William Vaux, 3rd Baron Vaux of Harrowden facts for kids
William Vaux, 3rd Baron Vaux of Harrowden (born before August 14, 1535 – died August 20, 1595) was an English nobleman. He was well-known for his strong Roman Catholic faith and for supporting Catholic missionaries during a time when it was difficult to be Catholic in England.
William Vaux's Life
William Vaux was the son of Thomas Vaux, 2nd Baron Vaux of Harrowden. When his father passed away in October 1556, William became the next Baron Vaux of Harrowden. This meant he inherited his father's title and responsibilities as a lord.
During the rule of Queen Elizabeth I, William Vaux was a devout Catholic. At this time, people who refused to attend the official Church of England services were called "recusants." William was found guilty of recusancy several times. He was even sent to the Fleet Prison by the Privy Council, which was a group of the Queen's close advisors.
Later, on February 15, 1581, he was tried in a special court called the Star Chamber. He was tried along with his brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Tresham. They were accused of helping a Jesuit priest named Edmund Campion. William was sentenced to stay in the Fleet Prison and had to pay a large fine of £1,000. This shows how strongly he believed in his faith, even when it caused him trouble.
His Family and Heirs
William Vaux was married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth, the daughter of John Beaumont. They had four children:
His second wife was Mary, the daughter of John Tresham. They had seven children:
- George (who died in 1594), who married Elizabeth Roper. Their son was Edward Vaux, 4th Baron Vaux of Harrowden.
- William
- Henry
- Katherine
- Edward
- Ambrose
- Muriel, who married George Foulshurst
William Vaux's oldest son, Henry, decided not to take on the family titles because he wanted to become a priest. So, the rights to the titles were passed to his half-brother George. However, both Henry and George passed away before their father, William.
When William Vaux died in 1595, his grandson, Edward (George's son), became the 4th Baron Vaux of Harrowden. Edward was only seven years old when he inherited the title.
