Sir John Leveson (21 March 1555 – 14 November 1615) was an English politician. He was instrumental in putting down the Essex rebellion of 8 February 1601.
John Leveson, born 21 March 1555 at Whornes Place, Cuxton, Kent, was the eldest son of Thomas Leveson (1532–1576), second son of the London mercer Nicholas Leveson (d.1539) by Denise or Dionyse Bodley (d.1561), youngest daughter of Thomas Bodley (d.1493) and Joan Leche (d. March 1530).[1] His mother was Ursula Gresham (1534–1574), one of the twelve children of Sir John Gresham, Lord Mayor of London.[2]
According to Wisker, Leveson was an efficient estate manager and 'an excellent public servant'. He was a close associate in Kent of William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham, and eventually one of the executors of his will. He was also a captain in Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby's 1589 expedition to France. He was knighted in 1589, and helped raise volunteers for three of Sir John Norris's expeditions in 1589, 1596 and 1601.[2] He was a cousin of Sir Richard Leveson, and with him was involved in the shipment of 2000 soldiers sent to Ireland in 1601.[2]
While riding to his house at the Blackfriars, London, on 8 February 1601 Leveson inadvertently became instrumental in suppressing the rebellion of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, taking command of a force on Ludgate Hill and placing a barrier across the street. Within half an hour Essex's men tried to force their way through, and in the resulting skirmish Essex's stepfather, Sir Christopher Blount was injured, whereupon Essex withdrew with his men to Essex House.[4]
He died at Whornes Place on 14 November 1615, and was buried in the parish church at Cuxton on 22 November.[2]
Marriages and issueedit
Leveson married firstly, on 27 April 1579, Margaret Manwood (d. 26 April 1585), the daughter of Sir Roger Manwood,[2] by whom he had three daughters who died in the lifetime of their father.[5]
Leveson married secondly, on 9 July 1586, Christian Mildmay (d. February 1627), widow of Charles Barrett by whom she was the mother of Edward Barrett, 1st and last Baron Barrett, and daughter of Sir Walter Mildmay,[2] by whom he had five sons, three of whom died within the lifetime of their father, and five daughters, four of whom died within the lifetime of their father.[5]
Among Leveson's children who lived to adulthood were:
Sir John Leveson (d.1613), who married Frances Sondes (1592–c.1634), the daughter of Thomas Sondes (1544–1593) of Throwley, Kent, by Margaret Brooke (1563–1621), the youngest daughter of William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham, and died of plague in December 1613,[5] predeceasing his father and leaving two infant daughters, Christian and Frances.[6][7] After Sir John Leveson's death, Frances married, as his first wife, Thomas Savile (bap. 14 September 1590 – c.1659), later Earl of Sussex. There were no issue of the marriage. After Frances' death, Savile married secondly, shortly after November 1640, Anne Villiers, only daughter of Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey, by Elizabeth Sheldon, the daughter of Thomas Sheldon.[8]
Richard Leveson. Richard was made heir to the large but heavily indebted Shropshire and Staffordshire estates of his relative and namesake, Vice-Admiral Richard Leveson, who died in 1605. Sir John was much concerned in his later years, as head of a family trust, with the struggle to rectify the financial position of the Leveson estates. He died with the issue unresolved but his wife, Christian, was able to pay off the debts and secure the inheritance of their second son in 1623. He was a regionally important as royalist in the English Civil War.
^Newport, Sir Francis (c.1555–1623), History of Parliament. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
^Parishes: Dowles', A History of the County of Worcester: volume 4 (1924), pp. 262-265. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
Referencesedit
Cokayne, George Edward (1936). The Complete Peerage, edited by H.A. Doubleday and Lord Howard de Walden. Vol. IX. London: St. Catherine Press. p. 554.
Cokayne, George Edward (1953). The Complete Peerage, edited by Geoffrey H. White. Vol. XII, Part I. London: St Catherine Press. pp. 531–2.
Corrigan, Brian Jay (2004). Playhouse Law in Shakespeare's World. Cranbury, NJ: Associated University Presses. pp. 64–71. ISBN9780838640227. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
Honigmann, E.A.J. (1998). Shakespeare: The 'Lost Years'. Manchester: Manchester University Press. pp. 87–9. ISBN9780719054259. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
Hotson, Leslie (1937). I, William Shakespeare Do Appoint Thomas Russell, Esquire... London: Jonathan Cape. pp. 160–8, 218–19, 228, 231.
Leveson Gower, Granville (1883). Genealogy of the Family of Gresham. London: Mitchell and Hughes. p. 21. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
McKeen, David (1986). A Memory of Honour; The Life of William Brooke, Lord Cobham. Vol. 2. Salzburg: Universitat Salzburg. pp. 424–9, 702, 752.
Overall, W.H. (1875). "Notes on Two Monumental Brasses in the Church of Saint Andrew-Under-Shaft, Leadenhall Street". Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society. London: J.B. Nichols and Sons. pp. 287–96. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
Sutton, Anne F. (1994). "Lady Joan Bradbury (d. 1530)". In Barron, Caroline M.; Sutton, Anne F. (eds.). Medieval London Widows 1300-1500. London: Hambledon Press. pp. 209–238. ISBN9781852850852. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
Wisker, Richard (2004). "Leveson, Sir John (1555–1615)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/46972. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
External linksedit
Will of Nicholas Leveson, proved 18 October 1539, National Archives. Retrieved 6 April 2013
Will of Nicholas Leveson, The Sutherland Collection, Staffordshire Archives. Retrieved 6 April 2013
Will of Dionyse Leveson, proved 20 December 1560, National Archives. Retrieved 6 April 2013
Will of Thomas Leveson of Halling, Kent, proved 20 October 1576, National Archives. Retrieved 6 April 2013
Will of Sir John Leveson of Halling, Kent, proved 10 November 1615, National Archives. Retrieved 8 April 2013
Leveson, Sir John (1556–1615), History of Parliament. Retrieved 6 April 2013
Will of William Leveson, proved 21 June 1621, National Archives. Retrieved 8 April 2013
Will of Sir Thomas Sondes of Throwley, Kent, proved 7 February 1593, National Archives. Retrieved 13 April 2013
October 27, 2023
john, leveson, march, 1555, november, 1615, english, politician, instrumental, putting, down, essex, rebellion, february, 1601, born21, march, 1555whornes, place, cuxton, kentdied14, november, 1615whornes, place, cuxton, kentburiedcuxton, kentspouse, margaret,. Sir John Leveson 21 March 1555 14 November 1615 was an English politician He was instrumental in putting down the Essex rebellion of 8 February 1601 Sir John LevesonBorn21 March 1555Whornes Place Cuxton KentDied14 November 1615Whornes Place Cuxton KentBuriedCuxton KentSpouse s Margaret ManwoodChristian MildmayIssueSir John LevesonRichard LevesonFrancis Levesontwo other sonsRachel Levesonseven other daughtersFatherThomas LevesonMotherUrsula Gresham Contents 1 Family 2 Career 3 Marriages and issue 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksFamily editJohn Leveson born 21 March 1555 at Whornes Place Cuxton Kent was the eldest son of Thomas Leveson 1532 1576 second son of the London mercer Nicholas Leveson d 1539 by Denise or Dionyse Bodley d 1561 youngest daughter of Thomas Bodley d 1493 and Joan Leche d March 1530 1 His mother was Ursula Gresham 1534 1574 one of the twelve children of Sir John Gresham Lord Mayor of London 2 Leveson had a younger brother William Leveson d 1621 one of two trustees used by William Kempe Thomas Pope d 1603 Augustine Phillips d 1605 John Heminges bap 1566 d 1630 and William Shakespeare 1564 1616 to allocate shareholdings in the Globe Theatre in 1599 3 Career editLeveson matriculated at Queen s College Oxford on 10 January 1576 and studied for a time at Gray s Inn 2 According to Wisker Leveson was an efficient estate manager and an excellent public servant He was a close associate in Kent of William Brooke 10th Baron Cobham and eventually one of the executors of his will He was also a captain in Peregrine Bertie 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby s 1589 expedition to France He was knighted in 1589 and helped raise volunteers for three of Sir John Norris s expeditions in 1589 1596 and 1601 2 He was a cousin of Sir Richard Leveson and with him was involved in the shipment of 2000 soldiers sent to Ireland in 1601 2 While riding to his house at the Blackfriars London on 8 February 1601 Leveson inadvertently became instrumental in suppressing the rebellion of Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex taking command of a force on Ludgate Hill and placing a barrier across the street Within half an hour Essex s men tried to force their way through and in the resulting skirmish Essex s stepfather Sir Christopher Blount was injured whereupon Essex withdrew with his men to Essex House 4 Leveson was a Member of Parliament for Bossiney in 1586 Maidstone in 1597 and 1601 and for Kent in 1604 5 He died at Whornes Place on 14 November 1615 and was buried in the parish church at Cuxton on 22 November 2 Marriages and issue editLeveson married firstly on 27 April 1579 Margaret Manwood d 26 April 1585 the daughter of Sir Roger Manwood 2 by whom he had three daughters who died in the lifetime of their father 5 Leveson married secondly on 9 July 1586 Christian Mildmay d February 1627 widow of Charles Barrett by whom she was the mother of Edward Barrett 1st and last Baron Barrett and daughter of Sir Walter Mildmay 2 by whom he had five sons three of whom died within the lifetime of their father and five daughters four of whom died within the lifetime of their father 5 Among Leveson s children who lived to adulthood were Sir John Leveson d 1613 who married Frances Sondes 1592 c 1634 the daughter of Thomas Sondes 1544 1593 of Throwley Kent by Margaret Brooke 1563 1621 the youngest daughter of William Brooke 10th Baron Cobham and died of plague in December 1613 5 predeceasing his father and leaving two infant daughters Christian and Frances 6 7 After Sir John Leveson s death Frances married as his first wife Thomas Savile bap 14 September 1590 c 1659 later Earl of Sussex There were no issue of the marriage After Frances death Savile married secondly shortly after November 1640 Anne Villiers only daughter of Christopher Villiers 1st Earl of Anglesey by Elizabeth Sheldon the daughter of Thomas Sheldon 8 Christian Leveson married to Sir Peter Temple 2nd Baronet by whom she was the mother of Sir Richard Temple 3rd Baronet Richard Leveson Richard was made heir to the large but heavily indebted Shropshire and Staffordshire estates of his relative and namesake Vice Admiral Richard Leveson who died in 1605 Sir John was much concerned in his later years as head of a family trust with the struggle to rectify the financial position of the Leveson estates He died with the issue unresolved but his wife Christian was able to pay off the debts and secure the inheritance of their second son in 1623 He was a regionally important as royalist in the English Civil War Francis Leveson Rachel Leveson who married Richard Newport 1st Baron Newport 7 May 1587 8 February 1651 of Eyton and High Ercall Shropshire 9 10 11 Notes edit Sutton 1994 pp 210 13 229 Overall 1875 pp 287 91 a b c d e f g Wisker 2004 Hotson 1937 pp 160 1 Corrigan 2004 pp 64 71 Honigmann 1998 pp 87 9 Hotson 1937 pp 165 8 Wisker 2004 a b c d Leveson Sir John 1556 1615 History of Parliament Retrieved 6 April 2013 McKeen 1986 pp 424 9 702 752 Parishes Throwley The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent Volume 6 1798 pp 445 461 Retrieved 13 April 2013 Cokayne 1953 pp 531 2 Cokayne 1936 p 554 Newport Sir Francis c 1555 1623 History of Parliament Retrieved 13 April 2013 Parishes Dowles A History of the County of Worcester volume 4 1924 pp 262 265 Retrieved 13 April 2013 References editCokayne George Edward 1936 The Complete Peerage edited by H A Doubleday and Lord Howard de Walden Vol IX London St Catherine Press p 554 Cokayne George Edward 1953 The Complete Peerage edited by Geoffrey H White Vol XII Part I London St Catherine Press pp 531 2 Corrigan Brian Jay 2004 Playhouse Law in Shakespeare s World Cranbury NJ Associated University Presses pp 64 71 ISBN 9780838640227 Retrieved 6 April 2013 Honigmann E A J 1998 Shakespeare The Lost Years Manchester Manchester University Press pp 87 9 ISBN 9780719054259 Retrieved 6 April 2013 Hotson Leslie 1937 I William Shakespeare Do Appoint Thomas Russell Esquire London Jonathan Cape pp 160 8 218 19 228 231 Leveson Gower Granville 1883 Genealogy of the Family of Gresham London Mitchell and Hughes p 21 Retrieved 8 April 2013 McKeen David 1986 A Memory of Honour The Life of William Brooke Lord Cobham Vol 2 Salzburg Universitat Salzburg pp 424 9 702 752 Overall W H 1875 Notes on Two Monumental Brasses in the Church of Saint Andrew Under Shaft Leadenhall Street Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society London J B Nichols and Sons pp 287 96 Retrieved 8 April 2013 Sutton Anne F 1994 Lady Joan Bradbury d 1530 In Barron Caroline M Sutton Anne F eds Medieval London Widows 1300 1500 London Hambledon Press pp 209 238 ISBN 9781852850852 Retrieved 7 April 2013 Wisker Richard 2004 Leveson Sir John 1555 1615 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 46972 Subscription or UK public library membership required External links editWill of Nicholas Leveson proved 18 October 1539 National Archives Retrieved 6 April 2013 Will of Nicholas Leveson The Sutherland Collection Staffordshire Archives Retrieved 6 April 2013 Will of Dionyse Leveson proved 20 December 1560 National Archives Retrieved 6 April 2013 Will of Thomas Leveson of Halling Kent proved 20 October 1576 National Archives Retrieved 6 April 2013 Will of Sir John Leveson of Halling Kent proved 10 November 1615 National Archives Retrieved 8 April 2013 Leveson Sir John 1556 1615 History of Parliament Retrieved 6 April 2013 Will of William Leveson proved 21 June 1621 National Archives Retrieved 8 April 2013 Will of Sir Thomas Sondes of Throwley Kent proved 7 February 1593 National Archives Retrieved 13 April 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Leveson amp oldid 1164916207, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
