby Esq., and one daughter, Margaret Willoughby (m. William Belgrave)

Hugh married 2ndly, by 1419, Margaret Freville (d 1493, m 2ndly Richard Bingham, Justice of the King's Bench (d 1476)), and had:

1. Robert (d 1474), m Margaret, daughter of Sir John Griffith of Wichnor, Staffordshire, and had:
   1. Henry (c.1451-1528)
   2. Richard, m Jane Sacheverell in 1485 (divorce on the grounds of precontract with William Zouche), m Anne, Lady Clinton and Say in 1488
   3. Dorothy, m Thomas Thurland
   4. Alice m Richard Curzon
   5. Sanchia, m John Strelley
2. Isabel, m Philip Boteler of Watton Woodhall, Hertfordshire in 1436
3. Maud, m Thomas Hertwell
4. Eleanor, m Sir John Shirley
5. Jocosa, m Richard Bracebridge of Kingsbury
6. Alice, m John Marmyon
7. Baldwin,
8. Henry,
9. John,
10. Marjory, and
11. another daughter

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References

1. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/colle... cites
   1. Title deeds, settlements, estate and legal papers relating to Sir Hugh Willoughby's ownership of the Willoughby estates are part of the Middleton Collection held in Manuscripts and Special Collections at the University of Nottingham.
   2. Hugh's will is at the Borthwick Institute for Archives, York. It was published in Testamenta Eboracensia 2, 130-4
   3. S. J. Payling, ‘Willoughby family ( per. 1362–1528) ’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [available online to subscribers ]
2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139211783/hugh-willoughby
3. Thoroton's History of Nottinghamshire, Volume 2. By Robert Thoroton. Page 209. < GoogleBooks >
4. Magna Carta Ancestry 2nd Ed. v.2 pp. 230-231 Freville 9 < GoogleBooks >
5. ROYAL ANCESTRY by Douglas Richardson Vol. III, page 39
6. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Willoughby-3
7. https://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p734.htm#... Cites
   1. [S6731] Unknown author, Wallop Family, p. 832.
   2. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 344.
   3. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 231-232.
   4. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. III, p. 53.
   5. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, p. 28.
   6. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, p. 300.
   7. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 39.
   8. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 634.
   9. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. IV, p. 627.
   10. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. V, p. 327.
   11. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 466.
   12. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 756.
   13. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 652
8. https://soc.genealogy.medieval.narkive.com/HdCDf3vc/belgrave-of-bel... “John Belgrave son of William Belgrave (ff 22H6) m Margaret Willoughby, daughter of Sir Hugh Willoughby, Knt of Wollaton d 15 Nov 1448 m Isabel Foljambe son of Edmund Willoughby m Isabel Annesley (her will dated Oct 1415, probate 23 Apr 1416). …”