My ancestors - Kirkham - Contents

Kirkham of Northamptonshire

Possibly distant relations of Kickham of Ireland.

John Kirkham.
Said to be of Kirkham Abbey, Kirkham, Lancashire.
But Kirkham Priory is at a different Kirkham, in Yorkshire.
History of Parliament thinks it is all false: "According to the Northamptonshire visitation of 1564, George Kirkham's father was of Kirkham Abbey, Lancashire. This looks to be a piece of pretentiousness, prompted maybe by his son's residence at Fineshade Abbey, for not only does it mislocate Kirkham Abbey, which is in Yorkshire, but such evidence as has been found suggests that several generations of Kirkham's forbears had dwelt in Huntingdonshire or Bedfordshire."
John had issue:

George Kirkham,
of Warmington, Northamptonshire,
born before 1479.
See historyofparliamentonline.
He mar before 1500 to Anne Armston [or Armeston, or Armstone, dau of Thomas Armston, of Armston, Northamptonshire].
In 1504 he bought a share of the manor of Warmington.
He served Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. She lived at Collyweston Palace, North Northamptonshire. She died 1509. The Royal family continued to hold Collyweston Palace.
George was MP for Stamford in 1515.
In 1525, he entertained the child of the King, Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond, en route for Collyweston Palace. (Fitzroy was the acknowledged natural son of Henry VIII, who at this time had no legitimate son. In 1525, Henry decided to raise his natural son to the peerage.)
George's will dated 3 March 1528.
He died a week later, in March 1528.
He was bur in the church at Warmington where he endowed a chantry chapel.
George and Anne had issue:

1. Sir Robert Kirkham,
   of Warmington,
   born 1500 (age 28 at father's death).
   In 1546 he bought the dissolved Fineshade Abbey, Northamptonshire. Made it his seat.
   He sold his lands in Warmington in 1555.
   He had issue:
   1. William Kirkham,
      had issue:
      1. Thomas Kirkham,
         had issue:
         1. Mary Kirkham, born 1594.
            She mar George Lynne [born 1594] and had issue.

   
   

2. Agnes Kirkham,
   or Anne.
   She mar Guy Lynne [born c.1490] and had issue.

   
   

3. Cicely Kirkham.
   She mar 1527 to Sir Edward Montagu.
   Her step-daughter later married her sister's son.

Said to be the tomb of Sir Robert Kirkham, though maybe should be his father George Kirkham.
Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Warmington, Northamptonshire.
Photo 2015. See full size.
From jmc4 on Flickr. Used with permission.

Location of Southwick (Lynne) and Warmington (Kirkham) in Northamptonshire (pink).
Also Morborne and Haddon and Chesterton (Forrest) in Huntingdonshire (yellow).
From Wikishire.

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References

• Visitation of Northamptonshire, 1681 and 1682, Harleian Society Publications, vol 87, 1935.
  • Kirkham of Fineshade Abbey on pp.100-101.
  • Kirkham of Southwick on pp.101.

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Sources yet to be consulted

• The visitations of Northamptonshire made in 1564 and 1618-19, pub 1887.
  • Kirkham in the Herald's visitation of 1564, on p.30.
  • Kirkham in the Herald's visitation of 1618-19, on p.104.

• The history and antiquities of Northamptonshire, John Bridges, vol.2, 1791.
  • WARMINGTON on pp.478-483.

• Will of George Kyrkham of Warmington, Northamptonshire. Proved 20 October 1528. PROB 11/22/616 in [NA.UK].