The Dacres Family

Elizabeth (Dacres) Hale

Baptism: 23 March 1583(4) in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England

Father: Thomas Dacres

Mother: Katharine (Colshill) Dacres

Married: Richard Hale on 8 June 1601 in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England

Children: Richard was the son of Richard Hale and Dyonisia Giffard, and he is left a legacy in the will of his father, dated 19 February 1620(1) and proved 6 March 1620(1), held at The National Archives (PROB 11/137/208)
... I Richard Hale Citizen and Grocer of London ... will that all the same goodes chattells silver plate Jewells debtes houshould stuffe and movables shall equallie be divided into twoo equall halfe partes and portions whereof the one full moytie of halfe parte I doe give and bequeathe unto and amongst my three children William Hale Richard Hale and Alice Walcott late the wife of Humphrey Walcott
... Also I request and desire bothe my sonnes Richard and William Hale that they will give unto Margaret B?? widowe daughter to my sayed late wife each of them tenne poundes a yere a peece for her better mayntenance during her widowhood
... Item I give and bequeathe to my sonne Richard Hale the Lease and terme of yeres of my house wherein I nowe dwell in Mynching lane in London with the tenement  therunto adjoyning in as lardge and ample manner as I hould the same of the Companye of Grocers aforesayed with all the waynscott and paynted Cloathes in the Inner Chambers one over the hall and the other over the Inye Larder the cisterne in the kytchen and all leaden water pipes belonging to the house the dresser boardes and shelves in the Inye Larder; the dresser boards and shelves in the kitchen with the yron barre in the chymney; Allso the Bynne cubbard and shelves in the Butterye and other the appurtenances to my sayed house belonging
... And I do make and ordayne my sayed twoo sonnes William Hale and Richard Hale to be Executors of this my last will and testament             

Richard was appointed High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1632 (A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland vol 1 p524 (John Burke, 1847)). He is described in The Visitation of Hertfordshire 1634 p61 as being "of Tewin, Hertfordshire" and in The Visitation of Essex 1612 p209 as being "of Claybury, hard by Woodforde in com. Essex". The latter is supported by the agreement on the marriage of his daughter Dionisia in 1622.
National Archives (1754/1/20)
Reference: 1754/1/20
Title: Agreement of Samuel Colman of Brent Eleigh, Esq., Edward Coleman of Lincoln's Inn, Middlesex, gent., his son and heir of former, with Richard Hale of Claybury, Essex, Esq
Description: Concerning future marriage of said Edward and Dionise, daughter of said Richard Hale, providing for lands .... of Samuel to value of £200 p.a. to be conveyed to Edward and Dionese for life, and capital messuage and site of Brent Eleigh manor to be conveyed to same, etc
Date: 1622 May 18 

Notes: Elizabeth is mentioned in the will of her grandfather, Thomas Colshill, dated 23 April 1593, which is held at the National Archives (PROB 11/85/243):
... And whereas by one deed indented bearinge date the nine and twentieth day of Julie in the thirtieth yeare of the reigne of our most glorious Soveraigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth I have reserved one Rente chardge or Annuitie or Yearlie rente of three score six poundes thirteen shillinges foure pence payable at the feast of St Michaell Tharchangell onely during the space of ten yeares which is to be payed to Sr Thomas Henage knight vicechamberlain to her matie and one of her highnes most honorable privy counsell Thomas Smithe of London Esquier Thomas Harris of the middle temple London Esquier Thomas Barfoote of Lamborne in the countie of Essex Esquier and Nicholas Crafford of Cassalton in the countie Surrey gentleman the first payments thereof to begynn he feast of St Michaell tharchangell which shall happen to ?? next after the tyme of the decease of the survivor of the sayed Thomas Colshill Mary Colshill and Elizabeth Dacres uppon trust and confidence to the intent and purpose that they the sayed Thomas Henager Thomas Smithe Thomas Harris Thomas Barfoote Nicholas Crafford and the survivors of them and the heires of the survivors of them shall and will convey and assign the sayed Annuitie or Yearlie rente and all and every such parcell parte and portion thereof to such person or  persons as the sayed Thomas Colshill in and by ani writtings hereafter by him to be sealed & subscribed in the presence of two credible witnesses at the least or by his last will and testament in writting shall declare appoynte and requier and move therefore I the sayed Thomas Colshill doe by this my last will and testament appoynte and declare the sayed Annuitie or Yearly rente to be bestowed and hereafter followeth if that the sayed Elizabeth Dacres shall fortune to die before she shall accomplish the sayed age of one and twentie yeares as is aforesayed that is to saye firste I give ...

Elizabeth is also mentioned in the will of her grandmother, Mary Colshill, dated 2 June 1599 and proved on 29 June 1599, held at the The National Archives (PROB 11/93/439).
Item I doe give to my sonne Stanhope and my daughter Susan his wyfe, to my sonne Leeke, and my daughter Mary his wyfe, to my brother Arthur, and his wyfe, to my cosen Manwood and his wyfe, to my Grand childe Elizabeth Dacres each of them mourning gownes and of such stuff as shalbe thought meete by my Executors. The gentlemen to have cloth of Eighteene shillings the yarde; And the gentlewomen silke ??? of Three shillings ffour pence the yarde
... Item I give to my ??? Elizabeth Dacres One gilt Cupp called a ??? and also my weddinge ringe which I charge her she shall keep till she bee married to make her wedding ringe of.
... Item whereas my husband stoode bonnde in Covenante to pay to Mr Thomas Dacres a hundred poundes within Three months after my decease as the last paymnt of my daughter his wifes marriage money and nevertheless afterward took such order for the prefermt of Elizabeth Dacres his only daughter by my daughter as he thought that Mr Dacres would have released bothe the hundred poundes after my husbandes decease, and this hundred poundes, my humble request to the Right Honorable my Lord ?ooper is, That yf he cannot take such order betwixt my sonne Dacres, and my sonne Stanhope, and my sonne Leeke, That by his discharging them of ye Twoo hundred poundes Elizabeth Dacres my grannde childe may be preferred accordinge as my husbands intente and meaninge was, That  then his lordshippe will yett take order yf they being forced by the said Thomas Dacres to pay this last hundred poundes they may be discharged uppon payment thereof (as they have already payed thother) of thone ffive hundred marks to the termes of the ??? ??? Indentures made in my husbandes lyfe tyme, And allso that his lordshippe will have that honorable care of the poore infante for this hundred poundes as he had of the last, that he may be bounde to pay it for her at the tyme of her marriage, and to make unto her allowance for it towardes her mayntenence in the meane while Tenne poundes by the yeare for that. I doubte he will ells be ??? for to mainetayne her having hitherto for the most part from her infancie put her over to the fyndinge of my husband in his lyfe tyme and me since.

Sources:

Thomas Dacres

Birth: 1555/6

Father: George Dacres

Mother: Elizabeth (Carew) Dacres

Education: Trinity College, Cambridge, matriculating in 1571, and Lincoln's Inn, where he was admitted on 10 June 1576.
Alumni Cantabrigienses vol 1 part 2 p1 (John Venn, 1922)
DACRES, THOMAS. Matric, Fell.-Com. from TRINITY, Easter, 1571. Probably s. of George, of Cheshunt, Herts. (The same, or another, adm at King’s, as Fell.-Com. 1573.) Adm. at Lincoln’s Inn, from Furnival’s Inn, June 10, 1576. Of Hertfordshire. Knighted, 1604. Sheriff of Herts., 1614. Buried at Cheshunt, July 31, 1615.

The Records of the Honorable Society of Lincoln's Inn vol 1 p84 (1896)
1576
June 10  THOMAS DACRES, of Herts., of Furnivall’s Inn

Married (1st): Katharine Colshill on 28 September 1581, in Chigwell, Essex, England
Allegations for Marriage Licences Issued by the Bishop of London 1520-1610 vol 1 p104 (Joseph Lemuel Chester, 1887)
 1581
Sep. 25  Thomas Dakers, of Chesthunt, Herts, & Katherine Colsell, Spinster, of Chigwell, co. Essex; at Chigwell. 

Children: Married (2nd): Dorothy Pigott on 2 July 1584 in St Giles without Cripplegate, London, England

Dorothy was the daughter of Thomas Pigott, of Dodershall, Buckinghamshire, and Mary Lane. She was buried on 15 February 1602(3) in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.

Children: Married (3rd): Anne Barley on 29 July 1606 in Elsenham, Essex, England
Allegations for Marriage Licences Issued by the Bishop of London 1520-1610 vol 1 p300 (Joseph Lemuel Chester, 1887)
 1606
July 29  Sir Thomas Dacres, Kt, of Debden, co. Essex, Widr, 50, & Anne Barley, Maiden, 40, of Eesenham, co. Essex; her father [blank] Barley, Esq., of same, died 3 years since; consent of her mother, of same, Widow; at Eesenham, Essex.

Anne was born in 1565/6, the daughter of Richard Barlee, of Elsenham, Essex, and Anne, daughter of William Barlee, of Alberye, Hertfordshire (see The Visitation of Essex 1552 vol 1 p2 (Walter Charles Metcalfe, 1909). William's will was proved on 15 November 1593 (see National Archives (PROB 11/82/505)) which means he had been dead for 13 years when Anne married Thomas Dacres in 1606, not the 3 years as transcribed in the marriage licence allegation, which presumably is a transcription error. That this is the correct family is shown when Richard Barlee's heir, Thomas Barlee, is succeeded by his sisters, including Anna Lady Dacres.
The Victoria History of the County of Hereford vol 3 p31 (William Page, 1912)
Besides the three manors which formed the holding of the Says in Kimpton there was another manor called BIBBESWORTH ... In 1560 the manor was owned by Richard Barlee, probably son of Francis. Richard died in 1593, leaving as heir a son Thomas, who became a lunatic in 1603, but seems to have held the manor till some four years later, when his heirs are returned as his three sisters, Dorothea Osburn, Anna Lady Dacres and Maria Wiseman.

Notes: Thomas is mentioned in the will of his father, George Dacres, dated 21 December 1579 and proved on 20 November 1581, held at the The National Archives (PROB 11/63/583).
And I doe will that after the fouer yeres distrained all my coppyhoulde landes shall remayne and comme to Thomas Dacre my sonne and his heires forever
... Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Dacres my eldest sonne for his better maytenance and fyndinge duringe the saidd fouer yeres my Mannors of the parsonage of Cheshunt in the county of Hartford with all the Tythes and proffitte whatsoever with their appurtenances unto the sayde parsonage apperteyning or belonging And all that my Mannor or Farme commonlie called or known by the name of Sainte Gyles being in the parish of Cheshunt aforesaid in the foresayd countie of Hartford, Together with all the lands, meadowes pastures feedinges wooddes underwoode rentes proffittes & commodityes whatsoever unto the said mannor or Farme of St Gyles in any wise apperteyning or belonging And also all that my Mannor of Overdeane lying in the parishe of Overdeane in the countie of Northampton or Huntingdon or in any either of theme, or withe all the rightes members and appurtenances (with all the Landes meadowes pastures woodes underwoods rentes and proffitts whatsoever thereunto belonging or appertayning
... Item I will that all suche sommes of moneye as shall remaine in my executors handes (my debtes and legacies performed) shalbe equallie devided amongsest my sonnes whcih shall then be lyvinge
... Item to my sonne Thomas my sorrell geldinge and my geldinge called H?? withe their furnitures      

Thomas is also mentioned in the will of his first wife's mother, Mary Colshill, dated 2 June 1599 and proved on 29 June 1599, held at the The National Archives (PROB 11/93/439), involving a complicated dispute over payment outstanding on the marriage portion of that first wife, Katherine Colshill who had since died, and attempts to pass that money directly to Thomas and Katherine's daughter, Elizabeth Dacres.
Item whereas my husband stoode bonnde in Covenante to pay to Mr Thomas Dacres a hundred poundes within Three months after my decease as the last paymnt of my daughter his wifes marriage money and nevertheless afterward took such order for the prefermt of Elizabeth Dacres his only daughter by my daughter as he thought that Mr Dacres would have released bothe the hundred poundes after my husbandes decease, and this hundred poundes, my humble request to the Right Honorable my Lord ?ooper is, That yf he cannot take such order betwixt my sonne Dacres, and my sonne Stanhope, and my sonne Leeke, That by his discharging them of ye Twoo hundred poundes Elizabeth Dacres my grannde childe may be preferred accordinge as my husbands intente and meaninge was, That  then his lordshippe will yett take order yf they being forced by the said Thomas Dacres to pay this last hundred poundes they may be discharged uppon payment thereof (as they have already payed thother) of thone ffive hundred marks to the termes of the ??? ??? Indentures made in my husbandes lyfe tyme, And allso that his lordshippe will have that honorable care of the poore infante for this hundred poundes as he had of the last, that he may be bounde to pay it for her at the tyme of her marriage, and to make unto her allowance for it towardes her mayntenence in the meane while Tenne poundes by the yeare for that. I doubte he will ells be ??? for to mainetayne her having hitherto for the most part from her infancie put her over to the fyndinge of my husband in his lyfe tyme and me since.

The dispute landed up as a proceeding in the Chancery in which Edward Stanhope and Jasper Leake, acting as executors of Mary Colshill sued Thomas Dacres to enforce directions under Mary's will (Calenders to the Proceedings in Chancery in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth vol 3 p106 (1832)).

Thomas was knighted on 6 August 1604, at Theobalds, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire (The Knights of England vol 2 p143 (Wm. A. Shaw, 1906)). He was appointed High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in November 1614, and was succeeded in this post by his son, also Sir Thomas Dacres, for the remainder of the yearly term after his death in July 1615 (wikiwand - High Sheriff of Hertfordshire).

Death: 1615

Buried: 31 July 1615 in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England
The historical antiquities of Hertfordshire p302 (Sir Henry Chauncy, 1700)
On the North side of the Altar is a fair Monument about Eight foot high, with two Columns of Marble on either side, and this Inscription.
  This Tomb in the Year 1543, Erected to the Memory of Robert Dacres of Cheshunt in this County, Esq; and Privy Councellor to King Henry VIII. and for his Wife Elizabeth, whose Bodies lye both here Interred, and since hath been the Burial place of his Son, George Dacres Esq; who died 1580, and of his Wife Elizabeth; as also of Sir Thomas Dacres Kt. Son of the said George, who died 1615, and of Katharine his first Wife by whom he had only one Daughter, and of Dorothy his second Wife, who bear him Thirteen Children, whose Son and Heir, Sir Thomas Dacres, Kt. now Living, hath at his Charge this Year, 1611, Repaired this Monument, intending it in due time, a Resting-place for himself, his Lady Martha, and their Posterity.
  Dormio nunc Liber qui vixi in carcere carnis,
  Carnis libertas non nisi morte venit.
        Robertus Dacres: 1543 

Will: The will of Sir Thomas Dacres, dated 7 November 1614 and proved on 1 August 1615, is held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/126/75).
 In the name of God Amen The seventh day of November in the yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord James by the grace of god king of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith & That is to saie of England France and Ireland the twelveth and of Scotland the eighte and fortieth I Sr Thomas Dacres of (blank) in the County of (blank) knighte beinge at this present of good and perfect health and memory thankes be given to Allmightie god for the same and calling to mind the greate uncertainty of this transitory life and being desirous to settle my estate touchinge all suche mannors landes goods and chattles which it hath pleased Almightie god to bestowe upon me and being very desirous to provide competent portions for the better advancement of all my younger children And to have my estate sett in such order in the tyme of my health as that I may not be troubled therewith in the tyme of sicknes I doe therefore nowe make ordaine publishe and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and forme as heareafter followeth And first before all other things I bequeath and commend my soule unto the handes of allmightie god my Creator and to Jesus Christ my moste mercifull savior and redeemer and to the holy ghoste my Comforter assuring my selfe that all my synnes by and through the bitter passion and bloodshedding of Christe Jesus his only sonne are clearely washed away forgiven and pardoned And I doe bequeath my bodie to the earth to be buried in the Chancell of the Church at Cheshunt wheare my ffather mother and two wyves with some of my children are buried And touching the solemnization of my funeralle I leave the same to the order and discretion of my Executor requiering him not to perform the same with any greate pompe but in decent and comely manner And touching my daughters I doe give and bequeath to my three daughters yett unmarried Francis Prudence and Dorothie to every of them sixe hundreth pounds a peece of currant money of England to be paid unto every one of them either at the tyme of their marriage or within fouer yeares after my decease or soe soone as the same may be levyed owte of the rente and profitts of the mannrs landes and Tenements by me demised and sett unto Sr Thomas ??blunt knight and Henry Atkins doctor of phisicke by Indenture bearing date the sixte daie of February in the yeare of our Lord god one thousand sixe hundred and nyne By which Indenture it is declared and mentioned that the somme of one thousand eighte hundred poudes shall be raised and levied of and owte the rentes mannrs landes in the said Indenture of demise mentioned wisheing some of those landes by the advise of Sr Thomas ??blunt knighte and Henry Atkins Esquier to be soulde for the better rayseing and payeing of their portions and my saide three daughters to be mainteyned and kept in the mean tyme of and with the profitts arising owte of the saide Landes and tenements until my saide three daughters shall have had and received their severall portions allowed unto every one of them twenty markes yearly for to finde them apparrell And if any of my said three daughters happen for to decease and departe owte of this life before marriage or before she have received or should have received her or their portion according to the true meaninge of this my will then the portion of her or them soe deceasing to be parted and divided to and amongst the re?? of my younger children then surviving to be paid at such tyme and tymes as such daughter and daughters should have had the same yf shee or they had ben liveing And to my younger sonnes as it shall and may be levied as aforesaid 40 poundes allwaigt that yf any of my said three daughters happen to be married in my life tyme and her or their portion paid by me then the legacies given and bequeathed to such daughter and daughters as shall happen soe to be married to be voyde as haveing regarde to every such daughter and daughters as shall be married in my life tyme And yf all my said daughters happen for to decease and departe this worlde before the accomplishement of their ages of Twenty and one years and before marriage which god forbid, or before they or shee have received her or their portion Then I devise give and bequeath all the severall portions devised to my said daughters as aforesaide to my three sonnes viz Edward Dacres, Henry Darcres and Richard Dacres and to the Survivor of them Item I likewise nominate ordaine and appoint my eldest sonne Thomas Dacres my heir and lawfull Executor as reposing greate trust in him for the executing of this my last will and testament and chargeing him upon my blesseing to see all my debts paid and my Legacies performed as hereafter I shall or may sett downe in a schedule to be annexed to this my last will and testament I doe give bequeath to every one of my three younger daughters one hundreth poundes a peece in consideration whereof and for the better performing of my legacies I give and bequeath unto my sonne Thomas all my goods movable and immovable (excepting such as by covenant I must leave to my nowe wyfe at Amberden hall in Debden in the Countye of Essex chattels and Leases aswell in Essex as in Cambridgeshire my coppiehould lands in the Ile of Elye or any wheare els                                        

Sources:
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