Biography of Robert Southwell 1506-1559

In or before 1503 [his father] Francis Southwell (age 26) and [his mother] Dorothy Tendering (age 17) were married.

Around 1506 Robert Southwell was born to Francis Southwell (age 30) and Dorothy Tendering (age 21) at Windham Manor, Norfolk.

In or before 1524 [his son-in-law] Thomas Sydney (age 23) and [his daughter] Mary Southwell were married. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1529 Robert Southwell (age 23) was elected MP King's Lynn.

In 1531 Robert Southwell (age 25) was obliged to pay £1,000 for a pardon for his involvement with his two brothers Robert Southwell and [his half-brother] Francis Southwell of Wymondham (age 19) for the murder of Sir William Pennington. The pardon was later confirmed by Act of Parliament (25 Hen. VIII, c.32).

In 1534 Robert Southwell (age 28) was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk and High Sheriff of Suffolk.

In 1536 Robert Southwell (age 30) was appointed Master of Requests.

In 1536 Robert Southwell (age 30) was elected MP King's Lynn.

On 01 May 1536 Robert Southwell (age 30) and Margaret Neville (age 16) were married at Mereworth, Kent. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 24 Mar 1537 [his son] Thomas Southwell was born to Robert Southwell (age 31) and [his wife] Margaret Neville (age 17) at Mereworth, Kent.

In 1538 [his daughter] Anne Southwell was born to Robert Southwell (age 32) and [his wife] Margaret Neville (age 18).

In 1539 Robert Southwell (age 33) was appointed Commissioner for the Suppression of Monasteries.

In 1539 Robert Southwell (age 33) was elected MP King's Lynn.

In 1543 Robert Southwell (age 37) was appointed Master of the Rolls which position he held until 1550.

Around 1552 [his daughter] Dorothy Elizabeth Southwell was born to Robert Southwell (age 46) and [his wife] Margaret Neville (age 32).

In Oct 1553 Robert Southwell (age 47) was elected MP Kent.

On 28 Jan 1554 the Battle of Hartley was fought at Hartley Sevenoaks, Kent between a rebel force of Wyatt's Rebellion led by Henry Isley (age 54) and a loyal royalist force led by Henry Neville 6th and 4th Baron Bergavenny (age 24) and Robert Southwell (age 48). The rebels were defeated. Rebel Anthony Knyvet (age 37) fought and was captured.

In Oct 1555 Robert Southwell (age 49) was elected MP Kent.

On 26 Oct 1559 Robert Southwell (age 53) died at Mereworth, Kent.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 08 Nov 1559. [The viij day of November was buried in Kent] ser Robartt Sowthwell (deceased) knyght, sum-tyme master of the rolles, with a harold of armes, and a standard, a penon of armes, a cot armur, a target, a elmett, and a viij dosen skochyons of armes.

Note. P. 217. Funeral of sir Robert Southwell. Constituted master of the rolls July 1, 1542; resigned in 1550. He was brother to sir [his brother] Richard Southwell (age 56), a member of the privy council, and executor to Henry VIII. Sir Robert resided at Jotes Place in the parish of Mereworth, Kent. (Hasted, iii. 269.)

On 25 Dec 1575 [his former wife] Margaret Neville (age 55) died.

[his daughter] Mary Southwell was born to Robert Southwell and Margaret Neville.

Ancestors of Robert Southwell 1506-1559