Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
NameSir Thomas Mirfyn 
[60, North article, Vol IX, p. 651, note (b)], [56, Huntingdon of 1613, pub Camden Soc 1849, Cromwell, p. 79], [111, Vol I, p. 19, note (4)]
[60, North article, Vol IX, p. 651, note (b)], [56, Huntingdon of 1613, pub Camden Soc 1849, Cromwell, p. 79], [111, Vol I, p. 19, note (4)]DeathSep 1523
GeneralSkinner, Alderman, Ld Mayor of London 1518-19.
FatherGeorge Mirfyn
Spouses
Marriageca 14 Jul 1524
Notes for Sir Thomas Mirfyn
m. (1) (?) Eliz Squuer, (2) Eliz Don.
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In a discussion on his arms on rec. heraldry, Matt Tomkins had these priceless words to say about Thomas:
. . .
Sir Daniel Dunne's descent from the Kidwelly family was also untrue -
he probably claimed Welsh descent in order to conceal the embarrassing
fact that he was instead descended from a long line of Essex serfs,
and himself technically also a serf. He was successively a fellow at
All Souls, a civil lawyer, chancellor of the diocese of Rochester, a
judge (Dean of Arches, master of the Court of Requests, President of
the Court of Admiralty, justice of assize), an MP- and a diplomat, and
his career would probably have been rather less meteoric if it had
come out that he was legally a villein.
It all went pear-shaped for him in 1576 when the Crown conducted an
investigation into concealed serfs belonging to its honour of Eye with
a view to extorting money from them as the price of manumission. He
duly purchased his freedom - it's there in the Patent Rolls - but
seems to have managed somehow to keep it all quiet. The History of
Parliament was certainly taken in - it still asserts in its website
that Dunne was descended from the Radnorshire Dwnns; the DNB is rather
more cautious, however, saying nothing about his ancestory, Welsh or
otherwise, and just mentioning the fact of the Eye manumission. The
truth came out in D. MacCulloch's ‘Bondmen under the Tudors’, in Law
and Government under the Tudors, eds Claire Cross, David Loades and JJ
Scarisbrick (Cambridge, 1988), pp. 91-109, at p. 92.
Matt Tompkins
__________________
________________
In a discussion on his arms on rec. heraldry, Matt Tomkins had these priceless words to say about Thomas:
. . .
Sir Daniel Dunne's descent from the Kidwelly family was also untrue -
he probably claimed Welsh descent in order to conceal the embarrassing
fact that he was instead descended from a long line of Essex serfs,
and himself technically also a serf. He was successively a fellow at
All Souls, a civil lawyer, chancellor of the diocese of Rochester, a
judge (Dean of Arches, master of the Court of Requests, President of
the Court of Admiralty, justice of assize), an MP- and a diplomat, and
his career would probably have been rather less meteoric if it had
come out that he was legally a villein.
It all went pear-shaped for him in 1576 when the Crown conducted an
investigation into concealed serfs belonging to its honour of Eye with
a view to extorting money from them as the price of manumission. He
duly purchased his freedom - it's there in the Patent Rolls - but
seems to have managed somehow to keep it all quiet. The History of
Parliament was certainly taken in - it still asserts in its website
that Dunne was descended from the Radnorshire Dwnns; the DNB is rather
more cautious, however, saying nothing about his ancestory, Welsh or
otherwise, and just mentioning the fact of the Eye manumission. The
truth came out in D. MacCulloch's ‘Bondmen under the Tudors’, in Law
and Government under the Tudors, eds Claire Cross, David Loades and JJ
Scarisbrick (Cambridge, 1988), pp. 91-109, at p. 92.
Matt Tompkins
__________________
Arms Generally notes for Sir Thomas Mirfyn
David Howard let me to this reference from the same arms on a manuscript in the Soc of Antiquaries: "A roll of arms belonging to the Society of Antiquaries temp Henry VIII c 1540", Archaeologia LXIX, 1920, 365, citing Harl. 1049, f 67b & 69).
Armorial Blazon notes for Sir Thomas Mirfyn
Or on a chevron Sable, pierced mullet Argent in dexter chief crescent Sable.
Blazon source notes for Sir Thomas Mirfyn
Dictionary of British Arms, vol 2, p. 450, referencing Coll of Arms Ms L10 (7(95), 7.