Biography of Anthony St Leger 1496-1559

Before 1496 [his father] Ralph St Leger (age 39) and [his mother] Elizabeth Haute were married.

Around 1496 Anthony St Leger was born to Ralph St Leger (age 40) and Elizabeth Haute.

On 9th August 1518 [his father] Ralph St Leger (age 62) died.

In or before 1525 Anthony St Leger (age 28) and Agnes Warham (age 24) were married.

Around 1525 [his son] Warham St Leger was born to Anthony St Leger (age 29) and [his wife] Agnes Warham (age 25).

In 1537 Anthony St Leger (age 41) led a commission into the governance of Ireland to which Thomas Luttrell (age 47) submitted a detailed memorandum in which he recommended the imposition of the English language and style of dress on the inhabitants of the Pale, the expulsion of Irish musicians from the Pale, and the need to discourage English settlers from returning home.

In 1539 Anthony St Leger (age 43) was appointed High Sheriff of Kent.

In 1539 Anthony St Leger (age 43) was knighted.

On 7th July 1540 Anthony St Leger (age 44) was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland.

In 1544 Anthony St Leger (age 48) was appointed 315th Knight of the Garter by King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 52).

In 1546 [his son] William St Leger was born to Anthony St Leger (age 50) and [his wife] Agnes Warham (age 46).

In 1549 [his son] Warham St Leger (age 24) and [his daughter-in-law] Ursula Neville (age 21) were married at St Martin's Church, Ludgate. They were fourth cousins. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Diary of Edward VI. 4th August 1550. Mr. Setlienger (age 54)² was apointed by mi lettres patentes to be deputy there (in Ireland), and had his commission, iastructions, and lettres to the nobles of Irland for the same purpose.

Note 2. Sir Anthony St. Leger, K.G. had been lord deputy of Ireland for several periods since the year 1540. He had been replaced by sir Edward Bellingham (see before, p. 221) by patent dated 22 April, 2 Edw. VI. (1548). Sir Edward was now dead, and sir Anthony was reappointed by patent 4 Aug. 4 Edw. VI. (1550). He was succeeded by sir James Croft (age 32) on the 29th April following, but again became lord deputy after the accession of Mary. On the 28th June, 1550, the council had resolved, "That in consideration of the greate chardge the lorde deputie of Irelande doth and shall susteigne in th'execucion of his office there, his fee shall be augmented CC marks, to make it up full a thousand pounds a yere." (Council Book.)

Diary of Edward VI. 5th August 1550. The same deputy (age 54) departed from the castel of Windesore [Map].

Diary of Edward VI. 30th January 1551. Lettres written to mr. Setlinger (age 55)² to repaire to the south partes of Irland with his force.

Note 2. Sir Anthony St. Leger, the lord deputy.

Diary of Edward VI. 3rd April 1551. Mr. Croftis (age 33)³ apointed to goe into Irlande, and there with Rogers and certain artificers to take the havens aforsaid, and begine some fortification.

Note 3. "Feb. xxiij. A lettre to the lorde deputie of Irelande, declareing the cause why sir James Crofte is presently sent thither, requireing him to credit him; and further instruccions were given unto the said sir Jamnes, the mynutes whereof to remaigne with the secretaries.

"Feb. XXV. The King's majestie's lettre to the lorde deputie of Irelande, by sir James Crofte, haveing credit and commission thereby for certaine fortificacions at Corke and Kinsale, against the lorde Cobham's repaire thither with an armye for like purpose.

"Feb. xxvj. A warrant to sir Edmund Peckham (age 56) to paie unto sir Thomas Challoner, threasorer of th'expedicion into Irelande, cc. li., to be paied over in trust to sir James Crofte."

This incident in the life of sir James Croft was overlooked in the memoir of him (compiled by the late Sir T. E. Croft and Sir Harris Nicolas,) pubUshed in the Retrospective Review, 1827. On the 23rd May following he became lord deputy of Ireland, in succession to sir Anthony St. Leger (age 55).

On or before 8th March 1559 [his wife] Agnes Warham (age 59) died.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 8th March 1559. The viij day (of) Marche ded my [his wife] lade (age 59) ys (age 63) wyffe, and was bered at (blank).

Before 16th March 1559 [his son] William St Leger (age 13) died.

On 16th March 1559 Anthony St Leger (age 63) died.

Henry Machyn's Diary. After 16th March 1559. The (blank) day of Marche ser Antony (deceased) [Saint Leger, knight of the] garter, latte deputte of Yrland, was bered in Kentt, with a standard, a grett baner of armes, [helmet,] crest, target, and sword, and vj dosen of skochyons; [and two] harold(s) of armes, master Garter and master Lankestur, and (unfinished)

Note. P. 192. Funerals of sir Anthony St. Leger, K.G. and lady St. Leger. "Sir Anthony Stleger knight of the garter dyed at his howsse of Vuckham in Kent on thursday the 16. of Marche in A° j° Elizabeth, 1558, and buryed on wensday the 5. of Apryll next foloing in the parish church of Alhalows hard by the said howsse." (MS. Harl. 897, f. 17.)

"Lady Agnes Stleger late wyff to sir Antony Stleger knight of the garter, doter of Wadham of Hampshire, dyed at her howsse Vucham in Kent the 24. of Marche in A° j° Elizabeth, 1558, and was beryed ther in the parish churche on tewsday the 4. of Aprell next foloinge." (Ibid. f. 17b.) It is remarkable that the wife died eight days after the husband, but was buried one day before him. She was daughter of Hugh Warham of Croydon, and niece to archbishop Warham. Their seat and place of burial in Kent is properly written Ulcombe: see Hasted, ii. 423.