MARKHAM MEMORIALS VOL. I Being a New Edition, with many additions and corrections, of the ‘HISTORY OF THE MARKHAM FAMILY,’ by the REV. DAVID F. MARKHAM, written by his Son. BY SIR CLEMENTS MARKHAM, K.C.B. HERALDICALLY ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL MARKHAM PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE & CO. LTD., NEW STREET SQUARE, LONDON 1913 A SHIELD OF SUCH COATS AS MARKHAMS OF COTHAM MAY RIGHTLY BEAR. 1. Markham. 11. Staveley. 2. Lexington. 12. Talbot. 3. Bothumsell. 13. Neville. 4. Cressi. 14. Lewis. 5. Bourdon. 15. Somerset. 6. Bekering. 16. Holland. 7. Lowdham. 17. Woodstock. 8. Daubeny. 18. Wake. 9. Leeke. 19. Estoteville. 10. Towers. PREFACE ‘Det er min tro noget i at vare kommen af godt Folk.’—Holberg. THE first history of the Markham Family was written in 1601 by Francis Markham, brother of that unthrifty head of the family, Sir Robert Markham of Cotham, whose extravagance led to the sale of the estates in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. Francis Markham’s narrative embraces the period from the earliest times to the reign of Queen Elizabeth, with numerous illustrative genealogies and roughly drawn coats-of-arms. Although it remained in manuscript, it became the property of the antiquary St. Lo Kniveton,1 and was largely used by Thoroton in his ‘History of Nottinghamshire.’ For three generations from the death of Sir Robert, the last possessor of Cotham, the heads of the family of Markham were without a permanently established home. Moreover one of them had the misfortune to lose all his family papers by shipwreck. As soon as the family once more flourished, through the meritorious diligence and talent of Archbishop Markham, it was important that there should be faithful recorders in the family, to continue the record from the point where Francis Markham’s history breaks off. Fortunately this was the case. In 1783 the Archbishop recorded the fact, in the Heralds’ College, that he was descended from the Markhams of Cotham.2 In the same year his son George, afterwards Dean of York, commenced his researches by visiting Markham Church. He was then only twenty. In 1795 and 1796 George Markham resumed his researches into the history of the family with great diligence, ably assisted by his brother Osborne, who was a lawyer. George collected local information, while Osborne took down 1 Now the property of Sir Clements Markham, K.C.B. 2 Memorandum among the papers of Sir Isaac Herd. Memorandum dated November 18, 1783. V vi PREFACE the evidence of the Archbishop, and of his brothers George and Enoch, as to what was known by Major William Markham, their father, who was born in 1686. Major Markham was positive that his grandfather was the son of the last Sir Robert Markham of Cotham,1 and that his name was Daniel. The testimony of a man as regards his grandfather, but not beyond, is accepted by the Heralds, and was always taken down by Dugdale in his visitations, as evidence. On reference to Thoroton (2nd ed.) it was found that Sir Robert Markham had a son named Daniel. This was conclusive, for Thoroton (2nd ed.) was not published at that time. George and Osborne continued their investigations, both by collecting information from their uncles, and by visiting localities, and studying Thoroton and other works. The result was a collection of papers, and the commencement of a memoir which, however, was never finished.2 About forty years after the date of the researches of George Markham (the Dean of York), his nephew the Rev. David F. Markham, Vicar of Stillingfleet and Canon of Windsor, took up the subject. Posting from Stillingfleet to Windsor and back every year, he passed through Nottinghamshire. He visited the Markham sites, taking numerous notes and making sketches at Markham, Cotham, Laneham, Worksop Lodge, Newark, and Kirby Bellers; while the Hon. and Rev. Richard Cust, Rector of Belton, visited Sedgebrook for him, wrote a full account of the church, and had all the Markham entries extracted from the Registers in March 1836. Mr. Markham also received help from others, especially from old Mr. Bischof, an antiquary at Leeds. He personally made researches among the Harleian and Lansdowne Manuscripts, in the library at Lambeth, and in the Heralds’ College. In 1852 he completed a history which, however, still needed much revision from the author; and he died in the following year. Unaware that it had not received the necessary revision, his son printed it for private circulation in 1854. The title is ‘A History of the Markham Family, by the Revd. David Frederick Markham’ (Bowyer, Nichols and Sons, 1854), 116 pages, with ‘a shield of such coats as Markham of Cotham may rightly bear’; an initial shield and crest; wood engravings of the Markham tomb at Newark, the 1 ‘My grandfather was positive as to being the eldest, and that he was grandson to Daniel, son of Sir Robert Markham of Cotham’ (Letter from George Markham, Dean of York, to his brother Osborne Markham). 2 ‘Family Papers jointly belonging to me, the Admiral, and Osborne G. M., 1815.’ ‘Imperfect Memoirs of the Markham Family, G. M.’ PREFACE vii site of Cotham Hall, the tomb at Cotham, the tomb at Laneham, the house at Kirby Bellers, the lodge of Worksop, and portrait of Gervase Markham. The work is divided into four chapters, for the Markhams of Markham and Cotham, of Ollerton, Sedgebrook, and Becca: with a short preface, and a dedication to the author’s nephew, William T. Markham of Becca Hall. Since this history by the Rev. David F. Markham was printed in 1854, his son, Clements R. Markham, during a period of sixty years, has collected further information from numerous sources, which enables him to revise, correct, and make additions to his father’s work. The most important corrections are the following: (I) The railing letter to Sir Thomas Stanhope (p. 17) was not written by old Sir John Markham in the time of Henry VII, but by a youth of the Sedgebrook line, young John Markham, surnamed ‘Crouchback.’ (2) The duel and other discreditable matters referred to Gervase Markham the author, really belong to a very different man, namely Gervase Markham of the Sedgebrook line (pp. 39-42). (3) The Daniel Markham who made a will in 1690 was not Daniel son of Sir Robert Markham of Cotham, but a young native of Norwich entirely unconnected with the Markham family, (see p. 50). Numerous corrections of less importance were necessary. Information, collected since 1854, had accumulated in the note-books and papers of the Rev. David F. Markham’s son to such an extent that he felt that he would be doing what his father would have wished, if he put them together in a somewhat more permanent form. He had assisted his father by making some researches, and helping him with his work, in 1852. The present Memorials are based on that work. But the additions and corrections are so extensive that the author feels that he must assume the full responsibility for them. He has brought the record up to the latest date, and has added chapters on Markhams of Creaton and the United States. The arrangement is: Book I, Markhams of Markham and Cotham; Book II, Markhams of Ollerton; Book III, Markhams of Sedgebrook; Books IV and V, Markhams of Becca; Book VI, Markhams of Creaton and the United States; the books being divided into chapters. At the end of the second volume there is an Appendix containing Francis Markham’s notes on etymology and derivation of names, dated about A.D. 1600, and the Index. The illustrative coats-of-arms have been beautifully painted by Miss Mabel Markham. The whole forms two volumes of Markham Memorials. CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM. ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME PAGE PREFACE . v BOOK I MARKHAMS OF MARKHAM AND COTHAM CHAPTER I MARKHAM AND ITS EARLY POSSESSORS Derivation of the name Markham—Battle of Markham, on the Idle—The Gainas—Roger de Busli— Tenants of Roger de Busli—Origin of the Markhams—Sir Alexander of Markham—The Lexington marriage—Sir Robert and his co-heiresses—William, Bishop of Wells—Sir John Markham, King’s Serjeant—Sir Robert Markham, King’s Serjeant—Earliest Markham arms . 3 CHAPTER II SIR JOHN MARKHAM, THE JUDGE Case of the Mortimers—Committal of Prince Hal—Marriages of Judge Markham—Children, death, and arms of the Judge—Pedigree of Stanhopes—Markham crest . 10 CHAPTER III MARKHAM CHURCH Architecture—Chancel—Tomb of the Judge—Stone coffin and lid—Tomb of Lady Mering—Stained glass—Old tombs—Font—Tower—Bells—Vicars—Pilgrimages—Pedigree of Cliftons and Markhams . 17 CHAPTER IV FOUR GENERATIONS OF KNIGHTS, 1409-1564 Burials at Sedgebrook—Maplebeck—Children of Sir Robert Markham—Sir Robert for the White Rose—Pedigree of Daubeny—Inheritance of Cotham—Markhams ix x ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE of Oxton—Tomb at Newark—Sir John at the Battle of Stoke—Public employment of Sir John— Sir John’s outlawry—Lady Margaret’s ward—Pedigree of Skipwith—Prosperity of the Markhams—Warlike services of the younger Sir John—Breaking staves at Terouenne—Sir John, Lieutenant of the Tower—Sir John Markham’s expenses—Sir John Markham’s Will—Sir John’s wife of the blood of Lancaster—Children of Sir John Markham—Arms and crest, temp. Henry VIII . 23 CHAPTER V ISABELLA MARKHAM (HARINGTON) Pedigree of Harington—Maids of Honour at Hatfield—Courtship of John Harington—Marriage of Isabella Markham—John Harington and his wife—The Queen’s godson—Anecdote of Isabella Harington—Notice of Sir John Harington . 41 CHAPTER VI ROBERT MARKHAM OF COTHAM Lancastrian Pedigree—An unjust will—Lewes Pedigree—Letter to Sir John Harington—Harington’s letter on Queen Elizabeth—Robert Markham’s place at Court—The Queen on her Nottinghamshire Knights—The feud with ‘Black Markham’—Marriages of Robert Markham—Pedigree of Leake— Burnell of Winkburn—Children of Robert Markham—Children of Lady Sadleir .