Biography of Robert Keilway 1497-1581

In 1497 Robert Keilway was born to Robert Keilway (age 14).

In 1533 Alexander Unton (age 39) and [his future wife] Cecily Bulstrode (age 18) were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years.

In or after 1537 [his father] Robert Keilway (age 54) died.

In 1545 Robert Keilway (age 48) was elected MP Bristol.

In 1546 Robert Keilway (age 49) was appointed Surveyor of the Court of Wards and Liveries.

In 1547 Robert Keilway (age 50) was elected MP Bristol.

After 16 Dec 1547 Robert Keilway (age 50) and Cecily Bulstrode (age 32) were married.

In 1549 Robert Keilway (age 52) was appointed Custos Rotulorum Berkshire.

In 1552 Robert Keilway (age 55) was appointed Serjeant at Law.

Around 1554 [his daughter] Anne Keilway Baroness Harington was born to Robert Keilway (age 57) and [his wife] Cecily Bulstrode (age 39).

On 29 Apr 1555 [his step-son] Edward Unton (age 21) and Anne Seymour (age 17) were married. They had seven children. She the daughter of Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset and Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset (age 58). She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1559 Robert Keilway (age 62) was elected MP Steyning.

In 1573 [his son-in-law] John Harington 1st Baron Harington (age 33) and [his daughter] Anne Keilway Baroness Harington (age 19) were married. His father James Harrington (age 62) gave him Burley-on-the-Hill House as a wedding present.

On 21 Feb 1581 Robert Keilway (age 84) died. His only child [his daughter] Anne Keilway Baroness Harington (age 27) and her husband [his son-in-law] John Harington 1st Baron Harington (age 41) inherited the Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire [Map] and Coombe Abbey [Map] estates.

After 21 Feb 1581. Church of St Peter and St Paul, Exton, Rutlandshire [Map]. Elizabethan Period monument to Robert Keilway (deceased). This memorial is attributed by Pevsner to Nicholas Johnson and by others to Nicholas Stone. Made of various marbles, a large standing wall monument of 1580, richly decorated and with a recumbant and kneeling figures of the whole family, in an aedicule, capped by obelisk, arms, etc.

His son-in-law John Harington 1st Baron Harington (age 41).

His daughter Anne Keilway Baroness Harington (age 27).

His grandson Kelwey who died aged 21 weeks.

His grand-daughter Lucy Harrington Countess Bedford (age 1).

His feet resting on a horse with its head turned back.

A Harpy. The begin to appear at the end of the 16th Century - see All Saints Church, Turvey [Map].

The same armorial on both sides include Harrington Arms, Keilway Arms

His arms quartered 1: Keilway Arms.

A separate wall mounted monument to Robert Keilway (age 84) with the inscription "Here lies Robert Keylway a distinguished esquire among civilians (whilst he lived), renowned for talent, learning and virtue, who loved retirement, lived as a Christian and died in the Lord on the 21st of February 1581 in the year of our Salvation, 1580, and the 84th year of his age. He left Anne (age 27) his sole heiress and only dearly loved daughter married to John Harrington of Exton, Knt (age 41), whom he had always affectionately loved as a son and friend, by which Anne (age 27) the said John (age 41) had during the life of the aforesaid Robert (deceased) two children, a son, Kelwey, who died Dec. 2nd, 1570, 21 weeks old, and lies buried here with his grandfather, and also a daughter Lucy (age 1) still surviving, and may God grant her a long life. To pay, therefore, a just tribute to so dear and affectionate a parent and to leave to posterity an evidence of their deep gratitude, the said John (age 41) and Anne (age 27) have raised this. Monument and dedicated to their father, Keylwey, and their son Keylwey (to their lasting memory if it so please God) and design it, if God will, as a sepulchre for themselves also".

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 01 Jan 1623. The 1st day of January, at night, I came into commons at the Temple, where there was a lieutenant chosen, and all manner of gaming and vanity practised, as if the Church had not at all groaned under those heavy desolations which it did.1 Wherefore I was very glad, when on the Tuesday following, being the 7th day of the same month, the House broke up their Christmas, and added an end to those excesses. On Monday, January the 13th, I took a new law-case to come in and moot upon in our open hall, tn law-French, on Thursday night after supper, next ensuing. I studied close to finish it against the time, being very short, and then performed it with good success. The next day being Friday, January the 17th, about twelve of the clock in the forenoon, I set out from London and came to Busbridge, to my brother Elliot's, towards the shutting in of the evening, where my father with his family had remained during the late festival days; where having solaced myself a few days, on Monday, January the 20th, we all departed with my father towards London. The sharpness of the weather and the snow lying on the ground, made him take up his inn at Kingston on the Thames [Map], from whence we came early the next day to London, and I settled moderately well to my study. There happened about this time little less than a prodigy in the river Thames; for on Sunday, January the 19th, towards the evening, it flowed three several times in five hours: and during the same time in divers places not far distant from each other, it ebbed one way and flowed anotber; and the next day flowed twice and ebbed thrice in three hours. I spake with some of the ancient watermen about it, and they affirmed the like had never happened in their memories, but a little before the rising of Robert D'Evereux, Earl of Essex, towards the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's reign. On Monday, February the 10th, at night after supper I performed another law exercise, by arguing some moot-points at an inn of Chancery called New Inn; and on Saturday, the 16th day of the same month, having finished the fifth part of my Lord Coke's Reports, I began Keilway's Reports, which I read afterwards with more satisfaction and delight than I had done formerly any other piece of our common law.

Note 1. "The lieutenant of the Middle Temple played a gome this Chriitmas time, whereat his Majesty was highly displeased. He made choice of some thirty of the civillest and best-fashioned gentlemen of the house to sup with him; and being at supper, took a cup of wine in one hand, and held his sword drawn in the other, and so began a health to the distressed Lady Elizabeth; and having drunk, kissed his sword, and laying his hand upon it, took an oath to live and die in her service; then delivered the cup and sword to the next, and so the health and ceremony went round." - Harlian MSS.

Royal Descendants of Robert Keilway 1497-1581

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 1