Maiden name of Joan Champernoun, wife of Robert Gamage, Esq., of Coity, Glamorgan, Wales
Douglas Richardson
There has been some confusion regarding the maiden name of Joan, wife
of Robert Gamage, Esq., of Coity, Glamorgan, and Rogiet,
Monmouthshire, Wales, which couple were married shortly before 1531.
Joan Gamage is the paternal grandmother of the well known Elizabethan
lady, Barbara Gamage (died 1621), Countess of Leicester. One account
places Joan as the daughter of an unidentified Sir Philip Seymour
[see, for example, Clark, Limbus Patrum Morganiæ et Glamorganiæ
(1886): 390], but elsewhere I find Joan is usually placed as a
daughter of Sir Philip Champernoun, of Devonshire. This post will
discuss the evidence concerning Joan's correct maiden name.
Nicholas, Annals and antiquities of the counties and county families
of Wales (1872): 567 identifies Joan, wife of Robert Gamage, as the
daughter of "Philip Champernon, of Darlington" (see also Clark, Limbus
Patrum Morganiæ et Glamorganiæ (1886): 390). Heard, Glamorganshire
Peds. (1845): 4-5 similarly asserts that "Robert Gamadge, Esqr. Lord
of Coyty, married Joan, daughter to Sir Phillip Champernon, Knt."
Misc. Gen. & Heraldica 5th Ser. 8 (1932-34): 207-208 provides a Gamage
pedigree which states: "Rob. Gamage de Coyte et de Rogiade. = Jana
filia Philippi Champernon alias de Campo Arnolphi in Com. Devonsh.").
A pedigree of the Gamage family in a contemporary visitation dated
1531 further states "Robert Gamage maryed Jane, doughter to Sir
Phellip Chamber [sic] of Devon, and had yssue Marget." (see Siddons,
Visitations by the Heralds in Wales (H.S.P. n.s. 14) (1996): 63-64).
St. John, Life of Sir Walter Raleigh, 1552-1618 1 (1868): 124-125
gives the following detailed information in support of Robert Gamage's
marriage to a daughter of Sir Philip Champernoun: "Without climbing
genealogical trees, I may observe that Sir Philip Chambernoun, of
Modbury, in Devonshire, had two daughters, one of whom was married to
Raleigh's father, the other to a Mr. Gamage, a man of Norman descent
and of large possessions in Glamorganshire. The offspring of this
marriage, John Gamage, died young, leaving behind him Barbara, an only
daughter, the heiress of all his estates. Barbara, it is said, was
still more remarkable for her beauty than her riches, so that her hand
was sought eagerly by numerous suiters, among whom was Philip Sidney's
younger brother Robert, in whose behalf Raleigh was induced to
interest himself with his cousin. To render success in negotiations
more sure, Walsingham directed the guardian to send up Barbara to
London forthwith, that she might be under the eye of her nearest
relatives, [George Carey] the Lord Hunsdon and Mr. Raleigh." (citing
Stradling Correspondence, pg. 23). Thus, Barbara Gamage, the
granddaughter and heiress of Robert and Joan Gamage, is known to have
been near related to Sir Walter Raleigh, whose mother Katherine was a
daughter of Sir Philip Champernoun, of Modbury, Devon. Robert
Gamage's wife's maiden name is further attested in a pedigree prepared
in 1608 by Robert and Joan's granddaughter, Barbara Gamage, Countess
of Leicester, which pedigree identifies Robert's wife's name as "Joan
Champernoun of Devonshire" (see Hannay et al. Domestic Politics and
Family Absence (2005): 9). Vivian, Vis. of Devon 1531, 1564 & 1620
(1895): 162 confirms that Sir Philip Champernoun had a daughter named
Joan, but states that Joan married Sir Anthony Denny [see DENNY 16],
not Robert Gamage, Esq. Since the existence of Joan Champernoun, wife
of Sir Anthony Denny, can be readily confirmed from other sources [see
ODBN sub Sir Anthony Denny], it seems apparent that Sir Philip
Champernoun had two daughters named Joan (or Jane), one who married
Sir Anthony Denny, and the other who married Robert Gamage, Esq.
One last brief comment: The new Oxford Dictionary of National
Biography [ODNB] states that Sir Walter Raleigh (died 1618), the
famous Elizabethan courtier and explorer, was the uncle of Barbara
Gamage (died 1621), Countess of Leicester. This information is
misleading. Sir Walter Raleigh was actually Barbara Gamage's near
kinsman as stated above. Sir Walter's mother and Barbara Gamager's
grandmother were Champernoun sisters, thus making them first cousins
once removed, not uncle and niece.
Comments are invited.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Douglas Richardson
Thank you both for your cordial responses. Much appreciated.
In response to Benjamin's good question regarding the name of the wife
of John Gamage, Esq., I can direct you to the following two sources
(both available online) which identify his wife as Gwenllian, daughter
[and heiress] of Thomas ap Jenkin Powell, Knt., of Glyn Ogwr.
Nicholas, Annals and Antiquities of the counties and county families
of Wales (1872): 566-568 (Gamage pedigree).
Hannay et al., Domestic Politics and Family Absence (2005).
As for the Raleigh family, you can find an extended pedigree of this
family (albeit not without error) in Vivian, Vis. of Devon 1531, 1564
& 1620, published in 1895. I descend from the senior branch of the
Raleigh family of Devonshire through my immigrant ancestor, John
Baynard, Gentleman, of Maryland. Thus, I have a personal interest in
the Raleigh family.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
On Aug 11, 12:03 pm, Thomas Benjamin Hertzel <ja...@millcomm.com>
wrote:
< Douglas,
<
< Interesting and informative post. Thanks.... and two questions:
<
< > There has been some confusion regarding the maiden name of Joan,
wife
< > of Robert Gamage, Esq., of Coity, Glamorgan, and Rogiet,
< > Monmouthshire, Wales, which couple were married shortly before
1531.
< > John Gamage, died young, leaving behind him Barbara, an only
< > daughter, the heiress of all his estates.
<
< Do you have the name of John Gamage's wife?
<
< > Barbara Gamage, the
< > granddaughter and heiress of Robert and Joan Gamage, is known to
have
< > been near related to Sir Walter Raleigh, whose mother Katherine
was a
< > daughter of Sir Philip Champernoun, of Modbury, Devon.
<
< Is the lineage of the Raleighs known beyond Sir Walter's parents?
If so,
< where would one find records on that family?
<
< Thank you.
<
< Benjamin
Douglas Richardson
Joan Champernoun did not marry twice. As far as I can tell, Sir
Philip Champernoun had two daughters of the same name: The elder Joan
Champernoun married before 1531 Robert Gamage, Esq.; the second Joan
married in 1538 Anthony Denny, Knt. The two women had separate and
distinct histories.
I've already presented evidence that proves that the elder Joan
Champernoun married by 1531 (date of visitiation) Robert Gamage, Esq.,
of Coity, Glamorgan, Wales This couple had two sons, John, Esq., and
Thomas, and five daughters, Margaret (wife of Miles Matthew, Esq.,
Thomas Lewis, Esq., and Capt. William Herbert), Elinor (wife of
William Lewis), Elizabeth (or Ann or Catherine) (wife of Watkin
Lougher), Joyce (wife of John Gwyn), and Joan. In the period, 1556-
1558, he sued Miles Mathewe, of Llandaff, in Chancery regarding the
manor of St. Nicholas, Glamorgan and the advowson of the church there,
the properties being offered for sale in order to pay a crown debt.
Robert Gamage, Esq., died c.1570/1 (date of his IPM).
As for the second Joan Champernoun, she married by license dated 4
Feb. 1538 Anthony Denny, Knt., of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire [Reference:
Chambers, Faculty Office Regs. 1534-1549 (1966): 121 (citation
courtesy of John Brandon)]. At the time of their marriage, King Henry
VIII granted them Hertford Priory, Hertfordshire [see Dugdale,
Monasticon Anglicanum, 3 (1821): 301]. In this charter, the couple
are clearly named as "Anthonio Denny" and "Johannæ Champernon". This
couple had five sons, Henry [Dean of Chester], Edward, Knt., Arthur,
Charles, and Edmund, and three daughters, Douglas (wife of John Dive,
Esq.), Mary (wife of Thomas Astley, Esq.), and Honora (wife of Thomas
Wingfield, Esq.). Sir Anthony Denny died at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire
10 Sept. 1549, and was buried there. He left a will proved 19 Sept.
1549 (P.C.C. 37 Populwell). His widow, Joan, left a will proved 27
May 1553 (P.C.C. 11 Tashe).
Britton, The Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain 3 (1812): 21
has a brief account of Joan, wife of Sir Anthony Denny: "His wife was
the daughter of Sir Philip Champernoun, of Modbury, in Devonshire; a
lady of great beauty and learning, and a friend to the reformed
religion; she sent eight shillings, by her man, in a violet coat to
Anne Askew, when imprisoned in the Compter. 'A small sum,' says
Farmer, 'yet a great gift, so dangerous was it to help any in her
condition.'").
Madden, Privy Purse Expenses of the Princess Mary, Daughter of King
Henry the Eighth, Afterwards Queen Mary (1831): 227, also includes a
brief account of the wife of Sir Anthony Denny: "His Lady was Joan,
daughter of Sir Philip Champernoun, Knt., by whom he had two sons and
one daughter. Among the Lansdowne Charters, No. 15 is the 'Audit of
Dame Johan, widow of Sir Anth. Denny.'").
Vivian includes the second Joan Champernoun, wife of Sir Anthony
Denny, in his account of the Champernoun family. He fails, however,
to mention the first Joan Champernoun, wife of Robert Gamage, Esq. I
find this is common problem for Vivian.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
On Aug 13, 6:16 pm, WJhonson <wjhon...@aol.com> wrote:
< As Leo suggests, I also have Joan Champernowne married twice,
firstly to Robert Gamage of Coity by whom a son John born sometime
between 1526 and 1538.
<
< Secondly Joan married Sir Anthony Denny, Knt. Anthony is buried at
Cheshunt and died in 1549.
<
< Anthony has a DNB entry, he was knighted in 1544
<
< Anthony and Joan had at least or exactly two children: Honora Denny
m Thomas Wingfield of Kimbolton Castle; and Henry Denny, Dean of
Chester "eldest son" m Honora Grey of Wilton and had at least six
children one of whom was Edward Denny Earl of Norwich.
<
< On another note I have Joan's sister *Elizabeth* married firstly to
Otho (or Otis) Gilbert Esq of Compton, Devon by whom at least three
sons all knights and *secondly* To Walter Rawleigh Esq of Fardell,
Devon by whom Sir Carew and Sir Walter Rawleigh the famous one
beheaded in 1618 at the Tower of London
<
< Finally the sister Katherine "Kat" Champernowne who m Sir John
Ashley. This sister was the caretaker or governess if you will of the
future Queen Bess from the time Bess was four until she was about
fourteen, citing Alison Weir "The Children of Henry VIII"
<
< Kat lived into Bess' reign, not dying until 1565 Her husband Sir
John Ashley is so-far a complete cypher to me. A very annoying
bugger, hard to find.
<
< Will Johnson