Francis Rodes
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Rodes was an English
judge, the son of John Rodes of Staveley, Derbyshire
, by his first wife, Attelina Hewett of the West Riding of Yorkshire
. He took part in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, built Barlborough Hall
, and he was one of the founders of Netherthorpe School
.
. Francis was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, but did not graduate. In 1549, he was entered at Gray's Inn
, and in 1552, he was called to the bar. He was Lent Reader at his inn in 1566, and double reader in 1576, and seems to have derived a considerable fortune from this practice. In 1577, Rodes had bought the manor of Hanley (in Steveley) from Edmund West.
In 1578, he was raised to the degree of the coif, and on 21 August 1582 he was made queen's Serjeant. On 29 June 1585, he was raised to the bench as justice of the common pleas, and in October 1586, he took part in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, at Fotheringay, thought not as one of the main judges. He died towards the end of 1588 at Staveley Woodthorpe. His will, dated 7 June 1587, was proved on 28 April 1591; among numerous other benefactions he made bequests to St. John's College, Cambridge, and the newly founded the grammar school Netherthorpe School
. His 'Reports' were among the manuscript collections of Sir John Maynard
(1602–1690), and are now in the Lincoln's Inn
library His principal seat was at Barlborough
, Derbyshire, where he built Barlborough Hall
, which is still standing; he also purchased extensive estates at Billingsley
, Darfield
, Great
and Little Houghton
, all in Yorkshire
.
; and, secondly, Mary Charlton of Appley in Shropshire
. Her sister Elizabeth married John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland
, who appointed Rodes
one of his executors.
Francis' gifts when combined with others from the Duke of Devonshire
, Robert Sitwell and a local minister enabled the school to have an annual income of £29
.
Rodes was succeeded in the Barlborough estates by his eldest son, Sir John Rodes (1562–1639), whose son Francis (died 1645) was created a baronet
on 14 August 1641. The title became extinct on the death of Sir John Rodes, fourth baronet, in 1743. See Rodes Baronets
.
Darfield
and Great Houghton
passed to the judge
's eldest son by his second wife, Sir Godfrey Rodes (died 1634), whose son, Sir Edward Rodes (1599–1666), served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire
and colonel of horse under Oliver Cromwell
; he was also a member of Cromwell's privy council, High Sheriff of Perthshire, and represented Perth in the parliaments of 1656–1658 and 1659–1660. Sir Edward's sister Elizabeth was third wife of Thomas Wentworth
, earl of Strafford
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
judge, the son of John Rodes of Staveley, Derbyshire
Staveley, Derbyshire
Staveley is a town within the borough of Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, England. The town is situated alongside the River Rother, adjacent to Eckington to the north, Barlborough to the east, Sutton-cum-Duckmanton civil parish to the south and Brimington to the west.-History:It has traditionally been...
, by his first wife, Attelina Hewett of the West Riding of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. He took part in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, built Barlborough Hall
Barlborough Hall
Barlborough Hall is a Grade I listed 16th century country house, located in Barlborough, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.Originally built by Sir Francis Rodes, , circa 1583-84, as the family seat, the hall’s Elizabethan design is attributed to Robert Smythson, one of a noted family of...
, and he was one of the founders of Netherthorpe School
Netherthorpe School
Netherthorpe School is a secondary school designated science college status that is based in the town of Staveley in the Chesterfield district of Derbyshire.-History:The school was founded in 1572A quote from an 1857 directory:...
.
Biography
The family traced its descent from Gerard de Rodes, a prominent baron in the reign of Henry IIHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. Francis was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, but did not graduate. In 1549, he was entered at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, and in 1552, he was called to the bar. He was Lent Reader at his inn in 1566, and double reader in 1576, and seems to have derived a considerable fortune from this practice. In 1577, Rodes had bought the manor of Hanley (in Steveley) from Edmund West.
Netherthorpe School
Netherthorpe School is a secondary school designated science college status that is based in the town of Staveley in the Chesterfield district of Derbyshire.-History:The school was founded in 1572A quote from an 1857 directory:...
. His 'Reports' were among the manuscript collections of Sir John Maynard
John Maynard (MP)
Sir John Maynard KS was an English lawyer and politician, prominent under the reigns of Charles I, the Commonwealth, Charles II, James II and William III.-Origins and education:...
(1602–1690), and are now in the Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
library His principal seat was at Barlborough
Barlborough
Barlborough is a village and civil parish in the Bolsover district of Derbyshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 3,018. The village is near junction 30 of the M1 motorway and is about five miles north of Bolsover...
, Derbyshire, where he built Barlborough Hall
Barlborough Hall
Barlborough Hall is a Grade I listed 16th century country house, located in Barlborough, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.Originally built by Sir Francis Rodes, , circa 1583-84, as the family seat, the hall’s Elizabethan design is attributed to Robert Smythson, one of a noted family of...
, which is still standing; he also purchased extensive estates at Billingsley
Billingsley
- Places :* Billingsley, Alabama, a town in the US* Billingsley, Shropshire, a village in England- People :* Barbara Billingsley , American actress* Brent Billingsley , former Major League Baseball pitcher...
, Darfield
Darfield, South Yorkshire
Darfield is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It lies east of the town of Barnsley. It had a population of 8,066 at the 2001 UK Census.-History:...
, Great
Great Houghton, South Yorkshire
Great Houghton is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England), on the border with West Yorkshire. It lies to the west of Thurnscoe, on the B6411 road, and is located at approximately 53° 33' 20" North, 1° 21' West, at an elevation of around 60...
and Little Houghton
Little Houghton, South Yorkshire
Little Houghton is a hamlet and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. At the 2001 census it had a population of 618....
, all in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
Family
Rodes married, first, Elizabeth Sandford of Thorpe Salvine, YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
; and, secondly, Mary Charlton of Appley in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
. Her sister Elizabeth married John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland
John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland
John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland was the son of Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland and Lady Margaret Neville.He married Elizabeth Charlton, daughter of Francis Charlton of Apley Castle they had ten children:...
, who appointed Rodes
one of his executors.
Legacy
A quote from an 1857 directory:
Netherthorpe SchoolNetherthorpe SchoolNetherthorpe School is a secondary school designated science college status that is based in the town of Staveley in the Chesterfield district of Derbyshire.-History:The school was founded in 1572A quote from an 1857 directory:...
.—Francis Rodes, by will, 29th of Elizabeth, left a yearly rent charge of £20Pound sterlingThe pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
per annum, to be taken forth of his manor of ElmtonElmtonElmton is a linear village. It is located in the parish of Elmton-with-Creswell in the Bolsover district of Derbyshire approximately equidistant between Bolsover Castle and Creswell Crags.- History :...
; £8 thereof to the Grammar school, at Staveley Netherthorpe, £8 for two scholarships in St John's College, CambridgeSt John's College, CambridgeSt John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, and £4 for the relief of soldiers who should be sent to the wars out of StaveleyStaveley, DerbyshireStaveley is a town within the borough of Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, England. The town is situated alongside the River Rother, adjacent to Eckington to the north, Barlborough to the east, Sutton-cum-Duckmanton civil parish to the south and Brimington to the west.-History:It has traditionally been...
, BarlboroughBarlboroughBarlborough is a village and civil parish in the Bolsover district of Derbyshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 3,018. The village is near junction 30 of the M1 motorway and is about five miles north of Bolsover...
, and Elmton.
Francis' gifts when combined with others from the Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire is a title in the peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England since the 16th century, and have been rivalled in political influence perhaps only...
, Robert Sitwell and a local minister enabled the school to have an annual income of £29
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
.
Rodes was succeeded in the Barlborough estates by his eldest son, Sir John Rodes (1562–1639), whose son Francis (died 1645) was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on 14 August 1641. The title became extinct on the death of Sir John Rodes, fourth baronet, in 1743. See Rodes Baronets
Rodes Baronets
The Rodes Baronetcy, of Barlborough in the County of Derby, was a title in the Baronetage of England. It was created on 14 August 1641 for Francis Rodes, of Barlborough Hall, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The early family of Rodes was seated in Nottinghamshire. A William Rodes acquired an estate...
.
Darfield
Darfield, South Yorkshire
Darfield is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It lies east of the town of Barnsley. It had a population of 8,066 at the 2001 UK Census.-History:...
and Great Houghton
Great Houghton, South Yorkshire
Great Houghton is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England), on the border with West Yorkshire. It lies to the west of Thurnscoe, on the B6411 road, and is located at approximately 53° 33' 20" North, 1° 21' West, at an elevation of around 60...
passed to the judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
's eldest son by his second wife, Sir Godfrey Rodes (died 1634), whose son, Sir Edward Rodes (1599–1666), served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire
High Sheriff of Yorkshire
The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. A list of the sheriffs from the Norman conquest onwards can be found below...
and colonel of horse under Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
; he was also a member of Cromwell's privy council, High Sheriff of Perthshire, and represented Perth in the parliaments of 1656–1658 and 1659–1660. Sir Edward's sister Elizabeth was third wife of Thomas Wentworth
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford was an English statesman and a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. He served in Parliament and was a supporter of King Charles I. From 1632 to 1639 he instituted a harsh rule as Lord Deputy of Ireland...
, earl of Strafford
Earl of Strafford
Earl of Strafford is a title that has been created three times in English and British history.The first creation was in the Peerage of England in 1640 for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth, the close advisor of King Charles I...
.