Who's who in the Nevill universe 2. The Middle Nevills

[This blog has moved to http://nevillfeast.wordpress.com/]

This group includes the Salisburys' children and Fauconberg's children. It's a loooong list, so I've potted the biographies even more. (Part 1 can be found here.)

Joan Nevill, married William Fitzalan earl of Arundel.  They had two children, Thomas (lord Maltravers) and Margaret, who married John earl of Lincoln, the son of the duke and duchess of Suffolk. Joan died in 1462. Her husband was involved to a small degree in the Wars of the Roses, but after her death he largely retired from public life.

Joan's effigy at Arundel chapel is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen (though sadly not in real life).

Cecily Nevill married first Henry Beauchamp, earl of Warwick. They had a daughter, Anne. Cecily later married John Tiptoft earl of Worcester. She died in 1450.

Richard Nevill (1428-1471) married Anne Beauchamp, countess of Warwick, in whose right he held the title. After the deaths at Wakefield in 1460, he was instrumental in elevating Edward IV to the throne. He and his wife had two daughters, Isobel and Anne. He was responsible for a number of acts of piracy in the channel, which endeared him to the English people but caused some diplomatic difficulties. With the king's brother, George duke of Clarence (who was married to Isobel Nevill), he rebelled in 1468-9, eventually fleeing to France. Here he was reconciled with Margaret of Anjou, his younger daughter Anne marrying her son, Edward Prince of Wales. He briefly restored Henry VI to the throne (the Readeption), but was killed, along with his brother John, at the battle of Barnet. He held a number of important posts, including Warden of the West March; Captain of Calais, Keeper of the Seas and Master of the Cinq Ports.

Thomas Nevill married Maud Stanhope in 1453. He was his brother Richard's lieutenant in the West March, joint Chamberlain of the Exchequor and joint Keeper of the Royal Mews. He was heavily involved, with his brother John, in the Nevill-Percy feud. He was killed at Wakefield in 1460.

Alice Nevill married Henry lord Fitzhugh. They had 10 children.

John Nevill, later lord Montagu, earl of Northumberland and marquis of Montagu, was born c 1430 and died, with his brother Richard, at the battle of Barnet in 1471. He married Isobel Ingoldisthorpe in 1457 and they had seven children. John spent much of Edward IV's rein in the north of England where he was instrumental in keeping the now Scots-backed Margaret of Anjou's forces in check. When Edward needed to reconcile the Percies, he took the earldom of Northumberland back from John. Warwick was by this time knee deep in rebellion, in which John had to this point refused to join him. The loss of the earldom changed his mind. Caught between the armies of John and Warwick, Edward IV fled to Flanders. John joined Warwick when he launched his invasion and died alongside his brother at the battle of Barnet in 1471.

George Nevill, bishop of Exeter, archbishop of York and chancellor of England, died in 1476. Edward IV sacked him as chancellor in 1467 and was later, briefly, his prisoner during Warwick's rebellion. He was reinstated as chancellor during the Readapetion. Charged by Warwick with keeping Edward IV out of London, George found that pretty much impossible. He was pardoned after Barnet, charged with treason again in 1472 and spent a year in prison in France.

Alianor Nevill married sir Thomas Stanley in 1454. They had three sons, George lord Strange; Edward lord Monteagle and James, bishop of Ely. She died in 1472. Her husband then married Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor.

Katheryn Nevill married first William Bonville, lord Harrington. They had a daughter, Cecily. William was killed at Wakefield in 1460. She then married William Hastings (executed in 1483). They had six children. Katheryn died in 1503.

Margaret Nevill married John de Vere, later earl of Oxford. De Vere was a committed Lancastrian and spent much of their marriage in exile. He fought at the battle of Barnet, but managed to escape after Warwick's forces were defeated. Margaret lived in poverty during her husband's second period of exile and was rumoured to be working as a seamstress in order to make ends meet. After Richard III's defeat at Bosworth, she and her husband were reunited and restored to favour. She died c1503. They had no children.

Thomas Nevill, bastard of Fauconberg. Known predominantly as a sailor, the Bastard of Fauconberg was heavily involved in his cousin Warwick's piracy in the channel and in his invasions of England in 1459 and 1470. After the battle of Barnet, he attempted an assault on London but was captured. Edward IV sent him to Middleham, in the custody of his brother Richard duke of Gloucester, where he was beheaded for unspecified reasons. A tantalising passage from the Paston letters sheds no light on this, saying only: I understonde that Bastarde Fauconbryg is owther hedyd or lyke to be, and hys brother bothe. Som men seye he wolde have deservyd it, and some sey naye. (John Paston II to Margaret Paston 22-7-71).

Alice Nevill, daughter of William lord Fauconberg, married John Conyers, a steadfast supporter of the earl of Warwick. He was heavily involved in the rebellions of 1468/9, particularly in the north of England. Earlier in his career, he was steward of Middleham and was with Salisbury at the battle of Blore Heath.