Thomas Babington

Citations

1. [S918] Charles Cox, Noteson the Churches of Derbyshire, pages 26,27 - At the east end of the south aisle was the " Babington Quire," enclosed by handsomely-carved screen-work, in the which were two doors, provided with lock and key, one from the south aisle, and one from the body of the church. Over the former of these doors were the arms of Babington impaling the unknown coat now on the screen, and over the latter Babington impaling Fitzherbert. The partition forming this quire has long ago been destroyed, but these two escutcheons were preserved and hung against one of the pillars which divides the south aisle from the nave. But in 1848 they were placed upon the rood-screen, which has been already described. The year before this restoration G. T. C. writes :- " The Babington chantry occupied the eastern bay of the south aisle, and enough of the wooden screen remains to show that it resembled the Babington pew, of about the same date, in the north aisle at Rothley." This quire, or chapel, was founded in 1511, by Thomas Babington, when he also erected the rood-screen and the singing gallery over it, the endowment of which was valued in 1547 at £5 Ob. 4d. per annum. The following is a verbatim copy of the description of this chapel in the Chantry Roll:-" The Chauntry of Babington founded by Thos. Babyngton, Esq., for a prieste to synge masse within the paryshe church and to pray for his soule, etc., by foundacyon dated Ao. Dui. Md. xi and by the kyngs lycense Ao. iijo. Regis nunc cj*. iiijrf. clere iiij li xvijs. vj. besyds viij li. xxrf. payd in rents resolute to Thomas Babyngton esq., for the wagis of a priste at Dethecke iiij li. for the price of breade and herryngs gyven to everye householder there vj Sondayes in Lente everye of them d and lykewyse on Good Frydaye and S. Valentynes days to everye one of them ob. eyther of the dayes; about his obitte yerlie, and S. Valentynes daye to priests and clerkes vt. Rich. Sewdall Chauntrye prist. It hath a mancyou prised at ijs. by yere. Stocke iiij li. xix*. viijThomas Babington, on the death of his wife Editha, erected a magnificent monument to the joint memories of himself and his wife, within this chantry. Editha was the daughter of Ralph Fitzherbert of Norbury, by Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Marshall of Upton, Leicestershire, and sister of Sir Anthony Fitzherbert, the celebrated jndge. This monument still remains, and consists of a table monument of alabaster, supporting two elaborately carved effigies.
   The east end, or foot, of this monument has been most barbarously built into the wall, and it is very difficult to examine some of its details from the strange way in which it is boxed up by the surrounding pews. It is now almost impossible to trace a word of the inscription which formerly ran round the margin. The man's head is uncovered, and he has straight hair. The head rests on a pillow, supported at each side by a small figure of an angel. He is clad in a long plaited gown down to his feet; round the neck is a double chain composed of plain square links. On the right hand side is attached to his girdle a gypciert or purse, which was usually worn by civilians of that period. His hands are folded on his breast, and each fourth finger is adorned with a ring, whilst the feet rest on an animal of which it is hard to say whether it is intended to represent a lion or a dog-probably the former. The lady is clad in a close-fitting robe, fastened at the neck by tasselled cords, which are curiously twisted over the front of the figure. On the head is the angular head-dress with pendant lappets. She has a ring on the fourth finger of the left hand, and another on the little finger of the right These effigies are both painted all over, with the exception of the hands and faces, in dull colours- red and green predominating. This colouring is evidently not quite modern, but it is equally evident that the pigments are vastly different from those which must have been originally used. The three sides of this monument, that are to some degree exposed, are beautifully carved with rich crocketed canopies, beneath which stand numerous small figures representing the fifteen children of Thomas and Editha Babington, and their respective marriages. On the south side there are six of these canopies ; beneath each of the end ones are three figures, and the four others cover two apiece. At the head there are two single figures, and a double one in the centre, and these are flanked on each side by an angel bearing an uncharged shield. On the north side there are again two canopies, one covering three figures, and the remainder two apiece. All the female figures are clothed alike and adorned with chains and jewels. The males have for the most part pouches on their right side, and shields in their left hands, but one is in armour of mail, with a surcoat over it, and on his breast a cross flenry. This must be intended to represent the second son. The following is a list of the fifteen children and their marriages:-
   1.-Sir Anthony Babington. He had two wives, the first being Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Ormund, of Alfreton (she died in 1505), and the second Catherine, daughter of Sir John Ferrers, of Walton and Tamworth. He died in 1544, aged 69.
   2.-John B. Knight of Rhodes, in which Order he held various important offices, the last being that of Grand Prior of Ireland, to which he was appointed in 1527. There was formerly a slab in
   the south aisle of Ashover, inscribed "John Babington 15 "
   This we may safely assume to have been his tomb.*
   3.-Ralph B. He was rector of Hintlesham, Suffolk, and subsequently of Hickling, Notts. He took the degree of LL.D. at Cambridge in 1503, and died in 1521. He was buried in the chancel at Hickling.
   4.-Rowland B., otherwise called Richard. He settled at Normanton, near Derby, and married Jane Ridge, of Kinway. He died in 1548, and was buried at St. Peter's, Derby.
   5.-Humphrey B. He settled at Temple Rothley, in Leicester
   * Nichols thinks that this slab conld not have been to his memory, as his duties as a Preceptor wonld have been likely to have kept him abroad; but Nichols was apparently not aware of the different offices held by John Babington, nor of the duties ami obligations pertaining to them. See Porter's History of the Knights of Malta.
   shire, and married Eleanor, third daughter and co-heir of John Beaumont, of Wednesbury, Stafford. He died in 1544.
   6.-Thomas B. He was rector of Yelvertoft, and died at Cambridge in 1511.
   7.-William B. He married Joan, the eldest daughter and coheir of the above-mentioned John Beaumont; and secondly, Mary, daughter of John More.
   8.-Robert B. He died in the Temple, London, and is there buried.
   9.-George B. died in infancy.
   10.-Elizabeth B. died in infancy.
   11.-Anne B. She married, first, George Leche, of Chatsworth, and secondly, Roger Greenhaugh, of Teversall, Notts., who was also lord of the manor of Rowthorn, in the parish of Ault Hucknall. She died in 1538, and is buried at Teversall.
   12.-Catherine B. She married George Chaworth, of Winerton, Notts.
   13.-Dorothy B. She married Robert Rolleston, of Swarkestone. (The Rollestons of Lea and of Swarkestone were the same family.)
   14.-Jane B. She married George Meverell, of Throwley, Staffordshire.
   15.-Elizabeth B. She married Philip Okeover, of Okeover, Staffordshire.
   Thomas Babington died on the 18th March, 1518, so that we know that this tomb was erected prior to that date, though the exact year of the death of Editha has not been ascertained.
2. [S867] John & John Bernard Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britian & Ireland, Volume I: page 41 - Sir John Babington, Knt. of Dethick and Kingston, who was sheriff of the counties of Derby and Nottingham in 1480. He m. Isabel, dau. of Henry Bradburne, Esq. of Bradburne, and the Hough, in Ashbourn, and by her, who d. 18 March, 1486, and was buried at Ratclifle-on-Soar Church, Notts, had issue, Thomas, Henry, Beatrice, Anne, Elizabeth, Margaret, Isabrll &Cecily
   Sir John Babington was slain at the battle of Bosworth, by Sir James Blount, provost-marshal, in 1485, and s. by his son,.
3. [S867] John & John Bernard Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britian & Ireland, Volume I: page 41 - Thomas, his heir.
4. [S937] Joseph Tilley, Old Halls, Manors, and Families of Derbyshire, Volume 2: Breadsall Priory was transferred to Thomas Babington. We search history through to find a page which describes a more horrible death than that of the last senior member of the Derbyshire House of Babington—half-hanged, disembowelled, quartered.