Nicholas Strelley or Strelly or Styrley (died 1560) was an English soldier and captain of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Career
edit
Nicholas Strelley was a member of a family residing at Strelley Village. His father (died 1491) was also called Nicholas Strelley, and his mother was Katherine, a daughter of Richard West, 7th Baron De La Warr.[1][2][3]
In May 1531, Strelley was Lieutenant of Sherwood Forest, and was asked to make a survey of the numbers of deer by royal commissioners. Strelley delayed and explained that it was the wrong time of year to disturb the deer.[4]
During the Pilgrimage of Grace, Strelley came to Nottingham Castle with Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland, who sent him to report to Henry VIII. Henry replied that he sending Roger Ratcliffe, as an expert in wars, to advise on the fortification of Nottingham. Strelley, a "substantial gentleman", was sent to garrison Tickhill Castle near Doncaster with 100 foot soldiers and six cannon.[5]
Strelley obtained Beauchief Abbey in 1537, paying £223 for the abbey site and the grange of Strawberry Lea at Totley.[6] The old farmstead at Strawberry Lee was demolished in 1936.[7]
Strelley was captain of Berwick at the Scottish border for Henry VIII and Edward VI. In June 1545 he was sent to Berwick to make improvements.[8] Following Strelley's observations on the state of Berwick Castle in 1547, orders were given by the Privy Council to Thomas Gower to refurbish or construct a new brewhouse, and to level the rampart between the castle and town.[9]
Strelley had difficulty with the competing jurisdiction of the mayor of Berwick, and complained that markets in the town were not regulated according to statute. This put the garrison at a disadvantage as local supplies were made more expensive.[10] He was appointed deputy-warden of the East March in December 1551, but lost this second post in August 1552 when it was decided that border officers ought to hold only one position.[11]
He died on 25 August 1560 and was buried at All Saints' Church, Strelley, where there is a monument.
Marriage and family
editHe married three times. First; Sarah Digby, second; Ellen Gresley, and third; Elizabeth or Isabel Spencer, a daughter of John Spencer. His children included:[12]
- Anthony Strelley, who married Jane, a daughter of Sir George Baynham of Clearwell
- Nicholas Strelley of Beauchief Abbey (died 1602), who married Bridget Thwaites (died 1591).[13]
- John Strelley, who married Anne, daughter of Sir George Baynham
- Margaret Strelley, who married Richard White, a brother of Susan Clarencieux, and was the mother of George White (died 1584)
- Alice Strelley, who married John Byron
- Jane Strelley, who married the explorer Hugh Willoughby
- Robert Strelley, who married Frideswide Knight. It has also been suggested that Robert Strelley's father was Nicholas Strelley of Linby, who made Nicholas Strelley of Strelley the remainder man in his will.[14]
References
edit- ^ George Marshall, Visitations of the County of Nottingham 1559–1614 (London, 1871), p. 20.
- ^ Charles Kerry, "Notes to the pedigree of the Strelleys", Journal of the Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, p. 93
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, 19:1 (London, 1898), p. 282.
- ^ HMC 12th Report Part IV, Duke of Rutland, 1 (London, 1888), pp. 24–25.
- ^ James Gairdner, Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, 11 (London, 1888), p. 417 nos. 1037, 1038, 454–455 no. 1136: Howard Colvin, History of the King's Works, 3:1 (London: HMSO, 1975), p. 284.
- ^ Henry Kirke, "Abbey of Beauchief", Reliquary and Illustrated Archaeologist, 7 (London, 1867), p. 205.
- ^ David Hey, A History of the Peak District Moors (Pen & Sword, 2014), p. 67.
- ^ J. S. Brewer, Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, 1:1, p. 436 no. 837: State Papers Henry the Eighth, 5:2 (London, 1836), p. 454.
- ^ John Roche Dasent, Acts of the Privy Council, 2 (London, 1890), p. 474.
- ^ HMC 12th Report Part IV, Duke of Rutland, 1 (London, 1888), pp. 53–54.
- ^ Charles H. Hunter Blair, "Wardens and deputy wardens of the Marches of England towards Scotland in Northumberland and the English wardens of Berwick upon Tweed", Archaeologia Aeliana, 28 (1950), pp. 70, 95. doi:10.5284/1060129: John Gough Nichols, Literary remains of Edward VI, 2, p. 448.
- ^ George Marshall, Visitations of the County of Nottingham 1559–1614 (London, 1871), p. 22.
- ^ Joseph Hunter, Hallamshire, p. 199.
- ^ House of Commons, 1509-1558, p. 398.