- John Norreys (Usher of the Chamber)
Sir John Norreys (c. 1481 –
21 October 1564 ) was an important member of the English court during the reign of the House of Tudor.Family
Probably born at
Yattendon Castle , John was the eldest son of Sir Edward Norreys (d. 1487) and Frideswide Lovell, sister and heiress of Lord Lovell. He was named after his great grandfather Sir John Norreys, who had established this branch of theNorreys family as extensive landowners in the county ofBerkshire . TheNorreys family members often held positions of importantance at the English court.John's father Edward, the eldest son and heir of
Sir William Norreys , had taken part in theBattle of Stoke Field in 1487, dying shortly afterwards. John was then his grandfather's heir, and succeeded to theNorreys family estates upon the old man's death in 1507. The estates included major residences such asYattendon Castle andOckwells and minor lands like Norreys Manor inWokingham .Murderer
In 1517, John murdered one John Enhold of
Nettlebed in unknown circumstances. He was fined 1,000 marks and had to surrenderOckwells . In return by his brother, Henry, obtained a pardon for him. His uncle, Sir ThomasFettiplace , took possession of Ockwells.Marriage
John married Elizabeth Braye (born c. 1490), daughter of John Braye of Eaton Bray, whose family was as important in
England as theNorreys family. Elizabeth's brother, Edmund Braye (d. 1539), was the 1stBaron Braye , a title created for him in 1529. Her brother, Edward Braye (d. 1558), was aMember of Parliament . The couple was childless.Royal associations
John rose in favour at Court, perhaps with the help of his mother, and became the
Esquire of the body of King Henry VII, and later the usher of the outer chamber to both King Henry VIII and King Edward VI. Desribed as "a rankpapist ", he was later promoted to be chief usher of theprivy chamber to Queen Mary Tudor. He retired toAshampstead upon the accession of Queen Elizabeth.In 1520, John entertained King Henry VIII, his Queen
Catherine of Aragon , and the lady-in-waiting,Anne Boleyn , atYattendon Castle .Later life
When John's younger brother,
Sir Henry Norreys , wasbeheaded in 1536 for his suppossedadultery with the queen,Anne Boleyn , John and his wife, Elizabeth, took over the care of Henry's orphaned children Henry and Mary. Having no children of his own, John was licensed to settle his estates in reversion on his nephew in December 1542.References
* [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jnorreys2_ockwells.html David Nash Ford's Royal Berkshire History: Sir John Norreys (d. 1563)]
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