John Roper, 1st Baron Teynham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Roper, 1st Baron of Teynham
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Arms of the Barons Teynham
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| Died | 1618 |
| Noble family | Roper |
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| Father | Christopher Roper |
| Mother | Elizabeth Blore |
John Roper (who died in 1618) was an important person in British history. He became the first Baron of Teynham in 1616. A "Baron" is a noble title, like a lord.
The Roper family is an old English noble family. Their history goes all the way back to 1066. This was after the Norman Conquest, when they lived in Derbyshire. Members of the Roper family have held several important titles over time. These include Viscount of Baltinglass and Baron of Teynham.
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John Roper's Early Life
John Roper was the oldest son of Christopher Roper. His father lived in a place called Lynsted in Kent. His mother was Elizabeth Blore.
The Ropers were a very old family from Kent. They were known for being Catholic. John's uncle's wife, Margaret Roper, was the daughter of the famous Sir Thomas More.
Becoming a Baron
When his father passed away, John took over the family's land at Badmangore. In 1599, he had a new house built. It was called Lynsted Lodge and was in Lynsted.
When King James I became king, John Roper was one of the first people in his area to announce the new king. For this loyalty, he was made a knight in 1616. On the very same day, he was also given the title of Lord Teynham. Some records say he might have been knighted earlier by Queen Elizabeth in 1587.
John also gave a large amount of money, £10,000, to the new king. This big payment might have helped him get his noble title. One person joked that he was "Baron of Ten M," meaning ten thousand pounds.
Some historians believe the king gave Roper the title for another reason. King James wanted Roper to give up a job he had in the King's Bench. The king wanted to give that job to his friend, George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. So, the title was a way to get Roper to agree.
Family and Marriages
John Roper first married Elizabeth Parke. She was the daughter of Richard Parke. John and Elizabeth had three children together:
- Christopher, who later became the next Baron.
- Elizabeth, who married George Vaux. Their son became the 4th Baron Vaux.
- Jane (or Mary), who married Sir Robert Lovell. She was questioned about a famous event called the Gunpowder Plot. After 1606, she lived in Brussels as a widow.
John Roper's first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1567. He married a second time to Elizabeth Dyon. This happened between 1583 and 1584. His second wife also passed away before him, in 1593. They did not have any children together.
Death and Legacy
John Roper passed away in 1618. His son, Christopher, took over his title as Baron. John was buried in the church at Lynsted Lodge.
History of the Roper Family Lands
The Roper family owned many estates in the United Kingdom. These included places like Hyde, Charlton, and Pylewell Park. They also had lands in Galway and Trimdon.
In 1788, Henry Francis Roper, who was the 14th Baron of Teynham, inherited a lot of wealth. He also received an estate from his cousin, John Barnewall Curzon. To honor his cousin, Henry legally added Curzon to his name. He became Henry Francis Roper-Curzon. Today, his family members still use both names.
