William Boleyn facts for kids

Sir William Boleyn (born 1451, died 10 October 1505) was an important and wealthy landowner in England. He lived at Blickling Hall in Norfolk and Hever Castle in Kent. He held important jobs like being the Sheriff of Kent in 1489 and the Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk in 1500.

Sir William Boleyn was the father of Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire. Thomas's daughter was Queen Anne Boleyn, who became the second wife of King Henry VIII. This means Sir William was the grandfather of Queen Anne Boleyn!

Who Was William Boleyn?

William Boleyn was born at Blickling Hall in Norfolk. He was the younger of two sons. His father was Sir Geoffrey Boleyn (1406–1463). Geoffrey was a very rich merchant and bought the Blickling estate in 1452. He also served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1457 to 1458.

William's mother was Anne Hoo (around 1424-1484). She was the oldest child of Thomas Hoo, Baron Hoo and Hastings.

How William Inherited Land

When William's father died in 1463, his older brother, Thomas Boleyn, inherited all the family's lands. But Thomas died in 1471. In his will, Thomas asked to be buried next to his father. After Thomas died, William inherited the family estates. This included Blickling, Hever Castle, and other important lands.

William also inherited land from his mother's side of the family. His mother, Anne Hoo, inherited land from her father, Lord Hoo and Hastings. When Anne died in 1484, these lands, including the manor of Mulbarton, passed to her son, Sir William Boleyn.

William's Important Jobs

William Boleyn became a member of the Mercers' Company in 1472. This was a powerful group of merchants. In 1473, he joined Lincoln's Inn, which was a place for training lawyers.

In 1483, he was made a Knight of the Bath when Richard III became king. This was a special honor.

Sir William was also put in charge of the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk by the Lord High Admiral. This was a job for life. King Henry VII also gave him the important task of looking after the beacons. Beacons were fires lit on hills to warn people if an enemy was attacking England.

Because he lived at Hever Castle, he served as the Sheriff of Kent in 1489. A sheriff was like a chief law enforcement officer for a county. Later, because of his home at Blickling, he became the Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk in 1500.

Family Life

Before November 1469, William Boleyn married Lady Margaret Butler (died around 1539 or 1540). Margaret was the daughter of a powerful nobleman, Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond. When they married, Margaret brought the manor of Aylesbury to her husband.

William and Margaret had many children, six sons and four daughters:

• Anne Boleyn (1475–1479) died when she was very young.
• Jane Boleyn (born around 1475) married Sir Phillip Calthorpe.
• Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire (around 1477 – 1539) was their oldest son. He married Elizabeth Howard. Their daughter was Queen Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's second wife.
• John Boleyn died in 1484, before his father.
• Anthony Boleyn died in 1493, also before his father.
• Alice Boleyn (around 1478 – 1538) married Sir Robert Clere.
• Margaret Boleyn (born around 1479) married John Sackville.
• William Boleyn (around 1481 – 1551/52) became an important church leader.
• Anne Boleyn (around 1483 – 1555) married Sir John Shelton.
• Sir James Boleyn (around 1485 – 1561) married Elizabeth Wood.
• Sir Edward Boleyn (born around 1486) married Anne Tempest.

Through his wife Margaret, William Boleyn's family also gained control of New Hall in Essex. In 1516, William's son, Sir Thomas Boleyn, sold New Hall to King Henry VIII. The King then rebuilt it into a grand palace called the Palace of Beaulieu.

Death and Burial

Sir William Boleyn died on 10 October 1505. In his will, he asked to be buried in Norwich Cathedral next to his mother, Anne Hoo. He left his lands in Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Kent to his family.

Sir William gave a lot of money to help improve Norwich Cathedral. His family's coat of arms could be seen in many places there. His tombstone in the Cathedral had a Latin message that said: "Here lies the body of William Boleyn, Knight, who died on the 10th of October in the year of our Lord 1505, upon whose soul may God look with favour. Amen."

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