Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, co. Kent1
Male, #8542, (say 1549 - 12 Oct 1604)
| Parent* | Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, Knight (1517 - 1587) | |
| Parent* | Margaret Culpeper (s 1525 - ) | |
Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, co. Kent|b. say 1549\nd. 12 Oct 1604|p8542.htm|Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, Knight|b. 1517\nd. 1587|p8536.htm|Margaret Culpeper|b. say 1525|p8537.htm|John Culpeper of Preston Hall, Aylesford, Esq.|b. say 1494\nd. 1550|p8532.htm|Jane Whetenhall|b. say 1497|p8533.htm|Sir Thomas Culpeper of Bedgebury|b. say 1501\nd. 13 May 1558|p8592.htm|Elizabeth Hawte|b. say 1504\nd. say 1540|p8595.htm| | ||
| Name Variation | Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, co. Kent was also known as Colepeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, co. Kent. | |
| Name Variation | Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, co. Kent was also known as Culpepper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, co. Kent. | |
| Birth* | say 1549 | Thomas was born say 1549. |
| He was the son of Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, Knight and Margaret Culpeper. | ||
| Marriage* | He married Maria Pynner. | |
| Honor* | 1603 | Thomas was honored in 1603. |
| Burial* | after 12 Oct 1604 | His body was interred after 12 Oct 1604 at St. Peter's Church, Aylesford, co. Kent, England. |
| Death* | 12 Oct 1604 | He died on 12 Oct 1604. |
| Probate | say 1605 | Thomas's will was probated at co. Kent, England, say 1605. |
| Biography* | Thomas Culpepper married Marie, Thomas Pinner's daughter. He was the last Culpepper to hold the fortified manor of Old Soar, Plaxtol, built in Kentish ragstone in 1290 by Culpepper of Preston. William of Preston died possessed of it in 1326. By 1601 Thomas had sold it to Nicholas Miller for £2000. Nicholas was the richest member of a local family originating from yeoman farmers of the 15th century. In 1604 Thomas purchased from James I (1603-25) the tenure by ancient demesne of the royal manor of Aylesford. He became Sir Thomas and inherited the estate. Against the east gable and under the central piers of the chancel of the parish church at Aylesford was erected one of the finest rectangular tomb chests in Kent. This well-preserved monument of Elizabethan style, supported the life-size recumbent effigies of a knight and his lady. It was in grey alabaster mottled with veins of iron oxide. The black paint on the lower of the two steps of the marble plinth was flaking away. Below the architrave the long north and south sides were divided into three equal bays. The east and west ends were each of one bay. Surmounting was the effigy of a bearded bare-headed knight in black armour edged in gilt. His bare hands were clasped together in an attitude of prayer. After the Netherlandish fashion introduced during Elizabethan times, he lay on a rush mat with rolledup ends, on one of which rested his saboton heels. He wore rowel spurs. Contrary to tradition, there was no canine effigy at his feet. Probably, this was because he was a farmer, not a soldier. On his left was his lady. Her hands were similarly clasped together. Both effigies were orientated with the feet pointing eastwards. Under each head was carved a cushion with piped edges, gilt brocade on the upper surface, and heavy tassels at each corner. The lady wore a plain white dress draped from the neck and tucked in concealing her feet. A plain white shawl was pleated over the head and cascaded below the knee. The absence of jewellery was particularly remarkable. The rather sombre nature of the lady's apparel was in contrast to the ostentation of her husband. An inscription on the west end of the monument recorded: `HERE LIETTHE INTOMBED SR THOMAS COLEPEPER, KNIGHTE, BY BLOODE & DESCENTE DESCENDED OF MANY WORTHYE ANCESTORS: IN HIS LIFE TIME FOR HIS WORTH AND DESARTE BELOVED OF ALL MEN: & IN HIS DEATH AS MUCH LAMENTED & BEMONED: HE HAD BY DAME MARIE HIS ONLY WIFE AT THE TIME OF HIS DECEASE THREE SONNES & TWO DAUGHTERS: WHICH DAME MARIE TO PERFORME HER LAST DUTY IN REMEMBRANCE OF HER FAITHFULL LOVE TO HER DECEASED HUSBAND AT HER OWNE COST ERECTED THIS GRATEFULL MONUMENTE: UNDER WHICH HE RESTETH AND BY HIS LIVELY FAITHE HOPETH A JOYFULL RESURRECTION. HE DIED 12 OCT 1604.' This monument was embellished with armorial bearings in colour of six coats quarterly; 1) Argent, a bend engrailed gules (Arms of Culpepper). 2) Argent, a chevron sable between nine martlets gules (Arms of Hardreshall). 3) Gules, on a cross argent five escallops of the first 4) Barry of four, vert and gules, three bezants, two and one in chief a cross formee or. 5) Gules, seven mascles, three, three and one, or. 6) Sable, a fesse chequy argent and sable between three owls proper, impaling azure a chevron argent between three lions' heads erased, ermine crowned or. The Culpepper crest was a falcon volant argent, belled or. A large undecorated floriated armorial device on the east end was obscured by the close proximity of the column of the east wall of the chancel. In the central bay of the south side were carved effigies of three kneeling sons, viz. William, Richard and Thomas. In the corresponding bay on the north were similarly displayed carved effigies of three kneeling daughters, viz. Francisca, Maria and Ann. There is an anomaly concerning the effigies carved on the sides of the monument, and the text of the inscribed tablet on the west end. This was probably the original stone commemorating Sir Thomas's interment in 1604. Dame Marie was probably pregnant when her husband died, such that the birth of the third daughter, Ann, was posthumous. The imposing monument was commissioned after 1604 by their eldest son, Sir William, to commemorate not only his father but also his mother. The original simple tablet pertinent to his father, of dissimilar stone, was incorporated into this later design. There was no evidence on the monument to identify the sculptor. An inset of stone 2 in square on the south cornice may be a later attempt to erase his signature. However, the style in Dame Marie's effigy resembled that of Lady Elizabeth's black and white marble tomb chest in All Saints Church, Hollingbourne. Lady Elizabeth was wife to Sir Thomas Culpepper of Greenway Court. She died in 1638 and was interred in the Culpepper family vault beneath the chapel at the east end of the north aisle of All Saints Church. Lady Elizabeth's monument was the work of the sculptor Edward Marshall (1578-1675). His signature was incised on the top moulding of the west side of the plinth. E. Marshall was employed by the Culpepper family to create two delightful memorial brasses at Ardingly, Sussex. Elizabeth, baptised in Bolney on 20 November 1627, died aged seven years and was interred on 8 December 1634 at the side of her grandmother, Dame Elizabeth, who died in 1633. On the death of Sir Thomas of Preston Hall in 1604, the estate passed to the eldest son William. |
Family | Maria Pynner (say 1570 - ) | |
| Children |
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| Charts | The Culpepers of Preston Hall, from 1266. Extinct after 13 generations The Culpepers of Bedgebury, from 1470: Extinct after 7 generations |
| Last Edited | 3 Oct 2002 |
Citations
- "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree," Unknown book.