Image: Elizabeth Peche, Lady Hart, of Lullingstone Castle (4086761173)

Description: Sir John Peche, the same year that he bought Lullingstone, obtained a charter of free-warren to his lands here, which was the next year again confirmed to him. (fn. 4) He died in the 4th year of king Richard II. possessed of Lullingstone, when it was also found, by inquisition, that he was then possessed jointly with Mary his wife, of a messuage, with divers lands, woods, and rents of assize, in Lullingstone and Peyfrere, of the feoffment of John Constantyn, Edmund de Cleye, and Richard Peche, which premises were held of the king as of the honor of Ledes, as the fourth part of one knight's fee, by the service of one pair of gilt spurs, of the price of six-pence. (fn. 5) He was succeeded in his estates here by his son, Sir William Peche, whose widow, the lady Joan, died possessed of them in the 11th year of king Henry IV. and lies buried in St. Mary Woolnoth church, in London. (fn. 6) Their son was Sir John Peche, sheriff of Kent, anno 8 Henry VI. whose figure habited in his surcoat of arms, and kneeling on a cushion, with his hands joined in a praying posture, and his head uncovered, was formerly pictured in one of the windows of Ashford church. He left a son, Sir William Peche, sheriff of this county in the 2d and 3d years of king Edward IV. who at his death in 1487, was found to die possessed of the manor of Lullingstone Rosse, and Lullingstone, Payfrere, and Cokerhurst, with their appurtenances, which were held of the king as of his duchy of Lancaster. (fn. 7) He left a son, Sir John Peche, and a daughter Elizabeth, who married John Hart, esq. Sir John Peche was a man of great reputation at that time, being created a knight banneret, and made lord deputy of Calais. He was sheriff in the 10th year of king Henry VII. in which year, when the lord Audley and the Cornish men, who had risen in support of Perkin Warbeck, would have collected provisions and men in this county, he with other gentry of it, opposed them, and obliged them to turn towards London; soon after which they were vanquished on Blackheath. During his life-time he paid five hundred pounds into the hands of the wardens and masters of the Grocers company in London, of which he was free, for the performing of certain almsdeeds, and works of piety for his soul's health, as will be further mentioned hereafter. He died possessed of Lullingstone manor, leaving his wife, the lady Elizabeth surviving to whom king Henry VIII. of his special favour, in his 31st year, granted an annuity of ten marcs during her life. On his death without issue, Elizabeth, his sister, was found to be his heir; upon which her husband, John Hart, esq. of the Middle Temple, counsellor at law in her right became entitled to this estate. This family of Hart was originally of Westmill, in Hertfordshire, where Stephen Hart resided in the reign of king Edward III. His son, Hanekin Hart, left a son William, who removed from Westmill, to Abbotsbury, and thence to Papworth, in Cambridgeshire; his son and heir, William Hart, returned into Hertfordshire. His descendant, William Hart, died in the 9th year of king Henry VII. leaving by Alice his wife, widow of Robert Sutton, of London, one son, John Hart, who was of the Middle Temple, and married Elizabeth, sister and heir of Sir John Peche, knight banneret, as above mentioned. He left, by Elizabeth his wife, who survived him, and afterwards married George Cobham, brother of the lord Cobham, and dying in 1543, lies buried in St. Mary Cray church, a son, Sir Percival Hart, who was chief sewer and knight harbinger to king Henry VIII. king Edward VI. queen Mary, and queen Elizabeth, whose lands were disgavelled by the act of the 31st of the for mer of those reigns. On his mother's death in 1543, he became possessed of this manor of Lullingstone; for at this time the two manors before-mentioned seem to have been accounted but as one; when he quitted his seat, afterwards called Barkhart, in Orpington, and removed hither to Lullingstone-house, where he kept his shrievalty for this county in the 37th year of king Henry VIII. He died in 1580, and lies buried in this church, having had by Frediswide, his wife, one of the sisters and coheirs of John, lord Bray, twelve children. Of whom Henry, the eldest son, married Cicely, daughter of Sir Martin Bowes, and died without issue; and Sir George, the second son, and at length heir to his father, on his brother's death, was of Lullingstone, and was sheriff of this county, anno 25th Elizabeth; by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of John Bowes, esq. of Elford, in Staffordshire, he left several children, and died in 1587. His eldest son, Sir Percival Hart, resided at Lullingstone-house, and was twice married; first, to Anne, daughter of Sir Roger Manwood, chief baron of the exchequer, by whom he had one son, William; his second wife was Jane, daughter of Sir Edward Stanhope, of Grimston, by whom he had Sir Henry Hart, K.B. who died in his father's lifetime, having married Elizabeth, daughter of Burdet, and widow of Sir Simon Norwich, by whom he left Percival Hart, and several other children.
Title: Elizabeth Peche, Lady Hart, of Lullingstone Castle (4086761173)
Credit: Elizabeth Peche, Lady Hart, of Lullingstone Castle Uploaded by LongLiveRock
Author: Lisby from Western Maryland, United States
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