Shakespeare's family
Series, vol. xv.).
Another Chester Plea Roll records the suit of Richard, son of John de
Radcliff and Matilda his wife, against Isabella, formerly wife of John
de Legh, Chivalier, for land in Modberlegh, which John de Ardene gave to
John de Legh for his life, with remainder to John, son of John de Legh
and Matilda, daughter of John de Ardene, and to the heirs of the bodies
of John de Legh and Matilda (_Genealogist_, New Series, vol. xiii.).
Sir Thomas Arden and Sir John bore as arms the three crosses crosslet,
and the chief or, the same as the legitimate family.
Hugh, the son of Peter Arden, of Alvanley and Hawarden, carried on the
main line, and had full possession of his estates by 1372. He married
twice--first, Agnes Hulme, by whom he had Peter and Ralph;[485] and
second, Cicely de Hyde,[486] by whom he had John, who lived in the
service of the King. The seal of Peter, son of Hugh de Arderne, of
Macclesfield, co. Chester, 1372,[487] is preserved in the British
Museum, and bears three crosses crosslet and a chief Arderne. Old and
infirm, Hugh was granted exemption from military service in 1408.
Charles Arden, son of John, son of Peter, married Elizabeth Radcliffe in
Edward III.'s time, and through her inheritance became owner of
Timporley, and founded the Timporley branch of Ardens.
The pedigree of the family is given _in extenso_ in Drummond, Earwaker,
Ormerod, and the Visitations of Cheshire, so that it is unnecessary to
repeat it here. Further intermarriages with the Hydes[488] are recorded.
Ralph Ardern, of Harden, led his tenantry against the Royalists, 1642,
and died 1657. Sir John, head of the family, in 1660 was Sheriff of
Cheshire. One of his brothers was the Rev. James Arden, Dean of Chester,
1691.
John, who was Sheriff in 1760, married Sarah Pepper, who brought Pepper
Hall into the family. Their son, Richard Pepper Arden, Chief Justice of
the Common Pleas, was created Baron Alvanley[489] 1801. He had three
sons, John, William, and Richard. The title became extinct 1857.[490]
The arms were the three crosses crosslet and a chief or; crest, a double
row of ostrich feathers out of a ducal coronet.
There is a curious will at Somerset House[491] (January 9, 1614) of
Thomas Arden, of Hornsey, gentleman, who seems to have been connected
with this family. After trifling legacies, he leaves his lease in
Cheshire of Melton Farm to his dear and well-beloved sister, Ann Ardern.
"Executors, my beloved sister Anne Arderen, ever faithful friend, and
Richard Drape of Hornsey gent."--proved January 17, 1614. But another
similar will of the same man was again proved, 1615, by Anne and another
co-executor.
In Berry's "Sussex Genealogies" we find that George Ardern, son of
George Ardern, born in Chester, came to Chichester, married Catharine,
daughter and coheir of Robert Palmer, Esq., and had three sons--George,
John, and Richard. Richard married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Green,
and had three sons and a daughter--Thomas, George, Richard, and
Catherine.
An important official Arden was John, who in the reign of Henry V. was
Clerk of the Works.[492] His patent was renewed under Henry VI., and
payments are recorded to him for making the tomb of King Henry V.[493]
in St. Peter's, Westminster, of Caen stone, L23 6s. 8d.; for repairs in
the Tower; in the palace of Westminster; and in the castle of
Wallingford. He was also Clerk of the Works at York, and in 22 Henry VI.
was made Baron of the Exchequer, and had various grants.
Foss believes him to be the father of Sir Peter Arderne,[494] also in
royal service. In 18 Henry VI. he was deputy of William de la Pole, Earl
of Suffolk, chief seneschal of the Duchy of Lancaster. He took the coif
February 14, 1443, and was made King's Serjeant and Chief Baron of the
Exchequer May 2, 1448. Dugdale does not mention him as a Judge of Common
Pleas, but he received his patent July 7, 26 Henry VI., and must have
held double office. In 1461 his patents were renewed, but in the
following year there was a new Chief Baron, though Sir Peter retained
his other offices. He had a tun of wine annually for life. His will[495]
is so interesting from a literary point of view, as well as a
genealogical one, that it is worthy of fuller notice. He and his wife
Katharine had founded a chantry in Netteswell, Essex, and a chapel in
the parish of Latton, Essex, where they resided. He left to these and
many other charitable purposes handsome legacies; and to his wife, Dame
Katharine, he left his "daily Primer," much plate and furniture, a
crucifix, the furniture of a chapel, his "book of legends in English,
and his English translation of 'Bonaventura de vita et passione
Christi.'" To his "son, John Bohun," armour, and his book in English of
"Boys de Consolacione Philosophiae, with the booke of Hunting therein."
To his daughter, Anne Bohun, furniture, and a French booke, "Giles de
Reginum Principii." To his daughter, Elizabeth Skreene,[496] furniture
and a mass-book. To his son, John Skreene, "myne owne volume of old
statutes with the Register, and ye new Lawes therein; my newe statutes
and a boke of termes of parchemyn, and a good boke compiled of Law with
a yallow leather covering, and a booke of law of termes of 2 Ed. II. in
parchemyn, a greate booke of gramer, with the Siege of Troy borded, a
greate booke called Catholicon borded, and a good new bounden fair
little book compiled of Assises." "To my ward, Thomas Bibbesworth, his
own marriage free to himself,[497] my best Register of Lawe, my owne
gret compiled booke of Lawe covered with red leather, and a horn upon it
... a booke of lawe in parchemyn compiled and bokeled, a boke of terms
of Law on paper, with A^o 32-A^o 39 and other yeares therein." "To my
niece, Margaret Newport, a table of ivory with the Salutation of our
Lady in ymages of silver. To my brother, Master Thomas Arden, my scarlet
gowne furred, my book flowered Barthm. his own booke of Lucerna,
conscience, his Sawter glosed, my booke of the Life of St. Thomas of
Canterbury." To his cousin, Master John Roclif, a hoode; to his brother,
parson of Hadham, a cloke; to his nephew, Guy Arden, a gowne. Other
remembrances follow. His interest in the forest of Galtuce, in
Yorkshire, in the towns of Hoby and Esmeswold, to be sold to pay his
debts. His wife to have all the residue if she remain unmarried. The
manors of Monkhall and Enfield to his wife, reverting to his daughters;
the manor of Swale in Godilston to his wife, and to any heir she
chooses. Executors: Dame Katherine Arden, his wife, and Master
Thomas[498] Ardern, his brother, and others, February 20, 1466, proved
July 10, 1467. A rubbing of the sepulchral brass in memory of Sir Peter
and his wife[499] at Latton is preserved in the British Museum. His arms
were: Or, three pellets azure on a chief gules, three lozenges
argent.[500] Bobbingworth Hall, Ongar, Essex,[501] was conveyed to
Richard Ardern 1423, and to Sir Peter Ardern 1446. In that year also
Gregory Wery released Latton Hall, Harlow Half Hundred, to Peter Ardern
and his heirs for ever.[502] The will of the Guy Arden,[503] nephew of
Sir Peter, was drawn up July 24, 1498. He left legacies to the master,
every brother, and every servant of St. John's College, Cambridge; to
Sir Christopher Wright, Fellow of St. John's, his journal; to Mr. Bowes,
of King's College, his great beads; to the Lady Prioress of Crabhouse,
"2 portuess of written hande and x^s, and to her convent 6^s 8^{d}." The
residue to Dr. William Robinson and Master John Basse, Bach. of Civill
Lawe.
A curious group of wills seem to prove that the Alice Green who married
John Holgrave, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, must have previously
married an Arden,[504] and had children by him. Sir John Holgrave's will
was drawn up on August 6, 1486.[505] After church bequests, he leaves to
his son Thomas some plate, "of the gift of Elizabeth Greene, my
mother-in-law," forty marks to his son John, and fifty marks to his
daughter Elizabeth. "To the brotherhood of the Clerkes of London, wher I
am a brother, 13/4." To Katherine Coleyn, 100^{s}; to Alice Green,
100^{s}; to _Richard Arden_, towards his learning, 10 marks, and one of
his best gowns; to Master Walter Ardern, parson of Cheyham, 100^{s}; the
residue to his wife Alice. Executors: Alice, his wife, Thomas Holgrave,
his son, Master Walter Arden, and Richard Ardern. If his sons and
daughters die without heirs, his estate to go to Richard Arden, his
son-in-law, and Master Walter Arden. His wife Alice made her will in
1487.[506] Her son Thomas was to have fifty marks, her son John L100,
and her daughter Besse L100. "Also to Richard, my son, 100 marc; to Mr.
Wat, my son, 100 marc; to Katerine, my daughter,[507] L40; to Elizabeth,
my daughter, 10 marc." "_Cousin Alice Skreene_"[508] was to have 10
marks also. There were gifts of plate to her sons Thomas and John and
daughter Besse, to Richard and Mr. Water, her sons, and her daughter
Katharine. Executors: My son Mr. Walter Ardern, my son Richard Ardern,
my son Thomas Holgrave. Overseers: Master Litton and my daughter
Katharine. Proved September 21, 1487.
The above-mentioned Master Walter Arden,[509] parson of Cheyham, Surrey,
September 13, 1482, left legacies to every household in his parish; and
10 marks each to Richard, my brother, to Thomas, my brother, to John, my
brother, to Elizabeth Ardern, my sister, to Elizabeth Holgrave, my
sister, to the daughters of my sister Collyns, and to various cousins.
Also to the daughters of Mr. Codyngton, and 10 marcs to poor scholars.
Twenty shillings to reparation of St. Mary's, Cambridge. The residue to
Richard Arden, my brother. Executors: John Deye, Sir John Norwood, and
John Codyngton, the younger, with 10 marks each. Proved October 2, 1492.
Seven years afterwards Richard Arden, of Bosham,[510] Sussex, and of
Bermondsey, left legacies to various churches, and to his brothers
Thomas and John Holgrave. Johane, his wife, sole heir and executor,[511]
with reversion to John Holgrave. Overseers: John of Lee, of Addyngton,
Richard Culpepper, of Ardyns Lee, and John Chaloner, Huwild, 1499.
The name "Collins" makes one think there may be some connection with the
following: Walter Arden,[512] of Hampton, in Highworth, Wilts, makes his
will on April 1, 1540. He leaves to Thomas Ardern, the elder son of my
brother, Richard Arden, L40 and farm stock; to Johane Arden, my servant,
sister to Thomas, L20; to Margaret Sewell, my daughter, L100 and all my
lands; to Elizabeth Palmer, my sister's daughter, and to other
grandchildren, money gifts. My daughter Elizabeth sole executrix; Simon
Yate supervisor.
The goods of Edith Arden, Hampton Turvil, Wilts, were administered in
1578, and those of Richard Arden, of Chilton, 1641.
John Arden,[513] of Hampton Turville, Highworth, Wilts, yeoman, August
16, 1585, leaves half his goods to his wife Amy as long as she is
unmarried, reversion to Thomas Arden, his son; to Editha Collyns, L6
13s. 4d.; to Agnes Collyns, 20s.; to Elizabeth Collyns, 20s.; to Walter
Arden, my godson, 10s.; to Elizabeth Arden, the daughter of my brother,
Henry Arden, a sheep; to each of the children of my brother Richard a
sheep. All the residue to my son, Thomas Arden, executor. Overseers,
brothers Thomas and Virgill Arden, who were also witnesses. Proved
November 28, 1585.
The will was proved of Thomas Arden, of Hampton Turvill, Highworth,
Wilts, yeoman, February 3, 1621. His wife Agnes to live in the house in
convenient rooms and have L10 a year, payable out of the manor of
Westthroppe, in the parish of Heynes; or, if she does not like her diet,
L20 a year. He stands possessed for a terme of 1,000 years in the moitie
and one-half part of one-fifth of the manor of Westthropp, to be given