A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
Margaret Fiennes, 11th Baroness Dacre (1541 – 16 March 1612) was a suo jure peeress having been created Baroness Dacre by King James I of England in 1604. She was the daughter of Thomas Fiennes, 9th Baron Dacre, who was executed for murder in the year of her birth. His title and lands had been forfeited to the crown. Baroness Margaret's husband was Sampson Lennard MP.
She was also known as Baroness Dacre of the South.
Portrait of Margaret Fiennes, 11th Baroness Dacre by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, c.1595-1600.
Margaret was born in 1541, the youngest child and only daughter of Thomas Fiennes, 9th Baron Dacre and Lady Mary Nevill. In the year of her birth, her father was hanged by order of King Henry VIII for the murder of a gamekeeper, and his lands and title were forfeited to the crown.
On 10 November 1564 at the age of 23, Margaret married Sampson Lennard (died 1615), who came from a family of landed gentry. They resided at Chevening, Kent. He was a Member of Parliament for various constituencies, and from 1590 to 1591, he held the post of High Sheriff of Kent. Together Margaret and her husband had seven children:
1) Elizabeth Lennard, married Sir Francis Barnham, by whom she had issue.
2) Gregory Lennard (died 1620), he was childless.
3) Anne Lennard, married Herbert Morley
4) Mary Lennard, married Sir Ralph Bosville
5) Margaret Lennard, married Sir Thomas Waller, by whom she had issue, including Parliamentarian soldier Sir William Waller.
6) Frances Lennard, married Sir Robert More
7) Sir Henry Lennard, 12th Baron Dacre (25 March 1570- 8 August 1616), married Chrysogona Baker, by whom he had issue.
The title of Baron Dacre had been restored to Margaret's brother Gregory by Queen Elizabeth I shortly after her ascension to the throne; however upon his death in 1594, it had once again lapsed in abeyance. On 8 December 1604, King James I created her suo jure Baroness Dacre, and she held this title until her death on 16 March 1612. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Henry.
Between 1595 and 1600 her portrait was painted by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger.
A translation of the inscription on Margaret's tomb reads: "Of Margareta Fynes, Baroness Dacre, daughter of Thomas Baron of Dacre, son of Thomas Fiennes soldier, son of Thomas Baron Dacre, and of Anna his wife daughter of Humfridus Bourchier soldier, son of Johann, Baron Bourchier of Berners, son of Gulielmus Bourchier retainer of Essexia and Ewe, and of Anna his wife, daught of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Glocestria; from maternal lineage daughter of Maria, daughter of Georgius Neville Baron of Bergaveny, son of Edwardus Neville, Baron of Bergaveny, son of Rodulphus Neville retainer of Westmorelania, and Johanna his wife daughter of Johann of Gaunt Duke of Lancastraia. For the sake of love and honor her dearest/gracious spouse, whom she blessed with fruitful offspring, regarded her an ideal of piety in God, obedience to her husband, charity to paupers, compassion to all, above her sex she had displaed; finally on the day of March 10, in the year of Prosperity 1611, 70 of age, with greatest longing, for all good; willing and glad her dying breath expired to the Spirit of the Father".
Another translation of the same inscription reads: "Margaret Fiennes, Baroness Dacre; daughter of Thomas, Baron Dacre; son of Thomas Fiennes, knight; son of Thomas, Baron Dacre; and Anna, his wife, daughter of Humphrey Bourchier, knight; son of John Baron Bourchier of Berners; son of William Bourchier, Count Essex of Ewe; and Anna, his wife, daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester; and on her maternal side daughter of Maria, daughter of George Neville, Baron of Bergaveny; son of Edward Neville, Baron of Burgaveny; son of Ralph Neville, Count of Westmorland; and Joan, his wife, daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. Love and honor therefore, with sorrow, to my loving wife and with happy descendants, model of mercy in God, obedient in marriage, charitable to the poor, kind to all, an example to all women. On 10 March 1611, aged 70, she took her last breath and died." - Thanks to Ann Manning Tappero for this translation from the original Latin.
She was buried in the Cemetery of Saint Botolph.
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