Joan Barrington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joan Barrington
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|---|---|
| Born | c.1558 |
| Died | 1641 |
| Nationality | Kingdom of England |
| Occupation | Matriarch |
| Spouse(s) | Sir Francis Barrington |
| Children | nine survived |
| Relatives | Oliver Cromwell and John Hampden (nephews) |
Joan Barrington (born around 1558, died 1641) was an important English woman. She was known as a matriarch, meaning she was the respected head of a large family. She also supported many religious leaders.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Joan Barrington was born around 1558. Her parents were Joan and Sir Henry Williams. Sir Henry later changed his name to Cromwell.
Joan was the aunt of two famous future leaders. These were Oliver Cromwell and John Hampden. They became important figures who supported the Parliament in England. Her sister Frances married a politician named Richard Whalley.
Marriage and Home
Joan married Sir Francis Barrington. They lived in a large house called Barrington Hall. Later, when their oldest son got married, they moved. They then lived in Priory House in Hatfield Broad Oak.
Supporting the Puritans
Joan and Sir Francis were strong supporters of the Puritans. Puritans were a group of Protestants who wanted to make the Church of England simpler. In their home, they even had a painting of Theodore Beza, a famous religious leader.
They used their money to help many Protestant religious leaders. Some of these leaders included Arthur Hildersham, Bishop Leonard Mawe, John Preston, Ezekiel Rogers, and Roger Williams.
Children and Connections
Joan and Sir Francis had nine children who lived to adulthood. They had four sons:
- Thomas (born around 1585, died 1644)
- Robert (died 1642)
- Francis (died before 1628)
- John (died 1631)
John died in the Netherlands during the Eighty Years War. Thomas's second wife was Judith Barrington. She was also known for supporting Puritan religious leaders and exchanged letters with Joan.
Joan had five daughters. Elizabeth married Sir William Masham. Mary married Sir Gilbert Gerard. Winifred married Sir William Meux.
All three of Joan's sons-in-law and her two older sons became Members of Parliament (MPs). An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the government. These family connections made Joan Barrington a central figure in a powerful political group.
Later Years
Joan Barrington died in 1641. It is believed she was buried with her family at Hatfield Regis Priory.
