This article picks up where the Chronicles of the Uvedale/Udall Family - 1146 to 1515 ended and carries on until 1787 when Mathew Udall came to Canada. So...

Sir William Uvedale, kt. occurs in the list of 100 of the royal household as a Knight of the Body in 1516.

In the spring of 1517, there was a disturbance in London, primarily focused against "foreigners". The rioters temporarily took control of the City. However, the Duke of Norfolk and his son, the Earl of Surrey soon fought their way into the city and restored order. Also, in the same year an epidemic of a sweating sickness hit England with in some villages up to one-half the population dying.

In 1517 Sir William Uvedale Kt., is named on a commission concerning the imparking of land.

In 1518 Sir Henry Uvedale, Kt. died and was buried at More Chrichel, where according to Hutchins101 "on the north side of the south aisle of the church is a large handsome mural monument, of various- coloured marble, reaching from top to bottom, with the following inscription - Henry Uvedale, second sonne of Sir Thomas Uvedale, of Wickham House, in the county of Hampshire, and Squier of the Body and of the Privy Chamber to King Henry VIII; and had issue by Edith Poole, of Gloucester, Sir Wm. Uvedale, and died and was buried at Poole Anno Dom. 1518."

In 1518 the French King Francis and King Henry VIII met at the "Field of Cloth of Gold". There was a lot of extravagance, feasting and jousting over a three-week gathering. Both Kings tried to out shine the other.

In 1519 Thomas Uvedale, the son of Sir William Uvedale, K.B. and Ann Sydney was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn , one of the four Inns of Court in London at which barristers were trained and “called to the bar”.

On 18 June 1520 Nicholas Uvedale of Southampton was enrolled at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University. He had previously been educated at Winchester College. He went on to receive his B.A. on 30 May 1524, his M.A. on 19 June 1534 and became Master of Eton and Westminster Schools.

In 1521 King Henry VIII had Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham executed for plotting to kill the King. Apparently, the nobility was greatly disturbed at the time by the Kings predilection to replace the influence of the nobility with those who were educated and capable. Such a person was Wolsey.

Katherine of Aragon was continuing to have problems bearing a son. Meanwhile, King Henry VIII had a son, Henry Fitzroy by a mistress Bessie Blount.

In August of 1523 Charles Brandon (Suffolk) led a force of approximately 15,000 into France. The army marched to within 50 miles of Paris but bad weather caused them to return to England.

Henry VIII wanted to return the next year to complete a conquest but the people of England did not co-operate with him in the provission of funds to support the campaign.

Sir William Uvedale, husband to Ann Sydney, died on 2 January 1524. An inquisition was taken at Croydon on 13 November in 1525. Granville Levison Gower notes that "Manning confuses between him and his father, and ascribes to him all the appointments which, as I have shown, were undoubtedly held by his father." 

                                                                                       Photo Credit: Gordon Walter Udell

Titsey Estate, Surrey

The Inquisition states that Sir William Uvedale, Knight, was seized on the day that he died of the following:

• As of the maanor of Titsey with its appurtenances, in the county of Surrey, that the manor was held of Nicholas Carew, Kt., as of his manor of Blecchyngle, by fealty and rent of one sparrow hawk, or 2s 6d in lieu of one sparrow hawk, and was of the annual value of 16 pounds; 
• Also fifty acres of land, with their appurtenances, in Lymmesfeld, in the county of Surrey, held of the Abbot of Battle in right of the abbey, by fealty and a yearly rent of 5s, and that the aforesaid acres were worth 20s.  
• Also 200 acres in Oxtede, held of Sir Edward Burgh, Knight, by fealty and rent of 17s, and that they were worth 60s per annum. 
•  Also the manor of Chelsham, of ... Chycheborne, as of his manor of Deneplace, by fealty and rent of 2s 8d per annum, and that they were worth the yearly value of 26s8d. 
•  That he also held fifty acres of land in Chelsham of the Abbot of Bermondsey, by fealty and rent of 8s yearly. 
•  And that he was also seized of the manor of Dowdales, with its appurtenances, in Camberwell and Peckham, in the county of Surrey, held of John Scotte, Esq., and William Muschamp, as of their manor of Camberwell, by fealty and rent of 8s a year; that the manor was worth 8 pounds, and 
•  That William Uvedale was son and next heir of the aforesaid Sir William Uvedale, Kt., and of the age of forty years and upwards at the time of his father's death.” 

The Inquisition also goes on to state that William Sydney, late of Stoke Dabernon in the county of Surrey was seized of the following:

“The manors of Polynfold and Wolbergh, and of one messuage and forty acres of land in Ewherst, called Radmore; 

A croft or close of land, containing nine acres, called Knolle Feld, in Shire, in the county of Surrey; 

Also 100 acres of land, called Denelandes, in the parish of Shire and Abyngeworth, in the county of Surrey; 

That after his death these lands descended to Elizabeth Sydney and Anne Sydney, as his daughter and heirs, who were thereupon seized of the same; 

That Anne married Sir William Uvedale Kt., and Elizabeth John Hampden Esq., and that they afterwards made partition of the same; 

That Anne Uvedale died, William Uvedale surviving, and that he, on the 20 of May, 4 Henry VIII, by a deed dated at Southwark, made over all his right and title in the said lands and tenements to his son, William Uvedale Esq., who thereupon made entry; 

That the manor of Polyngfold was held of the Abbey of Towerhill, as of the manor of Gumshulle, by fealty and rent of 13s4d per annum, and that the aforesaid manor was worth twenty marcs; 

That the lands in Ewherst called Radmore were also held of the Abbey of Towerhill, as of the manor of Gumshalle, by fealty and rent of 7s per annum; 

That the manor of Wolbergh was held of Nicholas Carew by fealty, and was of the yearly value of five marcs; 

That the aforesaid croft called the Knoll Feld, in Shire, was held of the Abbey of Towerhill by fealty and rent of eleven pence, and was of the yearly value of 3s; 

That the aforesaid 100 acres of Denelande, in Shire and Abyngworth, were held by fealty and rent of sixteen pence, and were of the yearly value of 26s8d.” 

Sir William appears to have died intestate and his burial location is unknown. His son William presented himself to Wickham in 1525. He married Dorothy, one of the daughters and heirs of Thomas Troyes, Esq., of Kilmeston, Hampshire by whom he had issue five sons Arthur, John, William, Richard, and Frances and three daughters Agnes, Elizabeth and Anne. It is at this point that my direct branch splits off from the elder branch and follows the descent of the son William “of Hymley”. A branch of that family lived in Staffordshire at Ellastone as will be discussed later.

In February of 1525 the Emperor Charles defeated the French and soon backed away from supporting the English in their invasion of France. In Germany the Emperor Charles was also having problems with the people. There the people were emboldened by the preaching of Martin Luther about Christian freedom and reformation.

Meanwhile in England Mary Boleyn was married to William Carey, the esquire to the King's body, and at the same time was a mistress of Henry VIII. Her sister Anne Boleyn was one of Katherine of Aragon's maids of honour. Anne's father was a brother-in-law to the Duke of Norfolk. He was given the job of treasurer of the household, made a Knight of the Garter and given lands. In 1526 Henry VII and Anne Boleyn started an affair.

In June 1527 Rome fell to the German and Spanish forces of the Emperor.

An inquisition was held before Thomas Seymour, Mayor of the Staple of Westminster on 23 September 1527 concerning a 100-pound debt owed by Arthur Uvedale to John Preste, a citizen and grocer of London. There have been various stories why Sir William Uvedale highly restricted His eldest sons ability to make financial decision, rather placing that trust in a younger son John Uvedale and his uncle Thomas Uvedale. Some have said maybe he had mental issues and others that he was proflicate. From this evidence it would appear that the second is the case, since Arthur did go on to be an MP about 10 years later.

There was a Robert Uvedale alive in 1529 as appears from a deed of that year, by which Arthur Uvedale conveyed his reversionary interest in a manor to John Gresham.

William Uvedale, husband to Dorothy Troyes, died on 13 November 1528. His will was made on 3 of November 1528 and was proved on 6 March 1529. His brother Thomas Uvedale was overseer of his will. He desired his body to be buried in the parish church of Wykeham, afore the image of Saint Anthony in his chapel there. His will states as follows:

"In the name of God. Amen. I Sir William Uvedale Knyght the 3rd daie of Novembre 1528 make and ordeyn my last Wille in maner and forme following. 

First I bequeathe my soule to Almighty God our blessed Lady and all the holy company of hevyn, my body to be buried in the parishe Church of Wykeham afore the Image of Saint Antony in my Chapell there. 

Also I bequeathe to the high auter of the parishe Church of Wykeham iiiis. Iiiid. To the mother Church of Wynchester xiid. - To the Reparaciouns and mayntenance of the ornaments of the Parishe Church of Wykeham xxs, Item I geve to every of my wayting servants being with me at the tyme of my decease as moch money as his hole yeres wages amountith to for a rewarde to pray for my soule - Item I give to Joane Myles my servaunt three kyne & vis. Viiid. In money - to Joane Love my servaunt two kyne & vis viiid. In money. Item I will that cs be geven at my moneth day to pour people about Wykeham by the discretion of myn Executrix. And to every of my servaunts not before remembered xiid. To pray for my soule - Item I bequeathe to Nicolas my servaunt if he dwell with me at the tyme of my decease oon kowe. The residue of all my goods and catalls I give and bequeathe to Dorothe my wife to hir owne use and to helpe and preferment of my daughters which Dorothe I make my sool Executrix and make my brother Thomas Uvedale to be my overseer he to have for his labor five marcs. And whereas certeyn persons have recovered against me the said Sir William all my Manors londes and Tenements with their appurts: in the Counties of Southton and Surrey by a Writte of entre as by the Records thereof more at large may appere. I will that the same Recoverers stande and be seased of my Manors of Wykeham Wydley and Fountley with their appurts Co Southton to the use of Dorothe my wife for terme of hir lyfe. Also where my said Recoverers be seased of my Manors of Tytesey Chelsham Chevellers Tatesfeld and Dowdeles Pekeham & Camberwell Co Surrey I will that myne Executors and overseers immediatelty after my death doo lymytt and appoynt to every of my younger sonnes John William Richard and Fraunces londes and tenements of the clere value of twenty ponds of the said Manors, and my said Recoverers to be seased of the said londes so apppoynted to my said younger sonnes for terme of their lyves or to the survivors of them and after their deceas to the use of the right heirs of me the said Sir William. 

Also I wille that my saide Recoverers and all other my feoffees of and in my Manours of Poynyngfold Baynerds Wolberyth with their appurts and of and in my londes and tenements with their appurts in Cranley Schere Schawford Ewherst Ryggewike and Alfolds in the said County of Surrey shall stande and be thereof seased to the use and intent that they after my deceas shall by their dede graunt unto my eldest sonne owt of the same annuite or annuel Rent of twenty poundes for terms of his life paiable yerely at two usuall fest of the yere. And if my eldest sonne doo anything by the reason whereof this my last Will may not be performed according to the true intent and meaning of the same, then the said annuite to be void and of noon effect and the same to be to thuse of my said four yonger sonnes during the life of my eldest sonne. 

Also I will that Thomas Uvedale my brother and John Uvedale my son do receyve yerely the residue of the profits of the said Manours londes and tenements in Surrey aforesaid and also all the issues and profits of my Manours of Wodegaston and Scures Co. Southton yerely during the life of my eldest sonne and pay with the same al maner of chargers for the probat of my testament and also repaire susteyn and maynteyne all my Manor places in the County of Surrey during the life of my eldest sonne and also bare therewith all other charges necessary for the good ordre and rule of my said Manors londes and tenements and also for performance of this my last Will, and that the said Thomas have yerely during his life for his payne and labour foure marcs. And I will that my said Recoverers after my deceas graunte by their dede to Rauf Cople Skynner annuyte of forties shillings out of my Manors of Wodegaston & Scures for the terms of his lyfe so that may receyve the rents of the said Manor londes and tenements of Tytesey Chelsham Chevellers Dowdales Pekham and Camberwell in Surrey and oversee the woodes of the same Manours londes and tenements that there be noo wast nor distruction doon in or upon any of them, and the overplus of the said issues and profits to be equally divided among my said yonger sonnes yerely during the lyfe of my eldest sonne. And if my said eldest sonne will not agree to take the said annuitie of twenty pounds then I will that my Recoverers stand and be seased therefor to the use of John William Richard and Fraunces my yonger sonnes the profits thereof to be equally divided among them. Also I will that if Dorothe my wife dye lyving my eldest sonne that then my Recoverers stand and be seased of my Manor of Wykeham and all other my Manors londes and tenements afore lymyted for terme of hir lyfe, to the use of my eldest sonne for the terme of his life. And after his Dethe if he happen to have any issue male on lyve and within age then I will that Thomas my brother & John my sonne take and receyne the issues and profits of all my said Manours & C during the nonage of the heire male of my eldest sonne and to bestowe them with the reasonable fynding of the said heire male during his nonage in like maner as I have afore declared of the profits of my Manours &C Surrey, and for lack of such heire male then to thuse of the heires male of my body lawfully begotten. 

Also I will that the said Recoverers and all my feoffees of and in all my suche londes as I have purchased stand and be seased thereof after the deceas of me and my said wife to the use of John my sonne and the heires of his body and for lack of such heires then to the use of William my sonne and his heires and for lack of such heires to the use of Richard my sonne and his heires and for lack of such heires to the use of Fraunces my son and his heires. Also that if it happen that Thomas my brother and John my sonne dye lyving my eldest sonne the I will that William and Richard my sonnes have like auctoritie and power in every thinge as I have afore geven to the said Thomas and John. Also I will that my Recoverers all and all other feoffees of my Manor of Schelling co. Southton and of all my londes and tenements with their appurts: in Schelling stand and be thereof seased to the use and intent following i.e. that the said Thomas and John yerely during their lyves or the overlyver of them shall receyve and take the issues and profits thereof and yerely with the same to cause to be kept in the parishe Churche of Wykeham a solemne obite for my soule my wifs soule and all other our frendes soules and all other Xtien soules geving yerely to the parson of the same church for the tyme being for his labor at dirige and masse xiid. And vis. viiid. At the same obite to be gevyn in almes to pour people of the said parishe of Wykeham and two shillings to be gevyn to the Churchwardeyns of the said parishe Church for the tyme being to the present at my said obite and to see it doon according to this last Will. And the residue of the profits yerely comyng out of my Manor and londes of Schelling to be bestowed among prests and Clerks that shall keep yerely my said obite and to pour people in almes and other charges necessary for the same. And if it happen my said Recoverers and feoffees to dye all to the number of two of them then I will that the same two do cause to be made of the said Manor and londes a new estate and feoffment to such persons as the parson of the Church of Wykeham and the Church Wardeyns for the tyme being shall think most convenient and so on from tyme to tyme to other persons soo that the said obite may perpetually be kept in the said Church of Wykeham and the Manor of Schelling with its appurts shall be for evermore in feoffment to the same use and intent. 

All I will that my Executrix or such other persons as shall have the xeceucion of this my will have in hir or their custodye all Evidences Muniments Charters Court Rolls & Rentalls concerning all my Manors londes &c and my will of the said londes in hir or their sole custody until such tyme as this my Wille be fulfilled - In witnesee of the truth of this my Will I have called to the Reding and hering thereof my Cosyn. Edmond Maryn, &c, &c. 

Also that where Sir William Uvedale Knight the day and yere comprised in said testament hath gevyn to Dorothe his wife and all his goods landes and tenements in Wikeham Wydeley & Fountley to the helping and preferment of Agnes Elizabeth and Anne his daughters the said Sir William Uvedale willith that the said Dorothe his wife shall paye to his said daughters and every oon of them two hundred and fifty marcs at the Day of their mariage out of the profits and revenues of the londes and tenements of Wikeham Wydeley and Fountley.” 

This Will together with the Codicil was provided in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul London on 6 March 1529 by “Dorothe the Relict and Executrix”.

An Inquisition was taken upon his death at Reigate, on 3 November 1529. There it was found that he was seized shortly before his death of:

”The manors of Tytsey, Chelsham, Chevelers, Tattesfyld, and Dowdales, with their appurtenances, and of 106 messuages, 300 acres of arable land, 40 acres of meadow, 200 acres of pasture, 100 acres of wood, and 100 shillings of rent in Tytsey, Chelsham, Tattesfyld, Pekham, and Camberwell. 

Further a moiety of the manors of Polyngfold, Baynards, and Wolbergh, and of 5 messuages, 500 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 500 acres of pasture, 300 acres of wood, and 10 pounds rent, with their appurtenances in Cranley, Ryggewyck, Ewherst, Shalford and Gunslowe, in his demesne as of fee; 

That he had conveyed the same to Arthur Plantagenet Viscount Lysley and others, as trustees, to hold the same for the use of himself for life, and to perform his last will and testament; 

That the manors of Tytsey, Dowdales and Chevelers, with their appurtenances in Tytsey, Pekham and Camberwell, were held of Thomas Viscount Rocheford, as of his castle and honor of Tunbridge, by the service of two knight's fees and rent of one hawk, commonly called a "sperhawke", or two shillings in lieu therefor; 

that they were of the yearly value of forty-nine pounds; 

that the manor of Chelsham was held of the aforesaid Viscount Rocheford, and was of the yearly value of thirty-seven pounds; 

that the manor of Tattesfyld was held of William, Archbishop of Canterbury, by fealty only, and was of the value of thirteen pounds ten shillings; 

That the moiety of the manors of Polyngfold, Baynard and Wolbergh, with the aforesaid lands, were held of the Abbey of Netley, and were of the yearly value of twenty-one pounds;

That William Uvedale Kt., died on 13 November last, and that Arthur Uvedale was his son and next heir, and was of the age of 24 years and upwards. His wife Dorothy survived him and had the manors of Wickham, Wydley, Fountley, Wodegaston and Scures settled on her for life.” 

Dorothy Uvedale then married Lord Edmund Howard, third son of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, marshal of the horse in the battle of Flodden Field, and father to Catherine Howard, the consort of King Henry VIII. Dorothy did not long survive after this marriage and she made her will on the 9 of May 1530. Dorothy Troyes died on the 11 May 1530 and she desired to be buried nigh unto her late husband, Sir William Uvedale, Kt., in the church of Wickham. An inquisitionwas taken upon her death at Peterfield, in the county of Southampton on 7 November 1530. In which it was found that Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount Lysley, and others, were seized in their demesne as of fee, and in the manors of Wykham, Founteley, Wyddeley, Wodgaston and Scurys, to the use of Dorothy for life; that she died on the 11 May 1530; that the said manors were held of Sir William Paulet, Kt., by the service of four knight's fees, and were worth 100 pounds per annum; that Arthur Uvedale was next heir, and of the age of twenty-eight years and upwards at her death. Her husband's brother Thomas Uvedale appears as overseer of her will.

So, from his father’s inquisition it would say Arthur was born in 1504, but consistent with other records his mother’s inquisition supports Arthur’s birth in 1502.

Arthur's authority as heir was limited in that all was vested in trustees, who were merely to allow him a small annual income. As Leveson Gower states "even the reparation of the several manor places and the charges necessary for the good order and rule of the manors, lands and tenements," were intrusted, during his life, to his uncle Thomas and his brother John; and that the manors of Tytesey, Chelsham, Chevellers, Tatesfield, Dowdales, Peckham and Camberwell were charged with an annuity of 20 pounds to each of his four younger brothers, so that his property was very considerably reduced." As previously mentioned, Granville Leveson Gower speculated that he may have been of very week intellect, or of extravagant habits.

John Uvedale one of the four younger sons of Sir William Uvedale entered upon his lands at Camerwell on 14 February 1529.

On 4 December, 20 Henry VIII, as Arthur Uvedalle, of Wykham, in the county of Suthton, Esq., kinsman and heire of Robert Uvedale, gentilman, "he bargained and sold to John Gresham, citizen and mercer of London, the reversion of the manor of Waldyngham, with its appurts, in the parish of Waldyngham, in the county of Surrey, and all the lands in the said county, which Thomas Leigh and Elizabeth his wife, late the wife of Robert Uvedale, held for terme of her life, with remainder to Arthur Uvedale and his heirs. And also the reversion of all lands and tenements in the towne and field of Chelsham in the county of Surrey, as well freehold as copyhold, for the sum of 100 pounds. By another deed, dated 31 December 1529, he releases title in the manor of Waldyngham Courte, four messuages, 400 acres of land, 10 acres of meadow, 400 acres of pasture, 60 acres of copse, and 40 acres of furze and heath, with its appurtenances, in Waldyngham and Chelsham, to the use of John Gresham, his heirs and assigns, forever.” His seal is attached to the deed.

On 10 March 1530 the estates of Sir Henry Uvedale, Kt. of Corfe Castle came to Arthur Uvedale of London, son and heir of Sir William Uvedale who had died in 1528.

The same year Arthur grants the manor of Bromwich and 15 messuages and other lands in Bromwych, Chylling and Meon to Sir William Uvedale (the son of Henry from Corfe) and Humphrey Bowland for 40 pounds sterling. In a charter112 dated the same day Arthur feoffs William Uvedale of More Chrichel, Humphrey Bowland, William More, John Lambart junior and Edward Bowland of the manor of Bromwych and its appurtenances to hold to them for the use of William Uvedale and Humphrey Bowland. Eight days later on 18 March 1530 William Uvedale of More Chrichel and Humphrey Bowland, after reciting the previous deed, grant113 the manor of Bromwych and appurtenances to Sir Henry Wyat, Knight. Four days later on 22 March Henry Wyat, Knight, William Uvedale of More Chrichel and Humphrey Bowland grant114 the manor of Bromwych to George Cobham, lord of Cobham, Richard Lyster, chief Baron of the Exchequer and others for the use of George lord Cobham. In addition, Walter Andrew and Elizabeth, as sister and heir of Henry Uvedale, son and heir of Thomas Uvedale, son and heir of William Uvedale, son of John Uvedale, grant115 to Sir Henry Wyat, Knight, all their right in the manor of Bromwich and appurtenances. An additional charter116 dated 10 May 1530 is a bond and undertaking of Walter Andrew and Elizabeth his wife to carry out the previous indenture. By charter117 dated 31 October 1530 George Brooke lord Cobham and others feoff John Wyld. Clerk, of the manor of Bromwich. Finally, there is a "precipe" and concord leading to the Chirograph or Foot of Fine118 itself, by which Thomas Uvedale son and heir of John Uvedale of Southwick son and heir of Reginald son of John Uvedale of Wickham, quitclaims119 any right he had in the manor of Bromwich to George Brook lord Cobham.

In 1530 King Henry VIII began to consider England as a separate realm from the authority of the Pope and that he was the rightful leader of the Church of England. Thomas Cromwell became an important advisor to the King at this time.

An indenture120 dated 12 November 1530 (22 Henry VIII) made between Thomas Uvedale and Sir Henry Wyat is again for the manor of Bromwich. John Wyat feoffs121 the manor of Bromwich to William Uvedale of More Chrichel and Humphrey Bowland and John Morse and on 24 March 1531, John Morse gives seisin. On 1 April 1531 John Morse gives a quitclaim122 to William Uvedale and Humphrey Bowland of all right in the manor. Now having the manor of Bromwich “entirely in their possession in Easter term 1531 William Uvedale and Humphrey Bowland suffer a Recovery123 of the manor, by double voucher, to Henry Wyat, Knight, Richard Lister and others. This is the Exemplification of the Recovery, which has a fine seal of the Royal arms. Humphrey Bowland gave an acquitance124 to Sir Henry Wyat for 6 pounds 13.4. for recompense and satisfaction awarded to the letter dated 14 May 1531. Mary (Frauncis) Uvedale was still living in the manor through all these transactions, and by document125 her right is affirmed by William Uvedale to Sir Henry Wyat and others.”

An inquisition[i] was held into the debts of Arthur Uvedale at Winchester on 18 January 1531 before Thomas Lisle, Kt., Sheriff of Hampshire and he replies that he has seized into the King’s hands the manors, lands, and tenements listed in the inquisition Manor of Wickham, Manor of Widley, Manor of Fontly, and that Arthur was not found in the bailiwick.

In September of 1533 Elizabeth was born of the affair between King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

In 1533 Nicholas Udall prepared a verse pageant for the coronation of Anne Boleyn, in which Paris bestowed the golden apple on the Queen instead of on Venus. One year later Nicholas Udall graduated from Corpus Christi College, Oxford with an MA. At about the same time he issued "Flowers for Latin Speaking", selections from Terence, with an English translation. Nicholas Udall was the vicar for Braintree, Essex from 1533 to 1537, as well as Master for Eton from 1534 to 1541. He was charged with misconduct and dismissed in 1541.

A Letter[ii] dated 9 July 1534 from Sir Anthony Windsor to Lord Lisle states as follows:

“Right honourable and my singular good lord, I recommend me unto you, and to my good lady also, trusting that you with all yours be in good health. My lord, according to your bill I have caused your keeper to serve your lordship's ij warrants, the which were killed both in my ground at the Bere at one standing, by mine own appointment. But my lord, your keeper, with other of Mr. Uvedale's servants, were before that time in the ground, I being there, and had made their standings and shaken off their hounds, wherewith, my lord, I was not best content, telling Marks that it had become these them best there never to have made me a counsel, seeing that they knew me there. Whereupon, after I departed from them, they went unto Bere again and hunted in despite of me and had of me afterwards werry opprobrious words, the which your lordship shall have further information of hereafter. Wherefore I shall desire your good lordship to command your keeper to walk well his own walk, for I think he shall have enow with that. 

My lord, whilst your lordship and my lady were in the country I was glad to see game therein for your pleasures; but my lord I would be loath to cherish game for mine enemies or for lewd fellows. The one of your bucks is through baken and the other is in dry salt. My lord, James hath done as much as in him lieth to the performance of your warrants for your birds. If ant lack there is no fault in him, for he hath served as many as sent in any due time; but my Lord Chancellor sendeth now, the which your lordship well is far after the time. And my lord, I have sent you two barrels of salt. 

I pray your lordship let not your company of your ship come too hastily to your presence, for I assure your lordship they never died so sore in Portchester since I had understanding. And thus Jhesu save you, my lady, with all yours. 

At Wymering by yours to hys power the ix day of July 1534. 

The House of Commons were reforming the relationship with the Catholic Church. Some of the practices of the Catholic Church were coming under the forces of change. The reformation was also in full swing in Europe and practices such as purgatory, worship of Saints were being questioned. The country was split on religious grounds with some supporting reformation and some the Pope and Catholic Church.

Arthur Uvedale sold Titsey to Sir John Gresham before 1535, since John Gresham held his court at Titsey in that year.

In January 1535 John Uvedale (Woodall) received a grant of the suppressed hospital of Newton Garth in Yorkshire, as well as taking over as secretary of the Duke of Richmond's council of the north.

King Henry VIII quickly became frustrated that Anne did not bear him a son, unfortunately several miscarriages occurred. Anne was soon accused of adultery; five persons who had allegedly had affairs with her were executed. Anne Boleyn was beheaded on 19 May 1536. Henry immediately married Jane Seymour.

In the fall of 1536, a rebellion broke out in northern England. This was the time that Henry VIII was enacting the dissolution of the Catholic monasteries. In early 1537 King Henry VIII sent Norfolk north with instructions to be ruthless in suppressing the rebellion. Norfolk did just that, many persons were hanged and quartered, with many left hangings in villages, particularly in Cumbria. John Uvedale (Woodall) as secretary to the council of the north assisted in the examinations of the northern rebels126 and seditious persons in 1537 and 1538.

On 12 October 1537 Jane Seymour gave birth to a boy who was named Edward, she died shortly after childbirth.

On 7 March 1535 Sir Anthony Windsor wrote the following letter[iii] to the Governor of Calais, Arthur Plantagenet, Lord Lisle:

“Right honourable and my singular good lord, after my lowly recommendation, my duty remembered, pleaseth your lordship to be advertised ... I have spoken with the Warden and his tenants of Meonstoke as touching Grenfylde, where they will not suffer Twynnam neither to haye nor ferret; but they have hedged and diked it after such fashion that Twynnam can take little profit of that farm; and also they will not suffer him to use it as he hath done when your lordship was there abiding: wherein I reasoned with the Warden and them, and alleged great unkindness in them toward your lordship that they would make such maistrie in your absence, with other commands, and so at length I brought them to this pass that they would be content to give Twynnam a reasonable day to destroy the game there, or else, if it shall please your lordship to compound reasonably with them, that you shall have the pleasure of it. One of these you ways your lordship of good conscience must needs take with them, insomuch the land is their own and no parcel of your manor. An' your lordship intend neither of these ways, then your lordship had need to abate Twynnam part of his rent, or lease he shall have a very hard bargain, having no liberty in that ground as he hath had. My lord, I reckon if it shall please you to send a loving letter to the Warden of your lordship's pleasure in this behalf, I think by reason of that same, with mediation of your friends, that some reasonable way shall be taken therin. 

Also, my lord, Mr. Uvedale and I shall appoint a time shortly to review the forest, according to your commandment. Also, where it pleased your lordship to remember me with a hogshead of wine I heartily thank your lordship of your gentle remembrance. At the writing of this letter I had no word of it, as knoweth our Lord, whom I beseech of his mercy to send your lordship long and prosperous life. 

Written upon mid-Lent Sunday, at East Meon, Yours with my seruyce,
Antony Wyndesore” 

Later that same year a letter[iv] was written to Lady Lisle from Mary Uvedale, the last wife of Sir Henry Uvedale, Kt., as follows:

“Right honourable Lady, my lady Lisle, I heartily recommend me unto your ladyship, glad for to hear of your good welfare. The cause of my writing at this time is this, so that I desire and pray your ladyship for me to remember me of my money which I have at this time great need; for now, this time of the year, I must but brown cloth against Easter. Therefore, Madame, as I do put my trust in you, so I pray your ladyship do unto me. Your ladyship knows that I am a woman alone, and have had a great loss, and it is money that I have laid out a' my own purse for my lord and your ladyship. No more at this time, but good Jhesu preserve you and all yours. 

Per me marij oudaull. 22 November 1535”  

Arthur Uvedale married Agnes, or Anne, daughter of Edmond Hazelwood, Esq., of the county of Northampton. They had two children William and Thomas. Arthur's father-in-law, Edmund Hazelwood, presented to Wickham rectory in 1537; "the right of presentation to this advowson being conceded to him for that turn only, by that discreet man Arthur Uvedale, Esq."

There is an interesting reference in a letter[v] from Gilbert Burton to Lady Lisle on 26 January 1534, which reads in part as follows:

“Please it your said good and honourable ladyship to understand that William Rose hath informed me that Sir Thomas Gilbert, the which I took into my service at your good ladyship's request as desire, is come unto Calais; and hath informed your said good ladyship that I should put him from my service suddenly, and also withhold his wages, and divers otherwise mistreat him, contrary to right and good conscience. The truth thereof my especial good lady, is that I did not put the said Sir Thomas from my service but by reason of divers and many offences whereof some I will write for the honour of priesthood, but defer the same unto such time as I may conveniently speak with your good ladyship myself. 

....The said Sir Thomas, shortly after his departing form hence, came to London to Mr. Wyther's house, a Residentiary of Paul's, to whom about one quarter of a year before I did put right honest poor priest, a friend of mine, to be Steward of his house, the which priest for my sake made great cheer to the said Sir Thomas, both in meat, drinking and lodging. That notwithstanding, the said Sir Thomas played an uncharitable and deceitful and false pagioner with him. 

That is to say, that the said Sir Thomas had by my means and labour an advowson of Wikeham, of the gift of Mr. Arthur Uvedale, for the next avoidance of the same parsonage. And the same advowson he showed unto Mr. Wyther's said Steward, saying that he would freely give unto him the same for the good love that he owed unto him for my sake, saying and swearing great oaths not only to the said poor priest, but also to Mr. Wyther's, his master, that the parson of the said Wikeham the Saturday next before was dead and buried. Wherefore he willed the said priest to make all haste that he could possible, to come to the Chancellor of Winchester for his institution, and caused him also to bring all his stuff with him at great costs and charges, and moreover, by reason thereof caused him to leave his good service. And when the said Mr. Withers enquired of the said Sir Thomas why and for what cause he would not take the said benefice himself, then he answered and said that my Lord Lyssley and my Lady, to whom he was nigh kinsman, had sent for him to Calais, and had given him St. George Chantry, which was xli by the year, and also two liveries, beside meat and drink, the which pleased him much better than the benefice. 

And ere he departed he borrowed under subtle and crafty fashion of the poor priest xiiijs viijd, saying to him that I owe the said Sir Thomas for his wages xvs ijd, and he should have a letter to me to pay the same to the said poor priest. As to the said Sir Thomas wrote to me indeed, which letter is to be showed. Albe it I did owe no more to the said Sir Thomas but only xvd, and that I delivered to the said poor priest... 

At this time I will not trouble your good ladyship with any longer writing of the behavoir of the said Sir Thomas, but defer all other matters unto such times as I may conveniently speak with your said good ladyship myself. As the Father of heaven knoweth, who long preserve my singular goof lord and your honourable ladyship in much honour. At my benefice of Bishop's Waltham, the xxvjth day of January 1534. 

Your good honorable Ladiships true bedeman, Gilbert Burton preste “

On 6 June 1538129 Mary surrendered her reversion to the manor of Bromwich to Sir Thomas Wyat and Thomas Wryothesly of Tichfield purchases the reversion from Sir Thomas Wyat for 120 pounds. Finally, by charters dated the 28 and 29 of June 1538 Mary Uvedale, now described as of the City of London, widow, for a certain sum of money quitclaims, and appoints her Attorneys to deliver seisin of all her estate in the manor of Bromwich to Thomas Wryothesley of Tichfield Hampshire.

In 1538 King Henry VIII had Henry Courtenay, the Marquis of Exeter, and his wife and son imprisoned, along with Henry Pole, Lord Montaque, his son and mother. The King was concerned with rebellion and these were Yorkist families. Both Lords Exeter and Montaque were executed.

Arthur Uvedale was entitled in remainder, after his younger brothers, to the manor of Camberwell, and lands there. By deed dated the 6 July 30 Henry VIII he conveyed these holdings to Sir John Gresham, Kt. This deed was enrolled six months afterwards, and was described as having been between Arthur Uvedale, Kt, since deceased, and Sir John Gresham Kt. His wife Anne Hazelwood, survived him and remarried Henry Nedham, by whom she had a daughter Anne. Anne went on to marry Lawrence Blundeston.

King Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves from Germany without first meeting her. He claimed to have never consummated the marriage and soon separated from her. King Henry then married Catherine Howard of the Duke of Norfolk's family.

In 1539 and 1540 Henry had many persons executed, seemingly out of meanness. Also, Cromwell was an important factor in the advice that led to the death of so many at Court. The Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard, was an enemy of Cromwell. Finally, in 1540 Cromwell was imprisoned as an enemy of the true faith and a traitor.

It was discovered that Catherine Howard had been unfaithful and she was beheaded on 13 February 1540.

The will of Sir William Uvedale, Kt., son of Sir Henry Uvedale, Kt. of the Isle of Perbeck, and sewer to King Henry VIII was proved in 1542. He left several houses to local men and saw that care was taken of his wife Jane Dawson of Norfolk. At the time of his death, he owned the New Antelope Inn at Poole.

In November 1542 the Duke of Norfolk and his forces defeated a Scottish army of 20,000 at Solway Bay. Shortly afterwards King James of Scotland died and Mary Stuart took over as ruler of Scotland.

The English and the Scots negotiated a treaty shortly thereafter, allowing King Henry VIII to send troops to France allied with the German Emperor. France had chosen to ally with the Turks against the Holy Roman Emperor. Almost immediately the Scots broke the peace with the English and signed a treaty with their ancient allies the French. England invaded Scotland and ruthlessly suppressed the Scots in response, including almost burning Edinburgh to the ground.

As previously mentioned of the four younger sons of Sir William Uvedale and Dorothy Troyes, John the second eldest, was appointed, with his uncle Thomas, by his father's will, to receive the rents and overlook the manors and lands settled upon his brother Arthur. It appears by a Record Roll, 37 Henry VIII, that he, with his brothers, entered upon his lands at Camerwell on 14 of February 1529, and that he died at Camerwell before the year 1545. It was also in 37 Henry VIII that William, the third son, had to show title to ninety acres of land, thirteen acres of meadow, and ten acres of pasture in Camberwell which he inherited with his brothers from his father's will. There is no further record of Francis Uvedale other than the Record Roll of 37 Henry VIII.

As far as the three daughters of Sir William Uvedale are concerned, Agnes, the eldest married Richard Cooke of the Isle of Wight; Elizabeth married Thomas Cheeke, of Moleston, Isle of Wight; and Anne appears to have died unmarried.

On 16 May 1546 William Uvedale, son of Sir Arthur Uvedale, Kt. and Anne Hazlewood, was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn to be trained as a barrister.

On 28 January 1547 King Henry VIII died.

Reign of King Edward VI 

Edward, son of King Henry VIII, was crowned as King Edward VI. Henry had arranged that the Privy Council would act in a special advisory role given Edward's young age of 10. However, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset soon managed to arrange to be declared Protector of the young King.

On 11 September 1549 Sir Nicholas Stelley wrote to Sir Thomas Smythe “I have received your letter about the loss of a gelding by Anthony Uvedale, but it has not come to my hands by apprehension of the party who conveyed it, or I shall have delivered it. I have sent into the country to inquire but cannot hear of it.”

On 15 May 1549, William Uvedale's name,141 occurs in a Commission for the Survey of Colleges and Chantries in Staffordshire. Upon the death of William Harding, Esq., and on 7 September in the same year, it was found142 that he held the manor of Wattevilles, in Chelsham, of William Uvedale, as of his manor of Chelsham, by fealty and a yearly rent of 22s, and divers lands, messuages, and hereditaments in Chelsham, of William and Richard Uvedale, and other mesne lords, by fealty and sundry rents.

There were those who resented the Duke of Somerset's arrangements to be Protector and in 1552 John Dudley, Earl of Warwick arranged for the execution of the Duke of Somerset.

Unfortunately, King Edward VI died at the young age of 15 on 8 July 1553.

Reign of Queen Mary 

Many were concerned that Mary, daughter of Katherine of Aragon and a Catholic, would follow Edward and thereby turn back the reformation of the Church in England. A plan was hatched to disinherit Mary and her younger sister Elizabeth and have their cousin Jane Grey appointed Queen. She was proclaimed Queen on 10 July 1553. However, the rebellion was overthrown within a few weeks and Mary Tudor became Queen.

On 2 July 1554 Mary and Phillip of Spain were married. Many Roman Catholics were suspicious of Elizabeth, a Protestant. During Mary's reign many persons were burned at the stake in England. This caused a lot of suspicion and ill feeling towards the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope in the years to follow.

Nicholas Udall was appointed Master of Westminster School in 1556 and he subsequently died in 1556. He had written "Ralph Roister Doister" later in his life, the first English comedy to be placed in an act and scene structure.

Richard Uvedale, the fourth son of Sir William Uvedale, had, with his brother William, to show his title to lands in Camerwell in the year 37 of the reign of Henry VIII. Apparently, he lived at Chylling, in Hampshire, and Chelsham Court in Surrey. He was also captain of the Queen's Castle of Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. Richard was implicated in the so-called Dudley affair whereby several exiles had reportedly been driven out of the land on account of Protestantism. The plot was to land them in the Isle of Wight, there they were to be received by Richard. He was arrested on suspicion on the 24 of March 1556, and confessed his guilt. He was tried under a special commission at Southwark on 21 April 1557. He was charged with holding traitorous communication with Dudley, at his mansion-house at Chylling, Hampshire, and having promised that when the exiles landed in the Isle of Wight they would meet no resistance from him nor those under him. It was further charged against him, that on 12 of March 1556, Throgmorton had sent letters to him to come and confer with him at another house of his (Uvedale's), called Chelsham Court, in Surrey.

Machyn, a chronicler of the day reported as follows:

"The XXI day of Aprell, cam from the Towre ober London Bryge unto the Sessyonsse howse in Southwark, and there rayned and cast to be drane and quartered for a conspiracy against the Quene and odur matturs Maister John Frogmorton and Maister Wodall, captayn of the yle of Whyth, the accusars Master Rossey, Master Bedylle and Master Dethyke." And further the same writer "The XXVIII day of Aprell was drane from the Towre ii gentyllmen, on ys name was Waddell, captayn of the yle of Wyth, and the odur Master John Frogmorton, and so hangyd after cut downe and quartered, and the morowe after their hedes sett on London bryge the iii of quen Mary”

The crime of these men is given by Grafton as follows:

"A conspiracie was made by certayne meane persons in England, whose purpose was to have robbed the Queen's Exchequer to thys intent, as the talk was, that they might be able to maintayne war against the queene. This matter was uttered by one of the conspiracies, wherefore Udall, Frogmorton, Peckham, and Staunton were apprehended and put to death for the same, and certain of the said conspiracies fled into Fraunce and other places." 

This is one of the earliest records of the spelling of the family name as Udall, probable preceded by Nicholas Udall's use of that spelling.

Yarmouth Castle, Isle of Wight

In November 1556 Spain and France went to war against each other.

Thomas Uvedale of Hamelton was present[vi] at the enthronization of Dr. Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, in Winchester cathedral, on 21 September 1556.

In 1557 John Lord Bray died. In the description of the funeral it describes Thomas Udall participating as follows, “then Thomas Udall with the banner of armes; after hym Rudge Dragin, with the helme and creste; then Rychemonde with the cote of armes, and after hym Garter – then the corpse as afore borne by 6 of his men,” etc. This Thomas Udall would be the son of Sir William Uvedale, K.B. and Ann Sydney, or possibly Thomas, son of Sr. Arthur Uvedale, Kt., and Anne Hazlewood.

In Hilary term of 1558/59 John Fitz, esquire, Anthony Uvedale and Elizabeth his wife, purchased[vii] a tenement in the parish of St. Clement Danes, Westminster. This likely established a branch of the family in London. There is evidence of a family living in that parish in the 17^th century. Three years later in 1561 he and his wife Elizabeth and Francis Fitz, gentleman and John Fitz, gentleman purchase another messuage in St Clement Danes parish. In 1563 Anthony, along with his wife Elizabeth and Henry Laurence, gentleman, purchase premises in St Clement Danes parish. Finally in 1564 Anthony Uvedale and Elizabeth his wife, with Thomas Doughtie and Henry Laurence, gentleman, purchase two messuages in St Clement Danes parish. Is this the Anthony Uvedale son of Thomas Uvedale and Elizabeth Soper of Hampshire? Anthony was a recusant and in about 1580 had to give over the manor of Petilworth in Hampshire to his cousin William Uvedale of Wickham.

In January 1558 England lost Calais to the French, thus losing the last of their territories in France.

On 17 November 1558 Mary Tudor died and Elizabeth became Queen of England.

Reign of Queen Elizabeth I 

Elizabeth engaged in a war with the France to regain lost territory. The war did not go well.

Thomas Uvedale of Hamelton died in 1559 and his will was proved in P.C.C. in that year. Mention is made of his wife Elizabeth, and a son Anthony.

Upon the deaths of his three brothers, William Uvedale, son of Sir William Uvedale, became entitled to their respective shares of 20 pounds per annum charged by his father's will upon the manors of Titsey and Chelsham, and other lands in Surrey. By a deed dated May 1562 he conveyed the fee simple in these estates to his nephew Sir William Uvedale, Kt. on condition of receiving a yearly rent of 80 pounds.

There was concern in England as to the succession of the crown. Elizabeth was under pressure to marry, including to Lord Dudley. Elizabeth, on the other hand, did not seem particularly anxious to marry.

Sir William Uvedale, kt. of Wickham, husband to Ellen Gresham, died on the 2 June 1569. His will reads as follows:

"In the thirde day of February 1567 I William Uvedale of Wickham Co Southton Esquier do ordayne and make this my present Testament in manner and forme folowing. First and principallie I give and commende my soule unto Almightie God - I will my body to be buried and enterid in compely and decent manner as to my degree it shall apperteyne. And that myne Executors shall procure and cause to be made a seamelie and decent tombe and monument the same to be builte and set on the south side in my chappell nigh the Chauncell of the parish Church of Wickham wherein the bodies and bones of my deare and well beloved wife Ellyn Uvedale my sonne John Uvedale and my daughter Katheryn Uvedale deceased shall be put and placed with my bodie in the same tombe and monument that my Executors shall cause to be made for the enteraunce and buriale of my body my said wife and children - And my Will is that they bestowe for the chardges and decent making thereof thirties pounds and the same to be well made and fullie fynsshed within the yeres next after my decease And as touching the disposicion of all and singular my goods chattels plate juells redy money and debts I do will my executors to performe my whole mynde and will for the bestowing and making of the said decent tombe and monument for the bodies of me my said wife and my said children. 

Also I do bequeath unto the trinitie Church of Winchester vis. & viiid. 

Also I do bequeath to the reparacions of the said parishe Church of Wickham xls.

Item I do gyve and bequeath unto the pore mens box in the said church of Wickham xls. Item I will there be gyven in almes at the tyme of my burieng to pore people v ti and other v ti to be gyven to the pore people in the parishes of Wickham Wydlie and Drokensforde by the discrecion of my Executors. 

Item I do give and bequeath unto William Rogers my servaunt v ti of curruant money of England And also all that my tenement or ferme called Lyttenfeilde lying in the parishe of Tichfilde Co. Southton and all manner of arrable lands &c with their appurtenances to the same belonging all woods and underwoods onelie excepted to have and to hold to the said William Rogers paieing therefor yerelie unto myne heires and assigned three pounds of lawfull money and so that he do kepe and leave the same well and sufficientlie repaired, graunting also unto the said William Rogers sufficient housebote firebote hedgebote ploughbote and cartebote to be taken oonelie upon the premisses saving the coppiesses and the same to be present upon the premisses and not ells where. 

Item I do give ynto Richard Blay my servaunt iii ti vis. Viiid. And the revercion of the copiehold called Hunts in the parishe of Wickham to have and to hold by copie of courte roll for thre lyves. 

Item I give and bequeath unto Charles Eves vi ti. 

Item I gyve and bequeath unto Thomas Fenner vi ti vis. Viiid. And the revercion of the copiehold called Toppnaige in the said parish of Wickham to have and to holde the said copieholde (onelie excepted to my heires of the Mannor of Wickham the whole interest use and right of the lands and herbage of the common of Rotherfelde heathe) by copie of courte roll to the said Thomas Fenner for terme of his life and other two more which the said Fenner shall name and appointe. 

Item I gyve and bequeath unto every other of my waiting servaunts with me at the tyme of my departing oute of this worlde tenne shillings. 

Item I do gyve and bequeath unto Ellyn Oberd my servant and my late wife's goddaughter twentie six pounds xiiis. Iiiid. And also the revercion of a tenement a gardeyn and orchard a meadowe two closes called Alleyns fields and of lands called Churche Lands flinte lands and of the three crofts the nields gotes crofte pit crofte and pit grove all being percell of my Mannor of Tattesfelde in Co. Surrey and are situate in Tattesfelde parishe to have and to holde the revercion of all the premisses unto the said Ellyn and her Executors and assigns for and during her life yelding and paieing therefore yerely unto my heirs and assignes twenty shillings. 

Item I do gyve and bequeath unto Christian Barton v ti unto Joanne Mason sometyme my late wifes servaunt and myne xls unto Agnes Rapley my servaunt vi ti - unto Alice Vachin sometyme my servaunt xls - and to every other of my servaunts to the men women and children not before remembered being with me at the tyme of my departing out of this worlde vis viiid. A pece. 

Item I do gyve and bequeath unto my cosen Jacob Uvedale my Uncle William Uvedale sonne Fortie pounds to be paied to him at his age of xxi yers and my Executors to bring hym up in learning until that aige other ells to bynde him prentice by their discrecion. And if it shall fortune the said Jacob Uvedale to die before he attayne to the said age of xxi yeres then I bequeath his said legacie of xl. Ti shall remayne to my sonne William Uvedale. 

Item I do gyve and bequeath unto my brother Thomas Uvedale my golde ring that is my seale and all my apparell that is for my owne wearing - Unto my suster Anne Blundeston the wife of Laurence Blundeston and daughter of Mr. Henry Nedham and Anne late his wife my owne mother deceased twentie pounds - To my Cosen Thomas Cheeke sometyme my servaunt tenne pounds - To my nephewe Richard Uvedale sonne of my brother Thomas Uvedale my godsonne twenties pounds - To every godchild xxd. - And furthermore I will, in performyng of the Will of my late wyfe that my Executors do paie unto my late wifes nece and myne Mary Elliot forties pounds and all my said wife's christening geare and the old christening shets to be paied and delivered unto her within one month next after her mariage if she shall happen to be maried before she accomplish the age of xxi yeres, and if not then when she shall accomplish the age of xxi yeres - And if it fortune the said Mary Elliot to decease unmarried or before ther age of xxi yeres then I will according to my said wife's will and myne that the said xl. Ti and the chirstening geare and shetes shall remain to my sonne William Uvedale to be paid at his marriage or age of xxi yeres. 

And I will that my Executors shall within one month after my decease discharge all the gifts and legacies on my late deare wife Ellyn Uvedale that are as yet unpaid. That is to William Rogers vi. tI. Xiiis. Iiiid. - to Charles Eves xxs. to Thomas Fenner xxs. to William Norris xxvis viiid. - to Ellyn Obert then her servaunt iii ti. To Kerchin Barton xls. To Agnes Raplie xls. And a cowe, the cowe I have delyvered to her alredy, the same cowe to be founde upon my demaynes of my Mannors of Wickham, to her owne proper us eduring her life and she to have the little house in my olde parke wood in Wickham which mother Sewat now dwellith in, during her life - And also my Executors to paie yerely the years rent of the house of Knightley which now Jone Inward dwelleth in for her during her life - to Stephen Traishe as his full age of xxi yeres xxvis. Viiid. To Alice Vachen xls. Item I gyve to Mistres Anne Stockbridge tenne pounds - to her daughter Katheryn Stockbridge forties pounds to be paied to her within one quarter of a yere after she shall be maried - to Bartilmew Hood v ti. To helpe him to binde hym prentice to some good Mr. Of a good occupacion whereby he maie get his lyving. - And I will that my Executors shall well and sufficientlie fynde Margaret Showat widowe and Agnes Maryn house rome meate drincke and cloth reasonable and convenient for them during their lives for their service done in tymes paste to me and my wife Ellyn Uvedale; 

Item I do gyve to my sonne William Uvedale as the gift of his mother twenties pounds to be paied at his marriage or age of xxi yeres, and if he shall decease before then to such person or persons as shall be inheritable to the said Mannor of Wickham. And of this present Testament I ordeyn my well beloved brother Thomas Uvedale Executor and if he will not observe the condicions of this will my Will then I make my very goode Lorde the reverende father in God Robert Busshop of Winchester - my lovinge brother in law John Gresham my Cosens Henry Wallop Richard Norton of Eastistid and Richard Ingpenne Esquiers myne Executors and I do require them to do as much as shall in lie to obtayne the wardship custodie and mariage of my sonne William Uvedale if he shall be within age at the tyme of my decease and frelie to employ and bestowe the same upon him to the intent he maie at his full age take his free election and choice concerning his mariage and his preferment therin whereby he maie better lyve in the feare of God and be the bettre able to maynteyne hospitailitie as to his degree shall appperteyn. And my will is that his uncle John Gresham Esquire shall have the onelie custodie educaion and bringing up of my said sonne until he be of the age of xxi yeres. And I give to my Executors to every of them a golde ring of the value of three pound, and unto my frende William Badger a golde ringe of the same value in consideration of their paynes and good advise to be gyven to the aide of my said brother and sonne and in the execution of my said last Will and Testament. 

In witness whereof I the said William Uvedale to this my last Will written with myne owne hande have sette my seale and subscribed the same with myne owne hande in the presence of Mr. John Gresham Esquire &c &c."

This Will was proved in London on 1 July 1569 by Thomas Uvedale Executor.

His death is recorded as follows in the Wickham registry: "1569, Mayster Wyllyam Uvedall esquyre was buried the xvi day of June."

Thomas Uvedale, the brother of William and the executor of his will and guardian of his son is described by Granville Leveson Gower as probably the Thomas Uvedale of Colmore and of Elenes Court, in the parish of Droxford, Esq. Thomas was the sole executor and residuary legatee of Thomas Uvedale of Hambledon. His wife's name was Margaret Norton. She appears in the Wickham register as sponsor in 1573 and 1574. They had a son Richard, named in William Uvedale's will; a daughter Elizabeth, christened on 13 September 1570; a daughter Ellen and a daughter Frances.

Mary Stuart of Scotland was married to the King of France. He died and Mary went back to Scotland, where she remarried an English Royal, Lord Darnley. They had a son James. Mary's husband, Lord Darnley, was murdered, some said by the work of Mary. Mary fled to the refuge of her cousin Elizabeth Tudor in England. A commission was established by Elizabeth to hear evidence on the case. While damming evidence was produced in the form of letters, Mary withdrew from the hearing and it was not concluded. Mary was imprisoned in Staffordshire in the year 1569.

William Uvedale, son of Sir William Uvedale, Kt. was still living in 1569, and is mentioned in the inquisition upon the death of his nephew, Sir William Uvedale, Kt. He is referred to therein as William Uvedale, of Hymley, county of Staffordshire. His son Jacob, mentioned in William Uvedale's will as "my cosen Jacob Uvedale my Uncle William Uvedale's son," was admitted a scholar at Winchester on 20 September 1567. Jacob was 11 years old at the time. Also, William “of Hymley” had two other sons[viii] William (born ca 1550) and John (born ca 1559), my ancestor. In the 1583 visitation of Staffordshire there is a record[ix] of a marriage between Joseley Uvedale, daughter of William Uvedale, “a native of Hampshire” and Richard Whorewood of Lutley, Staffordshire. From that record Joseley Uvedale would have been born ca 1545, There is also a record[x] of Elizabeth Uvedall, spinster, of the City of London, “daughter of William Uvedall esq, of King’s Swinford, Staffordshire” married to Francis Herne, of the Inner Temple, gentleman. Elizabeth died at Shoreditch, London on 30 January 1583. I suspect there may have been more children born of this marriage of whom I am unaware. There may have been more Uvedale/Udall family members living in Staffordshire as a result of this marriage.

Spain was ruling in the Netherlands at this time. The relationship between Catholic Spain and England began to further deteriorate in the late 1560's.

The Duke of Norfolk decided to wed Mary Stuart. He managed to gain support from the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland. Queen Elizabeth discovered the plan and had Norfolk thrown in the Tower of London. She also issued a summons to the Earls to appear at Court. The Earls and the Sheriff of Yorkshire, Richard Norton decided to rebel and headed south with an army. Leonard Dacres started another rebellion and in January 1570 the Queen ordered his arrest. He held out in Naworth Castle in Carlisle. The Queen sent Lord Hunsdon to meet with Lord Scrope to defeat Dacres. Dacre was defeated. Lord Hunsdon's son, Henry Carey was involved in taking a message to Moray in Scotland that Elizabeth was prepared to return Mary to the throne of Scotland.

William Uvedale, son and heir of his father Arthur Uvedale, had married Ellyn, third daughter of Sir John Gresham, Kt. Sir John Gresham Kt., was Lord Mayor of London, by Mary daughter and co- heir of Thomas Ipswell. Her birth is recorded as follows: "Ellyn Gresham was born on Saint France day, the xxiiii day of May A dni 1533, Mr Wyllm Gresham's wyfe, and Mrs Worscope, and Mistris Frances Gresham were godmothers, and Mathew Dale was her godfather, and God make her a good woman. Amen.” They had three children; Catherine, who died in infancy, and was buried at Wickham on the 9 April 1557; John, christened the 25 May 1559, who died shortly afterwards; and William, afterwards, Sir William, his heir. William and Ellyn Uvedale resided at Wickham.

Tomb of William Uvedale Esq.

1569 Wickham Church, Hampshire

Ellyn Uvedale's name occurs in the Wickham register as godmother once in 1556, four times in 1557 and twice in 1558.

William, the son and heir of William Uvedale, was born in 1560 and baptized at Wickham. The following is the entry in the Wickham register:

"1560, William, the second sonne and heire to Mr William Uvydall, Esquyer, was christened the xxix day of September whose godfathers were Sir William Pawlett, son and heire to my Lord Saynt John and Sir William Calaway, Knight, and the Rt. Honble Ladye Dame Jane, Countesse of Southampton was his godmother." 

Ellyn (Greshasm) Uvedale died in 1567, and the following entry in the register of Wickham records her burial:

"Mistresse Ellyn Uvedall, wyff unto Mr. William Uvedall, esquyer, was buried the xiiii day of December.” 

William died on 2 of June 1569 and was buried on the 16 June in the chapel of St. Nicholas Church. He gave direction, by his will, that his executors should make a

"seeamelie and decent tombe and monument, the same to be builte and set on the south side in his chapell, nigh the chauncell of the parishe churche of Wickham; they to bestowe for the chardges and decent making thereof thirtie pounds, and the same to be fully fynsshed within three yeres after his decease." 

An inquisition[xi] was taken at Southwark on 8 October 1569, upon the death of William Uvedale, husband to Ellen Gresham. It was found that he was seized in his demesne of the following:

“as of fee of and in the manors of Chelsham, Chivallers, Dowdales and Tatsfield, with their appurtenances; thirty messuages, ten lofts, thirty orchards, three acres of land, 200 acres of meadow, 1,000 acres of pasture, 100 acres of wood, 400 acres of furze and heath, and 10 pounds rent in Chelsham, Titsey, Tattesfield, Peckham, Camberwell, Oxsted and Lymsfield, in the County of Surrey, together with the advowson of the church of Tatsfield; 

That being so seized, he had conveyed them to Richard Norton and Richard Whorwood, to the use of himself for life, subject to an annuity or yearly rent of fourscore pounds to be paid out of them to William Uvedale, of Hymley, for the term of his life. (Note the reference to Richard Whorwood, the son-in-law of his uncle William Uvedale of Hymley, and husband of Joseley.)

That he made his last will and testament on the 3 May 1569, and devised thereby to Thomas Uvedale, his brother, the said manors in trust for his son William until he should come of age; 

That the said manor of Tattesfield was held of Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury, by fealty only, and that it was worth 25 pounds yearly; 

That the manors of Chelsham, Chevallers, and Dowdales were held of Henry, Lord Hundesdon, as of his honor of Tunbridge, in the county of Kent, by knight's service and by rent of one hawk, commonly called "a sparrowe hawke"; That the manor of Chelsham was of the yearly value of 39 pounds, the manor of Chevallers 12 pounds and the manor of Dowdales 20 pounds; 

That the said manors together were of the yearly value of 86 pounds, and that after the payment of the yearly rent of 80 pounds to William Uvedale of Hymley, Staffordshire, were of the clear value of 6 pounds; That the said William Uvedale of Wickham died on 2 June, and that William Uvedale was his son and heir, and was of the age of nine years and upward at the time.” 

The Duke of Norfolk was convinced to become involved in a plot to overthrow Queen Elizabeth in 1571. The Spanish and the Pope supported the plot. The plot included a planned invasion of England, however some of the messages with the Spanish were intercepted and Norfolk was thrown in the Tower on 7 September 1571.

Henry Uvedale of More Chrichel and three of his sons, Giles, John and George were heavily involved in merchandising as evidenced by large statue merchant bills issued in 1553, 1572 and 1574. This would appear to be the beginning of a shift in a portion of the family to more reliance on the merchant world for their future.

On 10 March 1571 John Uvedale of More Chrichel granted to Queen Elizabeth I the manor of Little Chrichel in the parish of More Chrichel, Dorset with all the appurtenances, all messuages, lands tenements and hereditaments, and the hereditaments in More Chrichel, all lands tenements and hereditaments called “Newe Mylles” with appurtenances in Corfe Castle, two woods called “Twoe Coppys” in Chytered in the parish of Tarrant Monkton, received by John Gybon, 29 May 1571. This was enrolled on the close roll in chancery the same day by Thomas Lutely.

Queen Elizabeth sought a marriage with the Duke of Anjou, however this did not materialize. Some of her nobles were pushing her to intercede in the Netherlands where the Spanish were continuing to war against the Protestants. A "rebel" force managed to establish a beachhead at Brill and then Flushing in 1572. A thousand English volunteers joined the "rebels" in the Netherlands that year. Several members of the family from the southwest were involved in this conflict.

On 6 January 1572 the Duke of Norfolk was tried by his peers at Westminster and found guilty. He was subsequently executed on 2 June 1572 Parliament also passed a law that Mary Stuart could not become queen of England.

On 19 April 1572 the French and English signed the Treaty of Blois wherein they agreed to support each other if they were invaded. This was due to a mutual concern about the Spanish. On 24 August Catherine de Medici, mother of King Phillip of France, initiated a mass slaughter of thousands of Protestant Huguenots. Pope Gregory XIII had a special medal struck in honour of the occasion.

In May 1574 King Charles IX died and his brother, the Duke of Anjou, Henry III became king of France.

Henry Uvedale, son of Sir William Uvedale and Anne Dawson of More Chrichel Dorset, and his wife Isabella (Ernely of Wilkshire) made a marriage settlement in respect to a marriage between their son John and Anne Poynings, a daughter of Sir Adrian. Apparently, the marriage never took place since Anne married Edward Morne. Their son John Uvedale lived at Corfe Castle; he had a house just outside the town square.

Chrichel House, Dorset

Formerly the location of Little Chrichel Manor

St Mary’s Church in background

There was a continual concern in France and England of the increasing strength of Spain. This was exacerbated in early 1580 when the King of Portugal died and King Phillip of Spain assumed the throne of Portugal.

Queen Elizabeth commenced marriage negotiations with the Duke of Alencon, but these talks were unsuccessful.

In 1577 Francis Drake set off from Devon to circumnavigate the globe. John Hawkins and Drake had been somewhat successful in recent years in harassing and plundering the Spanish trade in the New World. Drake was successful in travelling around the world and arrived back in Plymouth in 1580. Not long after in 1584 Walter Raleigh led an expedition to North America.

The Spanish were seeking to exert control in the Netherlands. In January of 1579 the primarily Protestant Union of Utrecht was formed and in May of the same year the Catholic Union of Arras was formed in the south. William Prince of Orange was constantly seeking the support of Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth's constant prevarication was harmful to the united position of the Netherlands. Farneses, the Prince of Parma had taken many of the Netherlands cities including Maastrecht, Ghent, Dendermonde, Mechlin, Brussels and Antwerp. In July of 1584 the Prince of Orange was murdered at his house in Delft in the Low Countries. There was general outrage that Queen Elizabeth had not more fully supported the Low Countries before the fall of Antwerp. A commission was sent to England from the Netherlands seeking help from Queen Elizabeth. On 10 August 1584 Queen Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Nonsuch whereby she allied herself with the Protestants in the Low Countries. She agreed to send 5,000-foot soldiers and 1,000 cavalry, along with garrisons for Brill and Flushing. Brill and Flushing were to be handed over to the English as surety for their military expenses. On 16 August troops left for the Netherlands under the command of Colonel John Norris. Just before Christmas in 1585 the Earl of Leicester landed in Flushing with 50 ships of men and supplies. Sir Edmund Uvedale, known as the Lieutenant of Flushing, was one of the military men involved in the conflict in Flushing at this time. John Uvedale was with Phillip Sidney in October 1586 during his fatal illness, and witnessed Sidney's will. John Uvedale received 500l under the will in consideration of his long and very faithful service and for his voluntary surrender of "Ford Place" which Sidney had presented to him .

                                                          Photo credit: Gordon Walter Udell

John Udall’s house in Corfe

(Just above the pinkish house and beside the red truck)

On 18 October 1579 William Uvedale was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn for training as a barrister, he is recorded as “of the county of Southants, special permission”. This is likely Sir William Uvedale, Kt, from Wickham who married Mary Norton, although it could also be William, son of William, son of Sir Arthur Uvedale, Kt. and Anne Hazlewood.

Sir William Uvedale married Mary, daughter of Sir Richard Norton of Tistid and Rotherfield, Southampton. They had four sons, John born 1586, William born in 1586-87, Richard born 1590 and Francis born 1593, and five daughters Elizabeth born in 1608, Frances born 1609, Lucy born in 1610 or 1611, Anne born on 11 August 1612 and finally ??. The eldest child John was born in 1586 baptized the xvi day of April and was buried the xvii day of April.

On 7 November 1583 there is a reference to a survey and inventory taken at the mines called Okeman’s House, in the county of Dorset by Harry Asheley and Henry Uvedale, of “all the ore copperas, and stuff which was found there, at the entry of the Lord Mountjoy on the 27^th of October.” This would be Henry Uvedale, son of Sir William Uvedale and Jane Dawson of More Chrichel, Dorset.

Meanwhile, in England Sir Amies Paulet had taken over custody of Mary Stuart. In 1586 another conspiracy to murder Queen Elizabeth was uncovered. A series of letters between the Spanish ambassador in France, the Catholic Church and Mary Stuart were being intercepted and translated by the English. This led to the execution of Mary Stuart, Queen of the Scots on 8 February 1587. King Phillip of Spain was outraged. He had been preparing plans for invasion of England and this most recent event fully committed him to the venture. Phillip was a direct descendant of Edward III and as such he claimed to be the rightful heir to the Throne of England. He signed an agreement with the Pope who supported his claim.

                                                        Photo credit: Gordon Wesley Udell

Sir Edmund Uvedale, Kt.

King Phillip was readying an armada to invade England. In the spring of 1587 Francis Drake went on a highly successful strike along the coast of Spain, capturing many ships and destroying a lot of provisions. This set back the timing of the invasion of England.

In early 1588 Elizabeth sent Lords Derby and Cobham to the Netherlands in an attempt to negotiate an end to the war with the Spanish commander the Prince of Parma. The Spanish had no intentions of agreeing to terms.

On 17 April 1588 Captain Edmond Uvedall wrote from Burgen to Walsingham and in his note[xii] he said “The bearer hereof Jacob Uvedale his kinsman, was in the town with him and can satisfy his honour of anything that may seem doubtful. He has followed both the wars of Ireland and of these countries, but fortune has not yielded him the preferment he desires. Humbly craves his honour’s favour for him – Burgen op Zone.” Later that year in the Cecil papers dated 10 September 1588 there is a note “of such persons as do daily sue here for money due unto them upon their pay. Having the bills of their captains for the same. – Jacob Uvedall of Captain Uvedall’s company.” I do not know if Jacob ever got any satisfaction for his demands for preferment for his services. This Jacob is the son of William Uvedale “of Hymley, Staffordshire”.

Charles, Lord Howard of Effingham was High Admiral of England. In July 1588 Lord Howard and Francis Drake fought the Spanish armada off the coast of England. The smaller more manoeuvrable British ships prevailed. The Spanish armada escaped north and sailed around Scotland out to sea and back to Spain. By the time the armada returned to Spain approximately two thirds of the men had died.

In 1589 Henry Uvedale of More Chrichel donated 50 pounds towards the "Armada expenses".

On 22 July 1589 Henry III, King of France was assassinated. Henry of Navarre succeeded him as Henry IV. Henry was a Huguenot. The Duke of Guise, in league with the Spanish revolted against Henry IV, who requested the help of Elizabeth.

In August 1590 the Earl of Essex landed in Normandy. After some delays King Henry IV and the Earl of Essex attacked Rouen. The Duke of Parma arrived and King Henry IV withdrew. Henry subsequently converted to the Catholic Church, thereby reducing the division within France.

In the 1590s there was a crackdown by the Church of England against the Puritans. The leader of the movement was the Bishop of London, Aylmer, along with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Whitgift. Clearly Queen Elizabeth must have supported this.

John Udall, a Puritan scholar and author to the "Key to the Holy Tongue" was tried for heresy and imprisoned on account of his Puritan principles and died in 1592. The following is taken from several sources including the old National Biography.

"John Udall was doubtless akin to the Uvedale families in Wickham in Hampshire and of More Chrichel, but the precise degree is undetermined." John was admitted to Christ's College at Cambridge in 1578 and afterwards at Trinity College at the same place. He received his B.A. at Cambridge in 1581 and an M.A. in 1584. The old Dictionary of National Biography states that he was a zealous reader of theology, and developed a strong tendency to Puritanism, which was encouraged by his intimacy, while both were undergraduates, with John Penry. Udall also obtained at the university a competent knowledge of Hebrew. 

“….before 1584 John Udall took holy orders and became curate of Kingston-upon-Thames under the absentee vicar, Stephen Chatfield. He was known there as a convinced puritan who had stern suspicion of the scriptural justification of episcopacy. He preached with eloquence, and three volumes of sermons delivered by him at Kingston-upon-Thames were published in 1584. The first volume, called 'Amendment of Life' (in three sermons), was dedicated to Charles, Lord Howard of Effingham; the second volume was entitled 'Obedience to the Gospell' (two sermons); and the third was entitled 'Peter's Fall: two sermons upon the Historie of Peter's denying Christ', London 8vo, 1584. A fourth collection of five sermons 'preached in the time of the dearth in 1586' was called 'The true Remedie against Famine and Warres' (London, 1586, 12m0). This was dedicated to Ambrose Dudley, earl of Warwick, who was a well-known protector of puritan ministers. Although he was thus influentially supported, Udall's insistence on a literal observance of scriptural precepts was held to infringe Anglican orthodoxy, and in 1586 he was summoned by the bishop of Winchester and the dean of Windsor to appear before the court of high commission at Lambeth. Through the influence of the Countess of Warwick and Sir Drue Drury he was restored to his ministry. 

….”that this experience of persecution redoubled his ardour. He strongly sympathised with the zealous efforts of his Cambridge friend Penry to stir in the bishops a keener sense of their spiritual duties; and during 1587 Penry seems to have visited him at Kingston. In April 1588 Udall induced Penry's friend Waldegrave, to print at his office in London an anonymous tract in which he trenchantly denounced the Church of England from the extreme puritan point of view. The work, which was issued surreptitiously without the licence of the Stationer's Company, and bore no name of printer or place of publication on the title page, was entitled 'The State of the Church of Englande, laide open in a conference betweene Diotrephes a Byshopp, Terlullus a Papiste, Demetrius a usurer, Pandochus an Inne-keeper, and Paule a preacher of the worde of God.' Udall developed his argument with much satiric force, and the pamphlet arrested public attention. Archbishop Whitgift and other members of the court of high commission deemed it seditious. It was soon known in London to have been printed by Waldegrave, and in April his press was seized. 

John Udall, whose responsibility remained unknown to the authorities, invited Waldegrave to Kingston to discuss the situation. Penry joined the consultation, with the result that schemes were laid for disseminating through the country further tracts of a like temper. Penry soon arranged to write a series of attacks on the bishops, which should bear the pseudonym Martin Mar-Prelate. Udall supplied him with some information that had come to his knowledge of the illegal practices of the bishop of London, and this information Penry embodied in the first of the Martin Mar-Prelate tracts, which was known as 'The Epistle'. But Udall made no other contribution to the series of pamphlets. He had no relation with any of the Martin Mar-Prelate controversialists excepting Penry, and was associated with Penry only at the inception of the scheme. 

John Udall preferred to pursue the bishops single-handed. In July Waldegrave secretly set up a press in the neighbourhood of Kingston, at the house of a widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Crane, at East Moseley. There he printed a second anonymous polemic of Udall which was called 'A Demonstration of the trueth of that Discipline which Christe hath described in his worde for the gouernement of his Church, in all times and places, untill the ende of the worlde.' With great vehemence Udall denounced 'the supposed governors of the Church of England, the archbishops, lord-bishops, archdeacons, and the rest of that order.' The 'Demonstrations' was secretly distributed in November, at the same time as Penry's "Epistle', the first of the distinctive 'Martin Mar-Prelate' tracts, which Waldegrave also put into type at the East Moseley press. A reply to Udall appeared in 1590 with the title, 'A Remonstration or lain detection of some of the faults ... cobled together in a Booke entituled "A Demonstration". Udall's 'Dialogue' and 'Demonstrations' were both reprinted by Dr. Arber in 1880.

….that meanwhile in July 1588, although his authorship of the 'Dialogue' was hardly suspected, and the 'Demonstration" was as yet unpublished, again offended the court of high commission by his uncompromising sermons in the parish church of Kingston. He was summarily deprived of his living. After resting about half a year, with the intention of leading thenceforth a 'private life' he was invited in December by the Earl of Huntingdon and the inhabitants of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to resume his ministry in that town. He accepted the call and laboured there assiduously for a year. During this time the plague raged furiously in the district. While at Newcastle Udall openly published in London, under his own name a new volume of sermons entitled 'Combat between Christ and the Devil'. This was of non-controversial character. But meanwhile Penry and his associates had issued many Mar-Prelate tracts in rapid succession, and the bishops made every effort to discover their source. Udall was soon suspected of complicity, and on 29 December 1589 he was summoned to London, 'in the sorest of weather', to be examined by the Privy Council. He arrived on 9 January 1590, and four days later appeared at a council meeting that was held at Lord Cobham's house in Blackfriars. He was asked whether his ministry at Newcastle was authorized by the bishop of the diocese. He replied that both the bishopric of Durham and the archbishopric of York were vacant during the period of his ministry. He refused to say whether he was the author of the 'Demonstration' or the 'Dialogue'. 

He acknowledged that Penry had passed through Newcastle three months before, but had merely saluted147 him at his door. The council ordered him detention in the gatehouse at Westminster. He was again examined by the council on 13 July 1590. "Mr Udal, said Lord Cobham, if you be not the author say so; and if you be, confess it; you may find favour." My lord, answered Udal, "I think the author did well, and I know he is inquired after to be punished. I think it is my duty to hinder the finding of him out, which I can not do better than thus." "And why so, I pray you," demanded the lord chief Justice" .. "Because," said Udal, "if every one that is suspected do deny it, the author at length must needs be found out." Intimation was made that his life was not in danger if he would take the oath ex officio. "I dare not take it," said Udall. "Then," said the court, "you must go to prison; and it will go hard with you; for you must remain there til you be glad to take it." "God's will be done," he exclaimed, "I had rather go to prison with a good conscience than be at liberty will with an ill one." John Udall was confined a close prisoner in the gatehouse for six months, without pen, ink or paper. 

He was then carried to the assizes in Croydon, with fetters on his legs, and tried for treason. On 24July 1590 he was placed on trial before Justice Clarke and Serjeant Puckering, on a charge of having published 'a wicked, scandalous, and seditious libel', entitled 'A Demonstration'. The indictment was laid under the statue 23 Elizabeth caps. 3, which was aimed at attacks on the government made in print by the Roman Catholics. John Udall was refused council, and the prosecution depended wholly on the written depositions previously obtained from witnesses in the high commission court. 

The passage fixed upon as the ground of the indictment, occurs in the preface, and is certainly unjust and scandalous. "Who can, without blushing, deny you (the bishops) to be the cause of all ungodliness? You care for nothing but your dignities, be it to the damnation of your own souls and infinite millions more." And "had the punishment of a libeller been awarded to the author, posterity would have confirmed the judgement. But his fault sinks into insignificance when compared to his sufferings; we admire his patience, and forget his libel. He refused to incriminate himself before the high commission, where his refusal to swear was employed against him as the strongest evidence of his guilt. No proof was given that Udall was the writer of the whole treatise; he was generally supposed to have contributed only the preface. His reserve, if this were the case, was dictated by a lofty generosity." 

In order to prove his guilty and bring before the statue, the counsel insisted that his threatening the bishops, who were the Queen's officers, was tantamount to threatening the Queen herself. But his argument was set aside; and the judge, without entering into the second and third parts of the indictment (in the one of which a malicious intent was charged, and the second that the matters contained in the libel were felony under a recent statue), at once directed the jury "that they who spoke against the Queen's government or officers in causes ecclesiastical, spoke against herself." John was therefore convicted and placed in the White Lion prison in Southwark. He was respited to the next assizes, when he was placed at the bar in irons. with the rest of felons, and condemned to death. Government. A form of recantation was placed before him, but neither arguments nor threats could induce him to sign it with his name. 

John Udall delivered a paper, in which he protested against the sentence on several grounds, any one of which "ought to have saved him so ignominious a fate". "It had not been proven", he said, "that he was the author of the book in question. The witnesses had not confronted him in open court. He had not been allowed to produce any exculpatory evidence. He was condemned on the evidence only in certain papers and reports of depositions. The jury had been directed by the judge to find a verdict solely on the fact whether he was the author of the book; they had been cautioned from inquiring into the intent of the writer; whereas, according to the statue, the felony consisted in the malicious intent. The jury too had been wrought upon, partly by the promise that the verdict should not endanger the prisoner's life, and partly by fear"; .. "as appears from the grief manifested by some of them ever since." "And supposing," he added, "I were the author of the book; let it be remembered that for substance it contains nothing but what is taught and believed by the reformed churches in Europe: so that, in condemning me, you condemn all such nations and churches to hold the same doctrine. If the punishment be for the manner of writing, this may be thought by some worthy of an admonition, or fine, or some short punishment. But death for an error of such a kind cannot but be extreme cruelty against one who has endeavoured to shew himself a dutiful subject and a faithful minister of the gospel." John Udall concluded his speech address with this solemn premonition: "If all this prevail not, yet my Redeemer liveth, to whom I commend myself, and say as Jeremiah once said in a case not much unlike mine, 'Behold, I am in your hands to do with me whatsoever seemeth good unto you; but know this, that if you put me to death, you shall bring innocent blood upon your own heads, and upon the land." As the blood of Abel so the blood of Udall will cry to God with a loud voice, and the righteous Judge of the land will require it at the hands of all who shall be found guilty of it. 

His wife presented his petition to council. Whether the court was awed by this appeal or, which is more probable, by the protest that preceded it, it hesitated to carry out the sentence into immediate effect. Elizabeth herself hesitated; for Udall was a learned man, of blameless life, remarkable for his devotion, and an able preacher. A Hebrew grammar, which he complied in prison, attested at once his learning, his diligence, and his composure. He had many friends, and multitudes flocked to visit him. Sir Walter Ralegh, the Earl of Essex, and Alexander Nowell, dean of St. Paul's, interested themselves on John's behalf, and every effort was made to procure his release. James, King of Scotland, the eager expectant of her throne, wrote a letter of intercession to Queen Elizabeth on his behalf, earnestly requesting his pardon as a personal favour. In March 1592 the merchants of London (Turkey Company) entreated that if he must be punished he might at least be banished and not hanged; and they offered a chaplaincy in the Mediterranean (Syria) as an asylum for him. The papers were presented to Whitgift. For a time the archbishop was obdurate. But the agitation in Udall's favour grew. The archbishop's scruples were at length overcome, and the Queen signed a pardon early in June. On the 15 June 1592 Udall, by the archbishop's direction, informed the lord keeper, Puckering, of that fact. 

Meanwhile, a higher Judge had, in mercy, reversed the unrighteous sentence, and while his fate was in suspense, John Udall died in the Marshalsea prison in 1592. 

He was buried at St. George's Southwark. The ministers of London flocked to the funeral and by their presence protested against the iniquitous sentence, which a preposterous tyranny had vainly endeavoured to destroy his principles while it cut short his life. It was remarked that his grave was near to that of Bishop Bonner; a few feet of earth separated the bodies of two men of principles so far asunder. Bishop Bonner had been jailed in the Marshalsea for his persecution and sadistic torture of Protestants. He also died in jail.” 

From the case of John Udall sprang the legal precedent that an accused did not have to incriminate themselves.

In the year following Udall's death there appeared at Leyden a valuable grammar and dictionary of the Hebrew tongue by him under the title: 'The Key to the Holy Tongue', Leyden, 12 mo, 1593). The first part consists of a Hebrew grammar translated from the Latin of Peter Martinuis; the second part supplies 'a practice' or exercises on Psalms xxv. And lxv., and the third part is a short dictionary of the Hebrew words of the Bible. The work was praised by James VI of Scotland, who is reported to have inquired for the author on his arrival in England in 1603, and, on learning that he was dead, to have exclaimed, 'By my soul, then, the greatest scholar of Europe is dead.'

In 1593 there also appeared (anonymously in London) the first edition of Udall's 'Commentarie on the Lamentations of Jeremy'; other editions are dated in 1595, 1599 and 1637. A Dutch translation by J. Lamstium is dated 1660. Udall's 'Certaine Sermons, taken out of severall Places of Scripture,' which was issued in 1596, is a reprint of his volume on the 'Amendment of Life' and the 'Obedience to the Gospel'.

In 1592 John, son of William Uvedale, son of William Uvedale and Dorothy Troyes, had a son John Uvedale in Fareham, Hampshire. This John was christened[xiii] on 20 November 1592.

Sir William Uvedale, son and heir of Thomas Uvedale and Ann Badger was admitted to the Middle Temple for training as a barrister on 1 November 1594. I do not know if William stayed in London, married or had children.

The situation between the Spanish and English continued to fester and in late 1595 a joint British-Dutch fleet was prepared to sail to the New World to fight the Spanish. The venture proved unsuccessful and both Sir Francis Drake and John Hawkins died of disease enroute.

William Uvedale was present at the enthronization of William Wickham as Bishop of Winchester, in Winchester Cathedral on Saturday 29 March 1595.

William Uvedale was Sheriff for Hampshire in 1595.

In early 1596 the Spanish invaded France and took control of Calais. In June of the same year a British fleet under the command of the Earl of Essex attacked Cadiz, taking a lot of plunder in the process.

Frances Uvedale, daughter of Thomas Uvedale of Droxford and Margaret, was married at Wickham on 27 June 1596, to Henry Trencher.

Thomas Uvedale died and his will, dated 4 December, 1596 was proved on the 23 May 1597.

William Uvedale witnessed the enthronization of Bishop Bilson in Winchester Cathedral on Monday, June 27, 1597.

                                                                                Photo Credit: Gordon Walter Udell

Southwark Cathedral
(on the Thames beside London Bridge)

On the 17 March 1598 William Uvedale, age 16, and Richard Uvedale, age 15, “second son of William Uvedale of Wickham, brother of William” were enrolled at Queen’s College, University of Oxford. Their mother was Mary Norton. In 1600 they were students of the Middle Temple and of the Inner Temple on 30 January 1601.

The French and Spanish signed the Treaty of Vervins on 2 May 1598 thereby bringing their hostilities to an end. On 6 August 1598 the Duke of Orange and Queen Elizabeth agreed to continue their fight against the Spanish. On 13 September 1598 King Phillip II of Spain died and was followed by his son Phillip III.

Henry Uvedale of More Chrichel was a captain of the armed men of the Isle of Perbeck in 1598.

In 1598 Hugh O'Niell defeated the English and killed 2,000 men at the battle of the Yellow Ford in Ireland. In April of the following year the Earl of Essex, along with close to 20,000 men, many of who were veterans from the Netherlands, arrived in Ireland. Rather than attack the primary forces, led by Tyron, Essex squandered his time and resources. Essex was tried for treason on his return and was executed on 25 February 1601. Lord Mountjoy went to Ireland and defeated the Irish Tyrone at Kinsdale on Christmas Eve 1601. The Spanish who had sent 5,000 men to help Tyrone sued for peace and left for Spain.

In 1600 a dispute arose concerning the right to transport persons by boat from Gosport to Portsmouth. The Exchequer Court at Southhampton appointed a commission to examine the issue. The commission included Sir William Uvedale of Wickham, Sir Hamden Paulet, Francis Cotton and John White.

Houghton-Brown, in his history of the Houghton's states "the Uvedale family were well known for their loyalty to the Pope, and during the reign of Elizabeth were utterly ruined by the fines imposed on them for refusing to attend the services in their parish church." This is interesting in that John Udall, a relative of some degree, has previously been persecuted for his Puritan principles. The reference to the family being strong Catholics would be in specific reference to the elder branch of the family, in particular the Wickham family. Of course, it was not uncommon for families to be divided on such issues as these. Sometime families would deliberately have persons on both sides of the fence to increase the chance of the long-term survival of the family.

The economic conditions were deteriorating in England in the later years of Elizabeth's reign and as a consequence she was not as able to distribute patronage to her court. Queen Elizabeth died on 24 March 1603.

Reign of King James I 

Mary Stuart's son James I, who was King of Scotland at the time, followed Elizabeth as monarch. King James had had a son Charles born in Scotland on 19 November 1600.

King James I argued with the commons over the divine right of Kings. He entered into a direct dialogue with the House of Commons, including concerning the right to tax.

King James knighted Sir William Uvedale, Kt. at Greenwich on the 9 April 1605.

Ephraim Udall, son of John Udall, was admitted a pensioner of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University in July of 1606. He was to receive his B.A. in 1609 and his M.A. in 1614. In September of 1615 he was appointed perpetual curate of Teddington and he presented to St. Augustine Watling Street in London on 27 November 1634. He died in London on 24 May 1647.

In 1607 the Company of Adventurers and Planters of the City of London for the first colony of Virginia was incorporated. The heads of the group were Salisbury (Cecil), Suffolk, Southampton and Pembroke, along with a list of subscribers some twenty-eight pages long. The London Company proceeded under Captain Christopher Newport to set up a colony at Jamestown in the territory of Virginia. To guard against attacks from the Spanish they chose an island up river from the ocean. They named the river and the settlement after King James. Not many of the settlers knew how to prosper in this environment and many died. The remaining persons wanted to return to England. However, Lord de la Warre arrived with new men and supplies. The Earl of Southampton increasingly played an important part in leading the initiative to sustain a successful settlement in North America and put in a lot of effort into raising money, support, and provisions for the settlements in North America. Included were attempts for settlements from Virginia to Maine. Given the fact that the Uvedale and Wriothesley (Earl of Southampton) families were acquaintances as witnessed by the baptism record below, and their close proximity in dwellings, this may explain the supporter on the Uvedale Achievement of Arms. The Wriothesley family lived at Beaulieu and Titchfield. It is almost unavoidable that the Uvedale family were investors and supporters in the efforts of Southampton in North America.

John Uvedale of Corfe, son of William Uvedale and Jane Dawson of More Chrichel, died in 1607. He left his brother George the manor house in which John lived as well as millhouses and lands in Corfe and Studland, as well as timber. To his brother Edmond he gave lands in Poole and the hamlets of Tarrant Gunvild, Long Chrichel, Stubhampton, Elsington, Tincleton and Arpudle.

William Uvedale, the younger and Anne Carey had a daughter, Elizabeth born in 1608. The Wickham register states as follows:

"1608. Elizabeth Uvedale, daughter of Sir William Uvedale the younger, Kt., and Dame Anne his wife, was born the xxvi day of June and christened the vi day July next following, whose godfather was the Lord of Hunsdon, and godmother the Countesse of Southampton and the olde Ladie Uvedale." 

William and Anne's second daughter Francis was born in 1609. The Wickham registry reads as follows:

"1609. Mystresse Fraunces Uvedall, ye second daughter of my Ladye Uvedall the younger, was christened 3 of August, whose Godfather was Mr Richard Uvedall, and her Godmothers were my Ladye Uvedall the elder and Mrs Catherine Uvedall." 

                                           Photo credit: Gordon Walter Udell

Uvedale Court, Corfe

On 27 of June 1610 Sir William Uvedale, kt. Mary, his wife, Sir William Uvedale the younger, his son and heir, and Dame Anne his wife, and Richard Uvedale, his second son, were party to a deed for sale of the manor of Chivalers, (Cheverells), in Titsey, Surrey for 900 pounds to William Leigh, yeoman.

Sir William Uvedale the younger and Anne Carey had a fourth daughter Anne born on 11 August 1612. Her baptism is recorded as follows:

"1612. Anne Uvedale, the 4th daughter of Sir William Uvedall the younger, Kt., was baptized the xviii day of August 1612, whose Godfather was Sir Richard Norton, and her Godmothers Mistris Bilston and Mistris Catherine Uvedall." 

Sir William Uvedale, the younger, was elected M.P. for Hampshire in 1612-1613. In the Court and Times of James I it says:

"The canvass in Hampshire lies between Sir ?? Titchborne, Sir Henry Wallop, and Sir William Uvedale, my Lord of Somerset's chief favourite; it will be decided this day (14 March, 1612-13)." 

The Council had passed an Act in 1606 restraining the custom of drawing ploughs and carriages by horses’ tails, on pain of forfeiture—for the first year’s offence, one horse; the second, two; and for the third the whole team. In 1613 a Commission was issued to inquire into the state of Ireland, and among other things, as to disorderly practises, which reported “that, notwithstanding the order of 1606, it was not put in execution for almost five years, until, in 1611, Captain Paule Goare, demanding seven or eight score pounds of his majesty for pay of certain soldiers entertained by him and other services, did desire the benefit of this penalty in one or two counties, which the Lord Deputy granted, limiting the charge to 10s. In 1612, the Lord Deputy ordered the penalty to be levied in all Ulster, which, amounting to £870, was employed for public uses. On 27 July 1613, a grant was made to Sir William Uvedale of the fines of 10s to be forfeited for every plough drawn by horses’ tails in Ireland, for which he was to pay a rent to the Crown of £100 Irish. The profits under the grant to Sir William Uvedale within Ulster produced £800.

Sir William Uvedale’s first son by Victoria Carey was William who was born on 17 October 1614 and baptized at Westminster Abbey on the 30 November 1614. The entry states:

"1614, William, son of Sir William Udall, 30 November." His godparents were Robert, Erle of Somerset, and Theophilus, Lord Howard, son to the Earl of Suffolk; and his godmother was the Countess of Bedford. He died at the age of three.” 

Sir William Uvedale the elder, husband to Mary Norton, died at Wickham on 8 January 1615, and was buried at Wickham the following day as recorded by the Wickham register:

"Sir William Uvedale the elder was buryed the ix day of January 1615." 

In a letter150 from George Lord Carew to Sir Thomas Roe, dated 24 January 1615 he says Sir William Uvedale's father is dead.

An inquisition was held after his death, at Winchester on 5 September 1616, by which it was found that William Uvedale' was seized in his demesne as follows:

“as of fee, of and in the borough of Wickham, with its appurtenances; 

and of the manors of Wickham, Fonteley, Widley, Naltey-Skures, and Woodgaston, in the county of Southampton; 

of 100 messuages, two mills, 1,060 acres of land, 260 acres of meadow, 1,200 acres of pasture, 500 acres of wood, and 10 pounds rent in, with their appurtenances in Wickham, Fonteley, Tichfield, Widley, Cosham, Natley-Skures, Newman, Woodgaston, Ockley and Sherborne; 

and of the advowsons of the churches of Wickham and Skures, in fee, in the same county; 

and of the manors of Chelsham, Tattesfielde and Dowdales, with their appurtenance in the county of Surrey; 

and of 30 messuages, 10 tofts, 30 orchards, 1,000 acres of land, 200 acres of meadow, 1,000 acres of pasture, 500 acres of wood, 40 acres of furze and heath, and 10 pounds rent, with their appurtenances in Chelsham, Tattesfield, Dowdales, Peckham, Camberwell, Tytsey, Linchfield and Oxted, and of the advowson of the church of Tatsfield, in fee, in the county of Surrey; 

that being so seized, he had conveyed the same, in Hilary Term, 1607, to Sir Robert Carye and Sir Richard Norton, Knights, in trust for the use of himself for life, with remainder as to the manor and borough of Wickham, in the county of Southampton, and as to the aforesaid manors of Chelsham and Tatsfield, in the county of Surrey, and as to all and singular his tenements and hereditaments lying in and being in Wickham, Chelsham, Tattesfielde, Tytsey, Linchfield and Oxted, in the county of Surrey, to the use of Mary Uvedale for her life, after her death, to the use of his son William Uvedale and the heirs male of his body. 

It was also found that on the day he died he was seized in his demesne as of fee, of one burgage and curtilage in Fareham, in the county of Southton, and of twelve acres of meadow and pasture in Portsea, in the Island of Portsea, in the said county; 

That he died on 8 January and that Sir William Uvedale was his son and next heir, and that he was of the age of twenty-nine and upwards at his father's death. 

That the borough and manor of Wickham, with its appurtenances, and other premises in Wickham, together with the advowson of the church, were held of the Most Noble William, Marquis of Winchester, as of his manor of Basinge, in the county of Winchester, by knight's service, and of the yearly value of 40 pounds;

That the manor of Fonteley, with the premises in Fonteley and Tichfield, were held in socage of Thomas, Earl of Arundell, and were of the yearly value of 13 pounds; 

That the manor of Widley, with the premises in Widley and Cosham, were held of William, Marquis of Winchester, as of his manor of Basinge, by knight's service, and were of the yearly value 15 pounds 4 shillings 6 d. 

                                  Photo credit: Gordon Walter Udell

Sir William Uvedale's Monument
The Church of St. Nicholas, Wickham Hampshire

That the manor of Nately-Skures, with the premises in Nately-Skures and Newman, together with the advowson of Nately-Skures were held of William, Marquis of Winchester, as of his manor of Basinge, by knight's fee and were of the yearly value of 13 pounds 17 shillings 11d; 

That the manor of Woodgarston, with the premises in Woodgarston, Okeley, and Shirborne were held of the same William, as of his manor of Basinge, by knight's service and were of the yearly value of 4 pounds; 

That the manor of Chelsham, with 100 acres of land and pasture in Tytsey, was held of our Lord the King, as of his honor of Clare, by knight's service and was of the yearly value of 15 pounds; 

That the manor of Tattesfield, with the advowson of the church, was held of George, Archbishop of Canterbury, in virtue of his archbishopric, and was of the yearly value of 20 pounds; 

That the manor of Dowdales, Peckham, Camerwell, Titsey, Chelsham, Oxted and Linchfield were held of John Lord Hunsdon, as of his Castle of Tunbridge, in the county of Kent, by knight's service, and were of the yearly value of 20 pounds; 

That the aforesaid burgage and curtilage in Fareham were held of Thomas Bilson, late Bishop of Winchester, in virtue of his bishopric, in socage, and were now held of the King by reason of the vacancy of his bishopric, and were of the yearly value 3 shillings, 4 d; 

That the twelve acres of meadow and pasture in Portsea, in the Island of Portsea, were held of William, Marquis of Winchester, as of his manor of Basinge, but by what service is not known, and was of the yearly value of 4 pounds.” 

Fonteley Manor

Sir William's will states as follows:

"In the name of God. Amen. A.D. 1611. I William Uvedall the elder of Wickham Co. Southton Knight having a speciale meaninge and earnest desire that the Ladie Mary Uvedall my moste kynde and lovinge wife and Sir William Uvedall the Younger knighte my sonne and heire apparaunte and such other of my children hereinafter named should have out of my personall estate and other chattells such several legacies and porcions as shall be to every one of them by this last Will Severally given and appointed for the better assurance whereof fynding myself to be in good health & perfect memory do by these presents make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following. 

First I bequeathe my soul to Almighty God my Creator desiringe him to accepte of me amongeste the holie Company of his elicte. And I will my bodie to be buried in the Isle within the Chauncell of the Church of Wickham where my ancestors lye interred in such decente and comelie manner fittinge my estate and callinge as my Executors shall think meete. 

Item I bequeath unto the Lady Mary my deare and lovinge wife all her jewels and also all her wearing apparell together with my Caroach and fower Caroach horses with all the furniture unto the said Carouch and horses belonginge. 

Item I will that she have and possesse duringe her naturall life the moytie of my plate and all such stocke of Cattell and other goods and chattells corne onelie excepted which now are or shall be remayninge upon the Scite and demaine Landes of my Manner of Wickham at the tyme of my decease. And also the use of the moytie of all my household stuff hanginges beddinge utensills and furniture of howse whatsoever being in the Manner howse of Wickham where I nowe dwell at the tyme of my decease. Provided that the said Ladie Mary shall within six calendar months after my decease enter into bond unto William Uvedall Knight my sonne to leave the said moytie unto him at the time of her decease. - And the said moytie after her death of my said wife and also the other moytie of all my said household stuff &c I wholly give and bequeath unto the said Sir William Uvedall Knight the Younger my said sonne to his owne proper use & behoofe forever. 

And I doe further give unto the said Sir William Uvedall Knight my sonne to his own use the other moitie of my plate and all my armor provision and furniture for the warres and all my stocke of corne, goods and chattells which shall be at the tyme of my decease within the Mannor Howse of Widley Co. Southton or in the or upon the Scite & demeane lands there. 

Item I give & bequeath unto Richard Uvedall my second sonne all those hanginges beddinge furniture and other goods and ymplements which shall be at my decease in the Chambers and studies where he now lyeth to his owne use and behoofe forever. 

Item to Frauncis Uvedall my youngest sonne my lease of all those landes and hereditaments lyinge at Crocker Hill which I holde by the demise of Thomas Prowtinge. Item I give unto Mary Neale the daughter of Sir Frauncis Neale Knight the summe of one hundred poundes to be paide within one yeare after my decease 

Item I give to the poore of the parishe of Wickham five poundes - to the poore of the parishe of Widley twenty shillings. The residue of all my goodes and chattels reall and personall I fullie and whollie give and bequeath unto the Ladie Mary my wife and Sir William Uvedall Knight my sonne whom I doe ordaine and make my And I doe desire Sir Frauncis Neale Knight - Sir Edward Underhill Knight and my brother in lawe John Norton of Empshott gent: to be supervisors of this my saide Will. In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hande and seale 20 August 1611."

This Will was proved in London on the 1 May 1616 by Sir William Uvedall, Kt., son of the deceased and one of the Executors.

It should be noted that the lease lands that Frauncis Uvedall inherited called Crockerhill was in Fareham.

In 1616 John Uvedale son of John, son of William Uvedale, son of William Uvedale and Dorothy Troyes, had a son John Uvedale in Fareham, Hampshire. He also had a son Ralph (born abt. 1620) and Christopher (born 1631).

Sir William Uvedale, the second son and heir of Sir William Uvedale married firstly to Anne, daughter of Sir Edmund Carey, third son of Henry, Lord Hunsdon. They had a son and four daughters. Secondly Sir William Uvedale married Victoria, the second daughter of Sir Henry Carey, K.B., created Viscount Falkland, by whom he had a son and two daughters. He was knighted in 1610 as Sir William Uvedale, the younger.

Ephraim Udall commenced his M.A. at Cambridge in 1614 and on 20 September 1615 he was appointed perpetual curate of Teddington.

Sir Richard Uvedale Kt. of Droxford was knighted at Aldershot152 on 2 September 1618. He married a lady by the name of Frances.

The Court and Times of James I notes that William Uvedal was present at a concert given to the King at Theobolds on the 17 January 1618.

Sir William Uvedale of Wickham was appointed to the office of Treasurer of the Privy Chamber in 1618. Sir William Uvedale of Horton, Dorset was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the same year.

A group of Pilgrims established a settlement in December 1620 at Plymouth, Massachusetts approximately 30 miles from the future site of Boston. The group had left from Plymouth in England. Several of my great-grandfathers arrived shortly thereafter.

On 23 May 1622, Sir Richard Norton was created a baronet by Rose, daughter and heir of Edmond Montmesson. Sir Richard was the father-in-law of Sir William Uvedale, father of Mary.

Sir William Uvedale Kt., and Sir Thomas Gresham, Kt., of Surrey executed an indenture relating to the manor of Chevellers on 15 of October 1623.

In 1623 Henry St. George, Richmond Herald, and Sampson Lennard, Bluemantle Pursuivant, made a visitation of the County of Dorset. These gentlemen were Marshals and Deputies to William Camden, Clarenceux King of Arms. Their record includes the Dorset branch of the family under the spelling of Uidal. Under this heading reference is made to Henry Vuidall of More Chrichell, along with his sons Sir Edmund, and George Vuidall married to E. Millar daughter of Millar of the Isle of Purbeck. While the spellings may vary in curious ways the arms are correct as indicated by the paternal arms as "Argent a cross moline gules". Also, in the record is (Harl 1166, fo 80) is the record of the marriage of Margareta daughter of Henry Vuidall of More Crichell to John's Hawles of Vpwinborne. This was 3 generations before the youngest living at the time. Kath: daughter of Tho Vuedall of Horton in Dorset is recorded as the second wife of Arthure Radford of Dalish, Dorset living in 1623.

In 1624 William Udall issued a book entitled “The Life and Death of Mary Stuart Queen of Scots” under a psuedonym. A second edition was issued in 1636 confirming the book was by William Udall.

King James died in March 1625 and was followed by his son King Charles.

Reign of King Charles I 

Charles married Henrietta Maria, daughter of the King of France in June 1625.

In 1625 a commission was directed to Sir William Uvedale, Kt., of Wickham and others, as Deputy-Lieutenant of the county of Southampton, directing them to billet the sailors landing in those parts in suitable quarters, and not to allow them to be disbanded.

Frances Uvedale, daughter of William and Anne Carey Uvedale, married Sir Edward Griffin of Braybrooke and Dingley, Northampton. He was knighted on 20 May 1625.

King Charles tended to have the same strong stance of his father but avoided a direct dialogue with the Commons. In the first few years of Charles reign Parliament would not grant the King the revenues he was seeking. The House also took a strong anti-Catholic and pro-Puritan stance. One of the leaders of this movement was Sir John Elliot. In 1629 the Parliament got out of hand, in so far as the King was concerned. The King had Elliot thrown in jail where he died 3 years later. The King did not call for Parliament to meet for 11 years.

Early in King Charles reign the English and Spanish went to war for 4 years. In the summer of 1626, the Duke of Buckingham led an unsuccessful expedition to La Rochelle to help the Huguenots who were fighting the King of France. The unsuccessful army returned to Plymouth.

Eight generations before Eunice Spencer, my great-great-grandmother, her ancestor, Walter Palmer, sailed on the 5^th April 1629 on the “Four Sisters” and arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in June of 1629. He took the Oath of Freemen on 18 May 1631. One of the ships in their convoy was the Mayflower. He located in Charlestown, was constable of Charlestown in 1636, then founded Rehoboth in 1643 and finally located and helped found[xiv] Stonington Connecticut in 1653. He is referred to as “the patriarch of the early Stonington settlers”. There are some that say that Walter is the son of Sir John William Palmer and say that Sir John William Palmer died at Duxbury, Plymouth Massachusetts in 1586, if that were so that would make him the earliest European ancestor to arrive in North America.

The lineage for Eunice to Walter Palmer is Eunice daughter of George Spencer (1797 – 1862) born in East Hartford, Connecticut and Mary Ann Wixson (1802-1887); Mary Ann was the daughter of Joseph Wixson (1779-1855) of Claremont (Pickering), Durham, Ontario and Deborah Townsend (1774-1855); son of Solomon Wixson (1751-1813) of Wayne, Steuben, New York and Mary Randall (1756-1837); Mary Randall was the daughter of Joseph Randall (1720-1810) of Stonington, Connecticut and Mary Hodge (1726-?); Joseph Randall was the son of John Randall (1666-1720) of Stonington, Connecticut and Mary Baldwin (1675-1766); Mary Baldwin was the daughter of John Baldwin (1635-1683) of Stonington, Connecticut and Rebecca Palmer (1647-1713); Rebecca Palmer was the daughter of Walter Palmer (1585-1661) of Stonington, Connecticut and Rebecca Short (1610-1671).

In 1633, another of Eunice Spencer’s ancestors, Thomas Spencer, became my second great-grandfather to arrive in North America. He was born in 1607 at Stotfold, Bedfordshire. He married Ann Derifield. His eldest son Thomas[xv]and his brother William came to Hartford in 1636, Connecticut where Thomas is considered one of the founders of Hartford. He is also referred to as “Sergeant Thomas Spencer". He was made a freeman in Cambridge, Mass. on the 14^th of May 1634. He owned various properties in Hartford, including a grant of 60 acres for his service in the Pequot War in 1637. He was the sergeant of the train band and chimney viewer in 1650, was appointed constable on 4 March 1658 and surveyor of highways in 1672. His will, dated 9 September 1686 was proved on the 26^th of October 1687. He also had a woodworking shop in Hartford which is son took over.

The lineage for Eunice Spencer to Thomas Spencer is Eunice daughter of George D. Spencer (1797–1862) born in East Hartford, Connecticut and Mary Ann Wixson (1802-1887); son of George Spencer (1767-1820) of Hartford, Connecticut and Naomi Brainerd (1772-1819); son of John Spencer (1715-1796) of Hartford, Connecticut and Thankful Easton (1723-1776); son of John Spencer (1673-1750) of Hartford Connecticut and Sarah Smith (1674-1764); son of Obadiah Spencer (1639-1712) and Mary Desborough (1641-1709); Obadiah of Hartford, son of Thomas Spencer (1607-1687) and Ann Derifield from Hartford, Connecticut.

A puritan lawyer John Winthrop was one of the leading figures in the establishment and settlement of the nearby Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628. In October of 1629 he was elected Governor of the colony. Eunice Spencer’s mother Mary Ann Wixson was a descendant of Robert Wixom of Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts. Robert Wixom came to Massachusetts in 1630 at the age of seven in the Winthrop Fleet. He was an indentured servant to Captain William Hedge[i]. In 1638 the remaining portion of his contract[ii] was sold to Governor Thomas Prence. Robert was chosen a surveyor in 1655, 1674 1675 and 1676. He was a Constable in 1666. Robert died[iii] in October of 1686. Robert’s daughter married the grandson of Thomas Prence. Robert was sworn a Freeman on 5 June 1651. Robert married Alice Aspinet, the daughter of Chief Nauset Aspinet of the Nauset Tribe (Algonquin). The following is from a book called Cape Cod Indians:

“Robert Wixon, a white man, married the daughter of Chief Aspinet and we find that many of his children, grand, great, and great-great-grandchildren, married with Indians, so that early in the eighteen hundreds’ the white blood was extinct, but the name stayed. However, as the red man's population decreased and the white men increased, it necessitated the family to again intermarry with the "Cape Cod Yankees". One of these Indians, a Potanamaquit ("village on the Herring River") Nauset, fought in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, losing a leg in the service of the country. He returned to Potanamaquit to marry a white woman. His son, Captain Job Wixon, was a renowned sea captain of Brewster.”

Robert and Alice’s had a son, Barnabas Wixon, his Indian name was Pompwono. Chief Nauset Aspinet was the Chief that encountered the Mayflower pilgrims, and, he and his people brought food to the first Thanksgiving Celebration. Barnabas’s son Joshua had a son Solomon who married Mary Randall of Poughkeepsie, New York. She was a great-granddaughter of John Randall, great-grandfather of Eunice, who had arrived in 1666 in Newport, Rhode Island but moved to Westerly in 1667. Solomon Wixson was Mary Ann Wixson’s grandfather.

Because of his puritan beliefs Reverend Thomas Hooker had also escaped England by way of the Netherlands arriving in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1633 onboard the ship “Griffin”. Along with him was Reverend Samuel Stone, his assistant. Samuel Stone was one of Eunice Spencer’s great-grandfathers. Samuel was baptized on 30 July 1602 in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England. He matriculated at Cambridge University, Emmanuel College Easter 1620, received his B.A in 1624 and his M.A. in 1627. Samuel served as a teacher in Cambridge, Massachusetts before moving to Hartford in 1636.

In 1636 voting in Massachusetts was limited to freemen, those who had been accepted as such by their church. Reverend Thomas Hooker disagreed with this limitation of suffrage. This put him at odds with the prominent settler John Cotton. Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone led a group of about 100 persons which founded the settlement of Hartford, named after Stone’s birth place. This led to the establishment of the colony of Connecticut. Thomas Hooker is now called the father of Connecticut. Samuel Stone went on to lead Thomas Hooker’s congregation after he died. Going with them in 1636 were James Ensign and Deacon Richard Butler, both great-grandfathers of Eunice Spencer and also original founders[iv] of Hartford.

James Ensign was baptized in Rye, Sussex, England in June 1606 and died before 23 December 1670 in Hartford, Connecticut. He had emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634, where he was made a “Freeman” on 4 March 1634/5. James married Sarah Elson in about 1630. He was on the Connecticut Petit Jury in 1655, 1656, 1658 and 1661. He was appointed Constable on 6 March 1661.2. On 12 February 1669/70 he was seventh in the list of “brethren in full communion” and his wife was eighth on the “list of sisters in full communion”.

Deacon Richard Butler was born circa 1610 in Braintree, Essex, England and died on 6 August 1684 in Hartford, Connecticut. He emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in about 1633, his brother William is also a founder of Hartford. He came to Hartford with the Rev Thomas Hooker congregation and received land in 1639/40. Richard married Elizabeth Bigelow in about 1640 and his son Sergeant Thomas Buter married Sarah Stone, daughter of Rev. Samuel Stone. Richard was a Deacon in Reverend Hooker’s congregation, along with being a Deputy for Hartford to the Connecticut Court in 1659 and 1660. He was on the Petit Jury on 15 June 1643 and on the Grande Jury on 17 May 1660.

Eunice Spencer’s great-grandfather, Deacon Joseph Easton, was also a “Hartford Founder”. Joseph was born about 1614 in England and died 19 August 1688 in Hartford, Connecticut. Joseph had emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634 and moved to Hartford in 1639. He was a deacon in the Hartford church and was Constable in 1658.

Benjamin Crisp, great-grandfather of Eunice Spencer, was born in about 1611 in England. He came on board the ship “Plough” in 1631 and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He likely came as an Indentured Servant to Major Edward Gibbons He was admitted a “Freeman” on 6 May 1646. He must have had some education as he signed his name in 1666. Around 1666 he moved to Groton. He died in Watertown between 5 November and 21 December 1683.

Francis Baker, great-grandfather of Eunice Spencer, was born in about 1615 in England. The first record of Francis in New England was when he was admitted to dwell at Yarmouth, Massachusetts in 1641. He settled near Follens Pond, at the head of Bass River in Nobesussett Territory, now located in Dennis. In 1641 the first “white man’s” house there was two years old. He married Isabel Twining in Yarmouth on 17 June 1641, the first known marriage of record in Yarmouth. He married a second time to Anne Doane.

Francis Weekes, great-grandfather of Eunice Spencer, was born about 1616 in England. Francis arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1635. He was in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1636. In 1641 he was in New Amsterdam and in 1648 in Gravesend (now a part of Brooklyn, New York). Francis was in Hempstead, New York in 1657 and then moved to Oyster Bay on Long Island. Francis married Elizabeth and one of his daughters, Elizabeth, married Nicolas Simpkins. Francis Weekes died after 3 February 1689.

Nicholas Simpkins, great-grandfather of Eunice Spencer, was born about 1630 in Massachusetts, currently the names of his parents are not known. Nicholas married Elizabeth Weekes.

William Twining, great-grandfather of Eunice Spencer, arrived in Plymouth and was in Yarmouth by 1641. He was able to bear arms in Yarmouth in 1643. He moved to Eastham in 1645, living near Town Cove. In that same year he served against the Narragansetts, he was Constable in Eastham in June 1651. William, or his son, was admitted a “Freeman” on 3 June 1652. He died in Eastham on 15 April 1659.

John Lawrence, great-grandfather of Eunice Spencer, was born about 1610 in England. He is said to have been a carpenter, but was a husbandman as well. By 1636 he was living in Watertown, Middlesex County Massachusetts and was one of its first proprietors. He married Elizabeth in 1635 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. In 1636/37 he was made a “Freeman” and admitted to the Watertown church in 1637. In 1658 he was a Constable at Watertown. In 1662 he sold his property and moved to Groton. In 1662 and 1666 he was chosen a Selectman at Groton. John died on 11 July 1667 at Groton.

William Chase Senior, great-grandfather of Eunice Spencer, was born about 1605 n England, likely in Essex. He married a wife by the name of Mary. There is a record of a son William, son of William Chase and Mary, being christened 27 October 1622 in Chelmsford. He came to New England in 1630 as part of Winthrop’s Fleet. Rev. John Elliot in the First Church of Roxbury, Massachusetts noted “William Chase, he came with the first company, 1630.” William was admitted a “Freeman” 14 May 1634 at the Massachusetts Bay Colony. William lived in Roxbury from 1630 to 1638. He then moved to Yarmouth. William was a Housewright. William died in Yarmouth in mid-May 1659.

Sylvester Baldwin Junior, great-grandfather of Eunice Spencer, was born about 1600 in Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, England. He died at sea aboard the ship “Martin” on his way to America in June of 1638. His wife Sarah Bryan and her surviving children were on board with him at his death. One of the surviving children, John Baldwin, settled in Stonington Connecticut and married Rebecca Palmer, daughter of Walter Palmer and Rebecca Short.

Christopher Smith, another great-grandfather of Eunice, was born about 1591 in England. He was a member of the Society of Friends in Providence, Rhode Island. He married Alice Gibbes in Stratford-upon-Avon, England on 1 May 1616. Christopher first appears in the records of Providence on 2 September 1650. He was included in a list of “Freemen” in Providence in 1655. His granddaughter, Sarah Smith, married John Spencer of Hartford, Connecticut.

Rebecca Short, Eunice Spencer’s great-grandmother, was born in England about 1610. Roxbury, Massachusetts church records say Rebecca was a maid servant, that she came in the year 1632 and married Walter Palmer. Walter and Rebecca were admitted to the first church in Charlestown 1 June 1633. Rebecca died at Stonington, Connecticut on 15 July 1671.

Portchester Castle is located in the estuary adjacent to Portsmouth. It had been built in the third century. King Henry I built the Keep and Richard II built the Great Hall and kitchen in the 1390's. In 1631 King Charles granted to Sir William Uvedale of Wickham the office of Constable of the Castle of Portchester and of Lieutenant of the Forest of Southbere. In 1632 King Charles sold Portchester Castle to Sir William Uvedale of nearby Wickham. The Castle is also close to the Forest of Bere. The Castle was to subsequently pass to the Nortons of Southwick by virtue of marriage and eventually the heir of the Uvedale's put the castle into the care of the Department of the Environment in 1926.

                                                   Photo credit: Gordon Walter Udell

Porchester Castle

After the death of the King and Queen's first child, a son Charles was born on 29 May 1630 followed by Mary, James and Elizabeth.

The Cerne Abbas Churchwardens account for 1630 records that Thomas Uvedale submitted 2d at his own charge for "a seate for himselfe".

Lucy Uvedale, the third daughter of Sir William Uvedale the younger married in Droxford on the 15 September 1632, Thomas Neale, Esq., of Warnford, eldest son of Sir Thomas Neale, Knight.

On 27 November 1634 Ephraim Udall was presented to the rectory of St. Augustine's, Watling Street in London. Ephraim was associated with the puritan movement, but after the great rebellion of 1641 he declared himself to be in favour of the established church.

May 1636 Charles I Volume 536 – “I think Mr. Basseny will be your Lordship’s correspondent here if the sickness drive him not away, which I hope we shall know in two or three weeks. The next term is put off. In Newcastle it is better. There happened a quarrel on Monday at Mr. Obaston’s tennis court. Mr. Uvedale and another gentleman looking on, a gentleman of the Earl of Hertford, Mr. Brooke, came between them, whereat Mr. Uvedale took exceptions. Mr. Brooke answered he knew not why he might not stand there, some other words passed, Mr. Uvedale struck him with a cane, Brooker requited with a ----, which caused Mr. Uvedale to bleed. He spoke big words, and Mr. Brooke told him he knew him not, but his name was Brooke, and he was to be found at the Earl of Hertford’s. Afterwards, Mr. Uvedale spoke some words of the Earl, which came to his ears, who was then in the ground. So his Lordship and Mr. Uvedale went presently to the Park. Mr. Cary, suspecting a quarrel, sent up after them. His keeper found them putting off their spurs, whom they spying, drew on him, but the longstaff beat down both their swords, Mr. Uvedale’s out of his hand, and so no hurt was done. The Marshall’s messenger has Brookes, but Mr. Uvedale is not found.”

In a letter dated 30 July, 1636 Sir Edmund Verney writes, "I am not a little rayled at for not visitygne my friends in Hampshire; I mean Sir William Uvedale and the rest of that good family."

John Udall of Fareham married[xvi] firstly to Francis Blutton on 10 July 1636.

The differences between King Charles and Parliament began to heat up in the late 1630's. In 1639 a rebellion was forming in Scotland for several reasons. Since Parliament had not met and approved funds for the King the Crown was taking back estates that had formerly belonged to the King, secondly there was a struggle between the Protestant Church and the "Popish" Church of England. In order to quench the rebellion King Charles I raised an army of 20,000. Due to the shortage of funds the army was ill equipped and ill trained, however they headed north in March of 1639. By the time the army had made it to Berwick King Charles had recognised he would have to come to terms with the Scots. The Earl of Strafford advised the King to recall Parliament in order to raise the necessary funds to send a proper army to the north.

By a deed dated 28 February, 1638 Sir William Uvedale, kt. conveyed the manor of Tatsfield and the advowson of the rectory, to Sir John Gresham, Knight, of Titsey, for the sum of 2,300 pounds.

On 15 July 1639 Richard Uvedale, son of Sir Richard Uvedale and his wife Frances of Droxford, Hampshire enrolled at Magdalen College, University of Oxford. In 1640 he was a student at the Inner Temple, being trained as a barrister. His father was also referred to as “Sir Richard Uvedale of Holbury”. There was a family living in very nearby at Fawley, Hampshire in 1680 who is likely the son Richard.

In early April 1640 the "Short Parliament" was convened. It had been a long time since Parliament had sat and new leadership was required. John Pym from Somerset assumed a leadership role in this house. He refused to grant any money to the King unless the commons grievances were dealt with. The King was reluctant to deal with the various reforms the people were seeking. Some rioting broke out in and around London. The King had several of the leaders arrested and hung.

The Earl of Stafford had his army brought over from Ireland to fight against the rebellious Scots. Unfortunately, again the army was poorly equipped and expensed and they were defeated at Newburn on 28 August 1640. King Charles had to turn over Durham and Northumberland to the Scots.

The "Long Parliament" was called in November of 1640 to deal with the terms of settlement with the Scots. The Parliament successfully demanded the arrest of the Earl of Strafford and William Laud, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The King also was forced to accept various reforms including declaring illegal any monopolies and taxes imposed without the consent of Parliament, as well as getting rid of feudal tenure. It was also agreed the Parliament had to sit at least every three years. It seemed the commons had lost all respect for the King in the way they interacted with him.

On 9 November 1640 my great-grandfather John Udall, formerly of Fareham, married Elizabeth Bull in Ellastone Staffordshire. His cousins were living on a different level, the daughter of his first cousin, twice removed, born just six years later was about to marry into the Berkeley and Howard families.

St Peter’s Church Register

John Udell and Elizabeth Bull

Sir William Uvedale, Kt. member for Petersfield, is in a list of Members of Parliament in 1640.

Meanwhile, King Charles I was struggling with pressure to try the Earl of Stafford even though he had given his assurance he would be protected. Finally giving in to the pressure in the spring of 1641 the Earl of Strafford was tried and found wanting by Westminster and hung on 12 May.

The reforms being achieved by the commons were spurring the people onto other issues; many of them inspired by Puritan preaching. There was also rioting occurring in various cities where crowds were ransacking old churches, tearing down monuments and burning the contents of church libraries and registries in the public squares.

A more moderate Member of Parliament Lucius Cary, son of Viscount Falkland, and others tried to calm the debates in the house. Susan Uvedale was married to Patrick Cary, younger brother of Lucius Cary. Susan was a daughter of Francis and Anne (Hearst) Uvedale.

Sir William Uvedale, Kt. the younger married Victoria Carey sometime before 1642. She was the second daughter of Sir Henry Carey, Comptroller of the King's Household and K.B., created Viscount Falkland of Fife in 1620. They had a son William, and two daughters Victoria and Elizabeth.

In October of 1641 a thousand English settlers were killed when the Irish rebelled, now that the Earl of Stafford was out of the way. The Commons still demanded a long list of reforms before they would let the King raise an army to go to Ireland. One of my great-grandfathers, David Easton, was forced out of Ireland to Glasgow Scotland as a result.

There were fierce divisions within the House of Commons. The King decided to go directly to the Commons to seek the arrest of the ringleaders of the movement against him. This proved unsuccessful, as the commons would not hand them over. London was in an uproar. The City Council sided with the Commons. Roman Catholics were arrested in the City. The Parliament pushed the King to pass a law transferring responsibility for the military over to the Commons. The King refused.

The Parliamentary forces tended to be led by the "Puritans". The Commons saw this as an opportunity for more freedom and liberty from the nobility. There were however many members of the nobility that sided with Parliament. Many families were divided some siding with parliament, some with the Royalist forces.

Things continued to deteriorate between King and Parliament until September of 1641 when battle lines were drawn. Approximately 3,000 men rallied to the King's assistance. Many of these were the sons of country gentlemen whose income from their tenants was at risk with the reforms.

Prince Rupert, son of King Charles sister Elizabeth and her husband Frederick V, the Elector Palatine joined the King as a commander.

One of the commanders of the parliamentary forces was Robert Devereux, the third Earl of Essex. The Earl had married Francis Howard, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk. She became a mistress of Robert Carr; Viscount Rochester and her marriage was annulled. Essex remarried Francis, daughter of Sir William Paulet, the Marquess of Winchester. Francis allegedly had an affair with Sir Thomas (William?) Uvedale resulting in a separation with Essex.

                                                     Photo credit: Gordon Walter Udell

Saint Peter's

Ellastone Staffordshire Home Church of
John and Elizabeth (Bull) Udall

Sir William Uvedale Kt. of Horton, Dorset was Paymaster of the Royal Forces during the Civil War. He was described as "a handsome man, and most accomplished, and as knowing as much as learning, long travel, and great observation could make him".

In 1642 Lord Clarendon says of Sir William Udall "whom his majesty gave leave under that pretence to intend the business of his own fortune," was sent from Nottinghamshire, where the king was stationed, together with the Earls of Southampton and Dorset, and Sir John Colpepper, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to bear a message of Peace from the King to the two houses of Parliament.

On 23 September 1642 the Parliamentary forces under Essex and the Royal forces under Prince Rupert met at the Battle of Powick Bridge just south of Worchester. Prince Rupert positioned his forces in an open field at the end of a narrow lane upon which the parliamentary forces were advancing. Once a significant number of the Roundheads had entered the field Rupert attacked resulting in the defeat of the forces under Essex.

On 12 October 1642 the King set out for London. On the 23 October the forces met at Rodway in the Battle of Edgehill. The forces under Prince Rupert carried the day. The people of London asked the Parliament to seek peace with the King. Both sides agreed to talks. Meanwhile, the King continued towards London and sacked Brentford on 12 November 1642.

By the time King Charles had reached the outskirts of London the Parliamentary forces had rallied a lot of men to the defence of the City. The King decided to turn back, rather than risk a battle against a much larger force. The King made his way to Oxford where the Royalist's took over the City.

The Royalist forces under Rupert were having significant success in capturing areas controlled by the Roundheads. However, Sir William Waller, a grandson of Lord Dacre, was also having success for the Roundheads in the south. This included sacking Winchester, taking Portsmouth, Farnham and Arundell castles. In Winchester Cathedral the Parliamentary forces destroyed a lot of manuscripts and records. This will likely have included some of the records of the Uvedale’s who had been living in Wickham, just south of Winchester, for 300 hundred years. To the west of Hampshire the Cavaliers were successful over the next six months over the Roundheads. Some of these losses were blamed on the Earl of Essex. There were demonstrations in London against Pym, one of the key political leaders of parliament, and others being exhorted to seek peace.

Ephraim Udall was declared to be popish by the Long Parliament on 29 June 1643. He was ejected from his rectory and the benefits of his office were turned over to one Francis Roberts. His house was sacked and his books and furniture taken away. His "aged and decrepit wife was physically removed into the street”.

The Earl of Essex led an army of 15,000 from London and was successful in raising the siege of Gloucester. The Royalists retreated and manoeuvred to fight the roundheads at Newbury. On 20 September 1643 the Battle of Newbury occurred with large losses on both sides. The King retreated to Oxford and the Earl of Essex to London.

On 8 December Pym died and Oliver St. John and Sir Henry Vane assumed his role.

King Charles I sought the assistance of the Scots and in January of 1644 a Scottish army headed south.

On 18 January 1644 the Royalist's under Lord Byron attacked Nantwich. The parliamentary forces held them off until Sir Thomas Fairfax arrived from Lincolnshire. Fairfax won a decisive battle on 25 January 1644 taking approximately 1,500 prisoners. This was followed by several months of battle victories by both sides.

In April 1644 a battle was brewing in the north, with the Scots and English forces gathering at York against the forces led by the Marquess of Newcastle. Prince Rupert moved north with a force of approximately 14,000, capturing and looting several parliamentary cities on the way. The fierce battle of Marston Moor occurred just north of the City of York. Many were killed on both sides including 4,000 Royalist's.

In July 1644 King Charles I pursued the Earl of Essex through Cornwall to Fowey. The Earl escaped and the infantry surrendered to the King. Cromwell, the Earl of Essex and their Roundhead forces cut off the King's retreat at Newbury near Donnington Castle where another indecisive battle occurred.

Sir William Waller and his forces were positioned at Farnham at the time. We do know that Portchester Castle, owned by the Uvedales, was used to billet troops during the Civil War.

In early 1645 parliament began to implement a plan to create a professional standing army. This was driven by concern of the performance of the military and an interest in such things as common standards; training and common pay systems.

In May of 1645 King Charles I and his army headed north in an attempt to regain control of the area. They commenced by attacking and obtaining the surrender of Leicester. As a result, Sir Thomas Fairfax headed north with an army of 13,000 to engage the King and his army of 8,000. The armies met in the Battle of Naseby. While the Royalists initially were doing well the persistence of Oliver Cromwell and his "Ironsides" prevailed. The King barely managed to escape and 4,000 of his army were captured.

Fairfax headed into the southwest part of the country and in July 1645 he battled and badly defeated Lord Goring's forces near Langport.

Things were clearly turning for the worst for the King, and then Carlisle, Pontefract and Scarborough fell to the Roundheads.

In early September Lord Fairfax laid siege to Bristol, which was being defended by Prince Rupert. On 10 September 1645 Prince Rupert was forced to concede the city when its defences were breached. He was allowed to leave with their horses, colours and men intact. When King Charles heard of this defeat, he was outraged that Prince Rupert had not held the City for longer, as he had been directed. The King revoked his commission and asked him to leave the country.

Several weeks later the Roundheads attacked Chester. King Charles arrived there on the 20th of September 1645 to assist in the defence. The Kings army under the command of Sir Marmaduke Langdale met the Roundhead army near the small village of Rowton where the Royalists were defeated. A few months later Lord Byron surrendered Chester to Sir William Brereton.

The King continued to lose territory through the summer and fall including Winchester and Basing House, home of the Paulet family, Marquees of Winchester, which fell to Cromwell. Many possessions were destroyed including many books and records. Again, this will likely have included numerous references to the Uvedale's. Basing House was destroyed by fire. Approximately 100 persons were killed and several hundred being taken prisoner.

Meanwhile Prince Rupert had no intention of leaving the country without defending his name to the King. He arrived at Newark in order to explain what had happened at Bristol. There he was supported by many of the officers and men. Lord Digby, his adversary at Court, lost the favour of the King.

Lord Fairfax captured Castle Tiverton in Devon.

By the spring of 1646 the majority of the King's positions had fallen to the Roundheads. On 27 April 1646 King Charles I fled Oxford with two companions. They managed to reach Newcastle to raise assistance from the Scots. By June 1646 only a few Royalist strongholds remained.

On 20 June 1646 a Capitulation Agreement was signed. Prince Rupert was banished from England, and Charles Stuart, the Prince of Wales, escaped for France. Several of the other children of the King were placed in St. James Palace under guard.

The Terms of Capitulation were presented to King Charles at Newcastle. The terms included various onerous requirements against the Catholics and the Presbyterians and transfer of control of the military to parliament, amongst otherthings. The King rejected the terms.

Elizabeth, the younger daughter of Sir William Uvedale and Victoria Carey, was baptized at Wickham on 8 June 1646. Her older sister was Victoria.

This was a time of much instability in the country with various factions causing disturbances in the parliament. Many people longed for stability. By the spring of 1647 demonstrations in support of the King were occurring. This had a great deal to do with the strict dictates of the Puritans disallowing people to carry on with their long-standing traditions and cultural events. Parliament again sought an agreement with the King.

Ephraim Udall, son of the martyr John Udall, died in London on the 24 May 1647. Wood described him as "a man of eminent piety, exemplary conversation, profound learning and indefatigable industry" . His funeral sermon was preached by Thomas Reeve and published under the title of "Lazarus his Rest" in 1647. Ephraim was the author of Communion Comlinesse.

In November of 1647 the King escaped from Hampton Court accompanied by Sir John Berkeley and Ashburnham. They made their way through Hampshire to the Isle of Wight, staying in Carisbrooke Castle. Again, the King sought the support of the Scots on the basis that he would support the Presbyterian Church in England. Soon Sir Phillip Musgrave had taken Carlisle for the Royalists and battles broke out in East Anglia and Sussex. Fairfax was successful for the Roundheads in the southeast.

Lucy, third daughter of Sir William Uvedale, married second to Thomas Tomkins, Esq. on 21 February 1648. She had previously been married to Thomas Neale.

In July 1648 the Scots led an army of 10,000 into England where Sir Marmaduke Langdale and 3,000 men joined them at Berwick. The army moved on to Kendal, by then it had grown to 20,000 men. Cromwell, with a force of 10,000, met and defeated the Royalist's at the Battle of Preston.

There is a 1648 reference to Beauchamp Plantagenet describing English settlers making wine in the province of New Albion in a place called Uvedale, now in Delaware.

Phillip Udall is recorded in Gloucester, Mass in 1648. We do not know where in England Phillip originated, but likely it was London.

On 18 January 1649 King Charles I was brought to appear before the High Court in London. Oliver Cromwell was convinced the King had no intentions of agreeing with the Parliaments demands. The King was convicted and beheaded at Whitehall on 30 January 1649.

Charles Stuart, Prince of Wales, made his way into Scotland. Oliver Cromwell took an army north and defeated the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar on 3 September 1650. In January of 1651 the Prince of Wales and a Scottish army again made their way into England where they were defeated. The Prince managed to escape to France.

The Republican Commonwealth 

Parliament under the leadership of Cromwell abolished the Monarchy and established a Republican Commonwealth. Sir William Uvedale Kt., by deed dated 17 December 1651 conveyed the manor of Chelsham, Camberwell, Chiverells and Peckham, in the county of Surrey, to Sir Edward Banister, Kt., and others upon trust, after his death to sell the same, and pay the money thereby raised, as should by his will or writing appoint. Sir William died and was buried on 3 December 1652. His will is dated 17 December 1651. He mentions his wife Victoria, his son William, and daughters Victoria and Elizabeth, another son William, deceased, and two daughters, Lady Francis Griffin and Mrs. Lucy Tompkins. He left the family holdings substantially reduced in his lifetime. The manor of Tatsfield and Chelsham, along with all the lands in Surrey had been sold, likely to pay for the expenses of life at the Court and the Royal cause during the Civil War.

Robert Udall (Uvedale)

On 10 November 1651 a William Uvedale enrolled at Queen’s College, Oxford University, receiving his B.A. on 17 June 1654 and an M.A. from All Souls’ College, Oxford on 15 May 1660. I am not sure who this person is at this stage.

Sir William Uvedale's wife Victoria married Bartholomew Price, Esq., of Linlithgow at St. Benets Church, Paul's Wharf on 14 August 1653.

The Will of Sir William Uvedale, Kt. reads as follows:

"In the name of God Amen. The 17th December 1611. I Sir William Uvedale of Wickham Co. Southton Knight the unprofitable servant of God knowing that all flesh is grasse and considering the very great imperfectnesse of my bodily health do therefore make this my last Will in forme followinge. First willingly rendrng my soule into the handes of God my Creator not doubting (through the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ) to received the same reunited and saved with my body which I commend to the earth to be at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter mentioned privately and decently buried without any pompe or vane expence in my Chappell within the parish Church of Wickham, to which Church I give tenn pounds and to the poore of that parishe tenn pounds. Touching my lands tenements and herditaments whereas I have conveyed my Manors of Wickham Fontly and Porchester Co. Southton for the establishynge of a Joynture on my entirely beloved Wife the Lady Victoria Uvedale and after her decease appointed the same to severall other uses my will is that the same shall stand and be effectuall. 

And whereas I have by my Deed indented bearing date with these presents made between me and Sir Edward Banister of Idsworth Co. Southton Knight William Collins of Southampton Arthur Bold of Petersfield Esq. and Stephen Mayne of Tichfield gent. Granted bargained & sold to them the Manors of Chelsham alias Chelsham Court Co. Surrey and all the lands in Camberwell Chiverells and Peckham or elsewhere in Surrey to the use of me during my life and after my decease to sell and dispose of the same towards the payments of my debts and of the portions bequeathed to Victoria and Elizabeth my daughters I will that until the said Manors are sold mine Executrix do take the rents and profits thereof towards the maintenance and education of my sonne William and of my two daughters Victoria and Elizabeth. 

And I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said daughters Victoria and Elizabeth the summe of fifteen hundred pounds apeice to be paid unto them at their respective ages of sixteene yeares or dayes of marriage which shall first happen. 

And if either of them dye before, then the whole three thousand pounds shall be to the survivor of them. And as for my goods and other my personnall estate I doe hereby give out of the same unto my entirely beloved wife all such jewells as she weareth or hath in her custody and all my plate and all such furniture as she ordinarily hath or useth on and about the Chamber and all my Bedding linnen hangings and all other the furniture and utensells belonging to my house in London to be disposed of at her pleasure. And further I doe give unto her five hundred pounds to be first paid unto her before any other legacies hereby given. And I doe earnestly desire my overseers of this my last will to advise and ayde my said Executrix in the sale of my Stocke and in letting and disposeing of my lands. And as concerning the Bedinge hanging, lynnes wollen brasse pewter and other utensills furniture and houshold stuffe of my mansion house at Wickham my will is that the same shall there remayne and not be moved thence and that an Inventory thereof with a reasonable valuation and appraysall be taken immediately after my decease and that my said wife may have in the said mansion house the use thereof during her life. 

I doe hereby give and bequeath unto my loveing daughters the Laday Francis Griffin and Mrs. Lucy Tomkins the severall summes of twenty pounds apeece - To my loveing brother Sir Richard Uvedale Knight I release one debt of one hundred pounds due from him by bill as alsoe all such summes of money as might have been due unto my sonne William Uvedale deceased from my said brother. To my loveing brother Mr. Francis Uvedale for the use of my godsonne Mr. William Uvedale fiftie pounds. To my servant Stephen Mayne thirtie pounds and to all other servants which shall be in my service at the time of my decease such sum as O doe pay unto them for one halfe yeares wages, over and above their said wages. The residue of my goods and chattells my debts and legacies being paid I give unto my said wife the Ladie Victoria Uvedale whom I hereby make my sole Executrix of this my last Will. 

And I constitute Sir Edward Banister - William Collins Arthur Bold and Stephen Mayne to be overseers thereof and to them I give the sum of twentie pounds to be equally divided between them for severall Ringes to be worne for my sake. In witness whereof I the said Sir William Uvedale have hereto set my hand and seal." 

Cromwell’s Escutcheon

This Will was proved at Westminster 24 August 1654 by Dame Victoria Uvedale Relict and sole Executrix.

On 31 July 1658 William Uvedale, son of Francis Uvedale and Ann Hearst of Horton, Dorset enrolled at Queen’s College, Oxford University. He went on to marry Elizabeth Dowse at Saint Maurice Winchester on 10 September 1663.

Oliver Cromwell died and was buried on 23 November 1658. During the ceremony a Westminster scholar, Robert Uvedale leapt between the legs of one of the soldiers and snatched a satin banner, known as the Majesty Scutcheon, from the bier.

Cromwell’s son “Barebones”, who proved an ineffective leader, succeeded him. There were disagreements between the parliament and army and general concern about stability in the country.

Reign of King Charles II 

Prince Charles was invited back to England and he entered London in May of 1660. The Monarchy was re-established albeit with some reforms. The Monarchy was not to act outside of Common Law and needed the consent of Parliament to tax. The Monarchy was to continue to have responsibility for the military.

It is likely that Charles was a Catholic and he attempted to strike a balance of religious tolerance. In 1660 he sought a Spanish bride but she chose to marry the Austrian Hapsburg heir. Charles then married Catherine of Braganza, and allied himself with the French, King Louis XIV.

Dorothy Vuedale (Uvedale), widow of William Uvedale, died in 1662 in Molsoe, Buckinghamshire. William was the son of John Uvedale and Ann Crouch. In her will she left "a silver porringer and spoon and her seal rings of gold to her son Richard Uvedale". It is reported 156that from this branch of the family another line of "merchants" is descended. Some of the family were members of the Levant Company and worked in Smyrna in Turkey. I am not currently sure how the family ties into the broader family.

It was about this time that the properties of the Dorset branch of the family were transferred to the eldest branch of the family from Wickham as a result of the laws of primogeniture, likely in preparation for division between Elizabeth and Victoria, the two daughters of Sir William Udall. This must have been difficult for the family who were still living in and around Dorset at the time.

Victoria Uvedale, daughter of Sir William Uvedale and Victoria Carey, married Sir Richard Corbet, of Longnor, county Salop, Bart in 1663 or 1664. They had a son Sir Uvedale Corbet born on 4 March 1665.

On 20 May 1664 Victoria Uvedale, now married to Bartholomew Price, granted a lease of the Castle of Portchester to John Antram for ninety-nine years.

Phillip Udall appears as one of the original grantees of land in Flushing LI. U.S.A. in 1666.

Sir Richard Uvedale Kt. of Droxford died in December of 1664 and is buried at Droxford, where a broken slab on the floor of the north chancel marks his tomb. His wife Francis died on the 27 of September 1672 and was buried on 4October 1672 in Droxford church where on the floor of the nave is a large slab with an inscription to her memory.

Elizabeth Uvedale married Sir William Berkeley, Kt., Vice-Admiral of the White, third son of Charles, Viscount Fitzhardinge, who was killed in a naval engagement with the Dutch in July, 1666. She then married Edward Lord Howard (Viscount Morpeth), afterward second Earl of Carlisle.

In 1650 the Netherlands had overthrown their Monarch and established a republic. In 1665 the English and Dutch engage in a war that included the English capturing New York. This was also the year that a great plague left approximately 75,000 dead in London. In 1666 a massive fire destroyed over 13,000 buildings.

In 1667 King Louis invaded the Spanish Netherlands. King Charles II then formed an alliance with Sweden and the Netherlands to stop Louis. These various problems caused the King to have to discharge his lead advisor, Clarendon from his position.

In 1670 King Charles II issued a Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 in which he granted the freedom for private worship for Catholics and public worship for Protestants. There was a suspicion that Charles favoured Catholics and in 1673 the Parliament issued the Test Act in which all civil and military leaders were required to take the Anglican sacrament and declare a lack of belief in transubstantiation. Finally, Charles decided to work with the Anglicans and he made Danby his leading advisor. Danby led a group in Parliament that became known as the Tory Party and the opposition became known as the Whigs led by Shaftsbury.

Richard Uvedale of Molsoe, Buckinghamshire married Elizabeth Baldero at St. Olave's Hart Street in 1677. He died one year later, leaving his wife pregnant with their first child. Richard left 50 pounds to his kinsman Thomas Vuedale who also worked in Smyrna. He became a famous "Turkey Merchant". Richard’s brother Thomas moved to Hampton near London and raised a large family there.

In 1679 the Parliament passed the Habeas Corpus Act thereby ensuring speedy trials for accused.

The Parliament of the time was trying to pass laws excluding Catholics for various privileges, including the throne of England. King Charles II dissolved such a Parliament in the fall of 1679 to avoid having his brother James excluded under such a law.

King Charles was getting support from King Louis of France and therefore avoided calling a Parliament in the last four years of his reign. King Charles died in 1685 and left his brother King James II as his successor.

                       Photo credit: Gordon Wesley Udell

Monument to Victoria Uvedale

Church of St. Wolfrida, Horton Dorset

Reign of King James II 

King James was a Catholic. The Scots led a rebellion against King James led by Argyle, leader of the Campbell Clan. The Royal army was victorious over the rebel forces. A second rebellion was led by Monmouth, he was also defeated and over three hundred of his followers were dealt with harshly in the Bloody Assize of 1685.

Many in the country felt that King James did not deal fairly with the Anglicans and greatly favoured Catholics. The birth of a son by King James resulted in his oppositions increased concern about a Catholic dynasty. The opposition asked Mary, a daughter of King James, and her husband William ruler of the Netherlands, to rule England. They accepted the invitation and in 1688 King James was overthrown. King James fled to France.

Edward, son of Francis Uvedale and Sir Edward Griffin, was created Baron Griffin of Braybrook, at Salisbury, 3 December 1688.

On 7 December 1687 William Uvedale “son and heir of William Uvedale, late of Horton, Armiger’ was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn for training as a barrister.

Reign of King William and Queen Mary 

As part of the understanding that brought William and Mary to power Parliament required that William sign the Bill of Rights in 1689. The Bill included the right of habeas corpus; right to bear arms; freedom of debate; rights of petition; the need for the King to have Parliaments consent for a standing army; precluded the sovereign abrogating laws and require the sovereign be Protestant.

In 1689 King Louis of France attacked the Palatine. King William III joined forces with the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and some German provinces to fight the French. The war was indecisive and concluded in 1697 by the Peace of Ryswick.

Meanwhile the former King James, assisted by the French raised a rebellion against the English in Ireland. The combined forces of the French and Irish were close to defeating Londonderry. However, King William III and an English army of about 35,000 arrived and defeated the combined Catholic force of about 25,000 at the Battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690. James fled back to France and Ireland surrendered.

The Earl of Carlisle, husband to Elizabeth Uvedale died on 23 April 1692. He was buried in the Church of St. Nicholas in Wickham.

Birth Record of John Udall, son of Robert Udall

St Peter’s, Ellastone Register

John Udall, son of Robert Udall and Sarah, was christened in Ellastone, Staffordshire on 8 August 1692. John Udall was grandfather to Mathew Udall.

The siblings of John Udall were Ralph, Robert, Thomas, William, Francis, George, Matthew and Anne.

On 22 June 1693 Thomas Uvedale, the second son of William Uvedale and Elizabeth Dowse, he was enrolled at Trinity College, Oxford University and recorded as “age 15 – son of William, of Horton, Dorset, Armiger”.

The following indenture was executed in 1694;

"Lionel Udall of Exeter, and Sebastian Isaac of Polesloe in the parish of ?? and County of Devon of the one part and Lionel Udall of the City of Exeter Innholder of the other part Witnesseth that the aforesaid Sebastian Isaac for and in consideration for the sum of twenty Gineas and two broad pieces of Gold in the current coin of England unto him in hand did paid by the said Lionel Udall, before the ensealing and delivery hereof: the receipt whereof him the said Sebastian Isaac hereby acknowledgeth. ... doth demise lease grant and to farm let unto the said Lionel Udall" ... All those two closes of ground with the appurtenances, parcel of the Barton of Polesoe aforesaid, called or known by the name Minching Lake Meadows and two other close of ground next adjoining and parcel of the said Barton called or known by the name of Minching Lake Hill. Closes in the whole estimation eleven acres or thereabouts more or less and also all that close of land commonly called or known by the name of Winter Hill now converted into three closes on the south side of the highway near or adjoining unto Minchin Lake aforesaid, containing by estimation six acres and half be it more or less parcel of the Barton of Pollesloe now in possession use and occupation of Phillip Cheeks of the City of Exeter, Merchant his assign or assigns Tenant or under Tenants" then follow other reservations and covenants, and stipulations as to rentals." .. And also yielding and then paying upon and after the several deaths of the said Lionel Udall, son of the said Lionel Udall party to these presents and Anne Udall now wife of the said Lionel Udall ..., the sum of one pound, thirteen shillings and four pence." 

Lionel Udall, who is considered the son in the indenture, brought this indenture to America. This branch of the family is yet to be tied into the broader family. It is interesting to note that the Udalls (Uvedale’s) were definitely in the Inn business, including in Poole, Weymouth, Exeter and London. There is also record of at least two Innholders Robert and Thomas Udall in the 17^th century in Westminster.

Victoria Uvedale died in 1694, at the age of seventy-four, and was buried in the church of St. James, Westminster, on 4 May in that year. The burial register has this entry:

"May 4 , 1694. Lady Victory Udall."

Elizabeth Uvedale died in December of 1696. The burial register in Wickham states as follows:

"The Rt. Honble Elizabeth, Countesse Dowager of ye Rt. Honble Edward Earle of Carlisle, Lord Viscount Morpeth Baron Dacre of Gilsland, was buried 30 December, A.D. 1696." 

Elizabeth's will made at her house in Soho Square on 6 December 1696. It amongst other things bequeathed 100 pounds to be placed out at interest for the benefit of the poor of Wickham. This was known by the name of the Lady Carlisle's charity, and was distributed to the poor of the parish. Elizabeth’s son built Castle Howard.

The will of Elizabeth Uvedale reads in part, as follows

"I Elizabeth Relict of the Right Honourable Edward late Earl of Carlisle 6th December 1696, make my Will in manner and form following. My body I would have decently interred in such manner and at such place as my eldest son the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Carlisle my Executor in his discretion shall think meet. Whereas I am one of the daughters and coheires of Sir William Uvedale Knight deceased and seized in my demesne as of fee simple of and in all the undivided moiety of the several Manors or Lordships of Wickham Fontley and Portchester Co. Southton I do hereby give and devise the said moiety to Reynold Calthropp of Elvetham Co. Southton and Charles Downeing of St. Edmondsbury Co. Suffolk Esq. for 99 years to raise out of them 2000 pounds to be spent principally in the purchase of lands and not houses for the use of a certain Almshouse or Hospitall erected and built by Edward Earl of Carlisle in Brampton Co. Cumberland for the use of the poor admitted there not exceeding six men and six women. 

The residue of my estate real and personal I bequeath to my son Charles Earl of Carlisle for his life and after his death to Henry Lord Morpeth his sonne and heir apparent, and then to all the other sons of Charles - then to William Howard my son - then to Lady Ann his second daughter and in default of any issue to Sir Uvedale Corbet of Longnor Co. Salop Bart,. My nephew. 

Item I five and bequeath for the sue and benefit of the Parish Church of Wickham 100 pounds to be placed out at interest by the Minister Churchwardens and overseers of the poor of the said Parishe and the interest to be applied to the use of the poor as the overseers of the said Parish for the time being shall think fit." Proved in P.C.C 3 February 1697. 

Granville Leveson Gower states,

"With Elizabeth, Countess of Carlisle, expired the elder branch of the house of Uvedale, and not long after her death the ancient family estates were dispersed. On the 3 May 1699, a partition of the property was made between Charles, Earl of Carlisle and Sir Edward Corbet, Bart.” 

By 1698 Thomas Uvedale of the Levant Company was a member of the General Court.

In 1701 Parliament passed the Act of Settlement whereby the crown was to pass to Anne and her descendants. If she had no children the crown would pass to Sophia of Hanover and her heirs. It also required that English Monarchs be Protestant and forbade them to leave England, get involved in a war or pardon an impeached official without Parliaments consent.

The Bourbon King of Spain, Charles II was related to the French Bourbons and the Austrian Hapsburg. If either of these dynasties were to assume the thrown of Spain there was concern that the balance of power in Europe would be upset. King William III of England tried to intervene with a plan to partition Spain upon the death of Charles II. King Charles of Spain was outraged and designated Phillip of Anjou as his heir. The war of the Spanish Succession ensued in 1701.

King William III allied himself with a small group of supporters in Parliament. This was the beginning of the Cabinet system in Parliament. King William III died in 1701 and Queen Anne continued to reign.

In 1702 Louis XIV of France moved to close the Netherlands, the Mediterranean, Spain and South America to English clothing trade. The English went to war over the issue and in 1704 they took Gibraltar to ensure security for their vessels and trade in the Mediterranean.

The Scots offered the Crown of Scotland to William and Mary. However, the Highlanders led by Graham of Claverhouse (Dundee) rebelled at the Battle of Killicrankie. The Highlanders were defeated, most of them swore alliance to William and Mary. Unfortunately, the viceroy of Scotland massacred some of the Highlanders at Glencoe.

After some discussion and disagreement, the Scots and English agreed to an Act of Union in 1707. The act provided that there would be Scots representatives in the Commons and the House of Lords in Westminster.

Edward Baron Griffin of Braybrook, son of Francis Uvedale and Sir Edward Griffin died a prisoner in the Tower of London on 10 November 1710.

Reign of Queen Anne 

The primary English commander during the War of the Spanish Succession was John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. He was victorious at the Battles of Blenhiem, Oudnarde, Malpaquet, Ramilles and others. During this war the English also captured Acadia in what is now Canada. The war ended in 1713 with the Treaty of Utrecht. Through this treaty England acquired Gibraltar, Nova Scotia and the Hudson's Bay territories, amongst otherthings.

Queen Anne died in 1714. The eldest son of Sophia of Hanover, George, followed her as King George I.

Reign of King George I 

In 1715 an uprising began in Scotland where interest in a separate King was strong. A Scots army invaded England but was defeated at Preston and another at Sheriff Muir in Scotland. The former King James II "The Pretender" came over from the continent but soon fled back to France.

After the death of King Louis XIV of France in 1715 his great- grandson assumed the Regency. Phillip of Anjou, now Phillip V King of Spain, was interested in taking the Throne of France. King George went to France and, with the able assistance of his foreign minister Stanhope, was successful in getting an agreement whereby the French and Dutch agreed to exclude James II from their territory.

On 24 February 1715, Francis Udall was born in Ellastone, Staffordshire to John Udall and Esther. Francis Udall was father to Mathew Udall born in 1743.

In 1718 the Dutch, French, Austrians and the English agreed to stand against Phillip V of Spain. Phillip V then concluded the Treaty of Madrid in 1721 to enter into a defensive alliance with England and France and to confirm earlier commercial and political arrangements between the three countries. Sweden then in turn settled their differences with England.

Generally, King George I left the government in the hands of the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole.

John Udall and Esther had a son John christened on 8 April 1722, and then Samuel who was christened in Ellastone on 24 May 1724. Samuel was the father of Mathew Udall born in 1747 in Ellastone.

King George I died in 1727 and was followed by his son King George II.

Reign of King George II 

King George II was self-centred and not particularly interested in England. It was during his reign that affairs in North America began to be mismanaged. He opposed the growth of manufacturing and the sugar industry in the colonies. During this period there was a lot of official corruption and the moral practices in society were low. The Wesley brothers started a reform movement in Oxford. This became the Methodist movement, which also spread to North America.

Lionel Udall of Stonington, Conn. U.S.A. married Abigail Bill on the 30 October 1727.

In 1740 the War of the Austrian Succession broke out. This was a struggle between the Royal Houses of the Bourbon's and the Hohenzollerns of Prussia against the Hapsburgs. It was also a struggle between France and England for colonial and commercial supremacy. Therefore, the English, Hanoverians and Austrians fought against France, Spain and Prussia. The English won a Battle at Dettingen in 1743 but lost at Fontenoy in 1745.

Marriage Record of Francis Udall & Mary Shemilt

St Peter’s, Ellastone Register

Mathew Udall’s Birth Record

St Peter’s, Ellastone Register

There were two boys named Mathew Udall born in Ellastone Staffordshire in the mid 1740's. Mathew Udall, son of Francis and Margaret (Shemilt) Udall (my great-grandfather), christened in St Peter’s church on 13 March 1743 and Mathew, son of Samuel and Anne (Pegge), christened 13 September 1747. It would seem that the priest wrote a "lazy" L in the spelling of the name, therefore we have Udale rather than Udall.

In 1744 during the War of the Austrian Succession, the 19th Regiment of Foot first became known as the "The Green Howards". At that time, the Regimental Colonel was the Honourable Charles Howard, the second son of the third Earl of Carlisle. Charles was the grandson of Elizabeth Uvedale. Following the convention of the time, the Regiment was known as "Howard's Regiment". In the campaign the regiment served with another regiment whose colonel was also a Howard. The 19th regiment were distinguished from the other regiment by being called the "The Green Howards". The other regiment being "The Buff Howards". My ggggreat grandfather, Mathew Udall joined the Green Howards some 20 years later in about 1763.

The English also captured Fort Louisburg from the French in Acadia. In the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 the French and English agreed to restore territories captured during the recent war. The French also agreed to no longer support the Stuart claim for England and to affirm the Protestant succession in England.

In the summer of 1745 the young Pretender, Charles Stuart came to Scotland where the Highlanders warmly received him. He led a Scots army that defeated the English near Prestonpans. In December his army headed south to conquer England, but had to return to Scotland for the winter. In April of 1746 the English badly defeated the Scots at the Battle of Culloden. This was the end of the attempts by the Stuarts to regain the English Thrown.

The Seven Years War occurred between England, Prussia and Hanover against Austria, Russia, France, Saxony and Sweden from 1756 to 1763. The struggle was primarily one for empires. The English were struggling until William Pitt the Elder became Prime Minister. The English Navy gave a good account of itself at such battles as Cape Saint Vincent and Quiberion Bay where two French fleets were annihilated. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Under this treaty the English gained Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and Canada, amongst otherthings, from the French.

In the 1759 Captain Samuel Uvedale is recorded as commanding the Boreas, a 28 gun in the battle against the French. Captain Samuel Uvedale was a descendant of Dr. Robert Uvedale. A small French expedition assembled in the fall to leave the West Indies for Europe. Rear Admiral Holmes learned the convoy along with five frigates was leaving on October 16. Captain Uvedale in the Boreas engaged with the Sirene but was disabled in its rigging and fell astern. Having repaired and caught up to the French frigate a battle ensued. At 4:40 p.m. the Sirene struck it's colours having lost 80 killed and wounded. It was at this time that various ships were supporting the conquest for Canada.

In 1762 Samuel is again recorded as Captain of the Boreas in the expedition against Havana. This expedition included approximately 15,500 men and was commanded by George, Earl of Albemarle. In the late 1780's a controversy arose of the selection of navy commanders. In support of a motion to set up a committee of the House of Commons to deal with promotion Samuel Uvedale is referred to as an example of men who served with distinction in war.

King George II died in 1760 and was followed by King George III, a native of England.

Reign of King George III 

The 19th regiment, or Green Howard's, returned from Belle Isle in December 1761. The war with France had ended in 1761 with the peace of Fontainebleau. They were soon back in action and landed at Gibraltar on 1 September 1763. I believe this is the time that Mathew Udall would have made his way from Ellastone, Staffordshire to the nearby regimental headquarters and enlisted with the 19 Foot. Either that, or the regiment may have made its way through the area the same way the 26th regiment did some 17 years later. The regiment would stay in Gibraltar for the next 8 years. We do know[xvii] that Mathew served with the 19 Foot for 14 years before joining the 26 Regiment of Foot. The Commander was Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas who retired some 4 years later to be replaced by Major Charles Mahood.

In May 1771 the 19th regiment was relieved at Gibraltar. They landed at Portsmouth and were ordered to march to Richmond, Surrey. From there the regiment were ordered north, four companies to Newcastle, five to Tynemouth and one to Clifford's Fort in relief of the 37th Foot.

In April 1772 the regiment marched to Berwick and was stationed in Scotland until 1775, at which time it relocated to Ireland for 5 years. There the regiment stayed at Cork, Limerick, Kinsale and Clonmel. Lieutenant Mahood was replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel James Coates on the 26 October 1775.

It is likely that sometime in the late 1770’s Mathew for some reason left the 19 Foot and returned home to Staffordshire. In late 1779 the 26^th, or Cameronian regiment, were passing through Staffordshire and this is the time that Mathew Udall joined the regiment. He was to stay with the regiment for 21 years, leaving for Canada in 1787, until discharged[xviii] in Halifax, Nova Scotia in December of 1800 as being unfit for service due to age and infirmity.

Meanwhile, the old manor house in Wickham of the elder branch of the Uvedale's, or the "Place House," as it was called, was pulled down about the year 1780. It stood in a field nearly opposite the church in Wickham; some part of the old garden wall remained in the mid 1800's. Jonathan Rashleigh gave a stone from the old manor house bearing the Uvedale coat of arms to Winchester College, possibly in allusion to the tradition of the early friendship between William of Wykeham and the Uvedale family. It was fixed to the outside of the north wall of the College chapel. According to Granville Leveson Gower it was in the mid 1800's fast perishing due to age and exposure to the weather. It was also at about the same time that the old manor house at Titsey, and the church there were being torn down.

Tynemouth Barracks

1783 Tynemouth Muster Roll

Mathew Udall is included on a Tynemouth muster roll, dated the 22nd of February 1783 covering the period from the 25th of June to the 24th of December 1782, in Captain George Duke's company under the command of Major General Sir William Erskine Kt. The Lieutenants were Joseph Moland and Duncan Campbell.

Article Copyright held by Gordon Walter Udell.

[i] L&P Henry VIII, xv, number 321; HoP, 1558-1603, iii, 545-6.

[ii] Muriel St. Clare Byrne: The Lisle Letters; 1983; page 134.

[iii] Muriel St. Claire Byrne; The Lisle Letters; 1983; page 139

[iv] Muriel St. Claire Byrne; The Lisle Letters; 1983; page 141

[v] Muriel St. Claire Byrne; The Lisle Letters; 1983; page 271

[vi] Granville Leveson Gower, Esq., M.P.; Notices of the Uvedale family of Titsey, Surrey and Wickham, Hants; 1865; Page 49.

[vii] London and Middlesex Feet of Fines: 1-12 Queen Elizabeth I.

[viii] Pedigrees From the Visitation of Hampshire by Thomas Benolt, Clarenceulx a 1530: Enlarged With the Visitation of the Same County Made by Robert Cooke, Clarenceulx Anno 1575 Both Which are Continued With the Visitation Made by John Phillipott. Page 47/48.

[ix] Robert Glover, Somerset Herald, Visitation of Staffordshire in 1583

[x] Joseph Foster, Joseph Lemuel Chrester and John Ward Dean; London Marriage Licences 1521-1869; published 1887 by Dalcassian Publishing Company of London.

[xi] Inquisition Post Morteum Elizabeth No. 157

[xii] Burgen op Zone, 17 April. Add. Endd. 1 p. [Holland XXIII. f. 96.]

[xiii] England, Hampshire Parish Registers, 1538-1980.

[xiv] Katherine B. Crandall; The Fine Old Town of Stonington; published in 1949; page 25.

[xv] Charles W. Burpee; History of Hartford County Connecticut 1633-1928; published 1928; Volume 3, page 158 and following.

[xvi] Fareham, Hampshire Parish Records.

[xvii] Canadian Archives; Mathew Udell’s Petition for Land, dated 2 December 1802 at Montreal, Canada.

[xviii] Canadian Archives; Mathew Udell’s Petition for Land, dated 2 December 1802 at Montreal, Canada.

[i] Josiah Paine, Early Settlers of Eastham; Containing Sketches of All Early Settlers of Eastham, published 1836; page 20.

[ii] 1668 Memorandum.

[iii] Josiah Paine, Early Settlers of Eastham; Containing Sketches of All Early Settlers of Eastham, published 1836; page 20.

[iv] Website of the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford.