[Table of Contents]

The Ancestry of Oliver Mainwaring: Shaa

1 John Shaa = ________
2 Sir Edmund Shaa = Julian ____
3 Katherine Shaa = William Browne
4 Julian Browne = Sir John Munday
5 John Munday (Jr.) = Joane ____
6 Katherine Munday = Lawrence Kendall
7 Mary Kendall = Richard Moyle
8 Loveday Moyle = Henry Esse
9 Prudence Esse = Oliver Mainwaring (II)
10 Oliver Mainwaring (III) = Hannah Raymond

Apart from what can be gleaned from biographical articles on some of its more prominent members, there seems to be little on this family in print. The visitation pedigrees are all unhelpful, either beginning too late, or evincing confusion in the early generations.^[1] The flaws in the visitation pedigrees have been widely reproduced, including in a pedigree at the Society of Genealogists.^[2] However, there is useful mention of some of these persons in works on the history of London and its churches, and brief but useful treatments in Percival Boyd’s “Citizens of London” manuscript.
    The arms used by Edmund Shaa were argent a chevron between three fusils ermines, possibly with the addition of a border azure.^[3] These are represented in an old engraving (reproduced at left), the source of which is unknown to us.^[4] These arms are close to those of argent a chevron between three lozenges ermines ascribed to Edmund Shaa’s nephew, John Shaa (see below) in all of the visitation pedigrees in which he appears, namely those of London (1568), Somerset (1623), and Essex (1634). An heraldic manuscript of 1530 states: “Schaa of Lancashire, goldsmyth of London, beryth [beareth] to his crest a shef [sheaf] of arrowes gold fethered silver a gyrdel geules bouckle and pendant gold in a wreth ar[gent].”^[5] This is probably a reference to John Shaa, and the reference to Lancashire is interesting, although it is possibly a mistake for Cheshire, with which the family had a known association.
    As noted below, the family of Shaa also figures in the ancestry of Richard Kempe, Secretary and later Acting Governor of Virginia, and his nephews Col. Matthew Kempe and Edmund Kempe, both of Virginia.

1.  John Shaa, of Dukinfield, a parish in the township of Stockport, in Macclesfield Hundred, co. Chester.^[6] There is no mention of this man in Ormerod’s Chester. He m. ________, and he and his wife were both dead before 20 March 1487, when the will of their son Edmund (cited below) mentions “the parisshe of Stopford in the Counte of Chester where at my ffader and my moder lyen buryed,” and endows a grammar school there. This was at the place now known as Stockport, where the institution, dating from shortly after the proving of the will in 1488, survives to the present in what is believed to be its third location.^[7] Among their issue was:

1. Dr. Ralph Shaw (d. 1484), who was appointed prebendary of Cadington Minor in the diocese of London in 1467, but apparently ruined his career by impugning the validity of the marriage of Edward IV with Elizabeth Wydevill, in a sermon delivered in 1483. According to the version of the story in the Chronicles of Holinshed — who calls him “Iohn Shaw clearke brother to the maior, … doctor of divinitie,” mistaking his first name — “Doctor Shaw by his sermon lost his honestie [i.e. reputation], & soone after his life, for verie shame of the world, into which he durst neuer after come abroad.”^[8] To judge from the numerous bequests to friends and collateral relatives in his will, it is evident that he died unmarried and childless; the beneficiaries include his “syster Maude dwelling at Manchester [in Lancashire],” “Edmond Lathum my syster[’s] son,” his “welbelovid brother Edmond Shaa goldsmyth and late mair of the cite [city] of London,” and his “cosyn [probably meaning nephew] John Shaa citezin and goldsmith of the same cite [i.e. city].”^[9]

2.  Edmund Shaa, of Horndon House and Ardern Hall, Essex, and of London, goldsmith, Mayor of London in 1481-82 (said to be the “Mayor of London” in Shakespeare’s Richard III), possibly b. say 1435-40, possibly at Mottram-in-Longdendale, Cheshire, knighted 1483, d. (testate and s.p.m.s.) 20 April 1488, seised of numerous manors in Essex, his will being dated 20 March 1487 and proved in June 1488.^[10] In accordance with his will, he was buried in the Church of St. Thomas of Acon (or Acre) in London, in which he had founded a chapel, or at least a chantry.^[11] Edmund Shaa was appointed by Edward IV as engraver of the king’s dies in 1462,^[12] and is attested as a citizen and goldsmith of London in 1471.^[13] By 14 Nov. 1473 he was an alderman.^[14] On 26 April 1482 he was succeeded (for life) as graver at the mint by his “cousin” (probably meaning nephew), Sir John Shaa, who would become Lord Mayor of London in 1501.^[15] For further details of the career of Edmund Shaa see the article on him in the DNB, and the entry for his nephew John Shaa in the History of Parliament, which reflects the results of more modern research.
    He m. by 1471, Julian ____, d. 6 July 1494, whose inquisiton post mortem of 29 Oct. 1494 shows she had remained unmarried following her husband’s death.^[16]
    Edmund Shaa’s will makes charitable bequests to a number of places in Cheshire, including “Stopford” (i.e. Stockport, as noted above), Chedyll [Cheadle], and Mottrom [Mottram], and to a number of places in Lancashire, including Manchester, Assheton, Oldam, and Sadyworth. He does not however state that any of these was his birthplace, and we do not know what grounds there may for the frequent contention that he was born at Mottram. His will also mentions, along with a number of family members including his “bestbelovyed wife” Julian, “a kynnysman of myne called Rychard Shaa,” who has not been identified. A published abstract reads:

Shaa, Sir Edmund, goldsmith and Alderman, late Mayor. 26 March, 1488. To be buried in the church of St. Thomas of Acres, “between the pilour whereon the image of St. Michael stondeth before Saint Thomas auter, and the nether side of the church, as nigh to the said pilour as my body may reasonably be layed.” Having been Lord Mayor, my body to be brought to my parish church of St. Peter in Chepe, and thence to be buried, in discreet and honest wise, without pomp of the world. Each of 24 torchbearers to receive 20d. And as it is the usage in burying an ex- Mayor for the Aldermen, Recorder, and other worshipful commons of the City to be present, a repast is to be provided for them after the mass of requiem. To each of such persons, 6s. 8d., and 20l. to the poor, twopence to each aged or feeble, and at least a penny to every other. Debts to be paid and injuries redressed. “And whereas a kinsman of mine, Richard Shaa, caused me, forty years past and more, to go with him into a man’s ground in the Peak in Derbyshire, to take a distress there; and so we took for a distress there two oxen, and drave them thence, the which I am sure came never again to his possession that ought them: and because that wanton deed was done in my wanton days, when I lacked discretion, therefore I have a remorse thereof now in these days, being better advised.” Executors to find owner of cattle, if possible, and make redress. To every daughter of Henry Harsnap, alive and unmarried at my death, 2l. To Edmund Harsnap, 202.; to John Harsnap, 20l. To Jennet my servant, if she will dwell with my wife, and be guided by her in marriage, 20l.; to Edith my servant, ten marks. Bequests for masses for testator; Robert Boteler, goldsmith, sometime my master; Thomas Wode, &c.; Julian my wife, my parents, brothers, sisters, and children; King Edward IV., his sister the Duchess of Exeter, Lord Herbert, &c. Rings to “my lovers,” Dame Anne Broun, Dame Elizabeth Hill; my gossip Cosyn; my suster Cote, my suster Wode, my suster Kelk, my suster Hardyng; my daughter Margaret; my cousin Margaret, wife of John Shaa; my cousin Katherine Goodere; my cousin Joan Dalton; Elizabeth Blakwall, &c. To Henry Harsnip (sic) and my sister his wife, 10l. Bequests to servants, John Harrys, William Poby, Philip Broun, John Hudde, and John Coxett, my child in the kitchen. To Julian, “my true, my mooste dier and best beloved wife,” her belonging after the custom of the City; 2,000l., part in ready money, part in plate and jewels, as she may choose. To the same Julian, my true wife, if she remain unmarried, all household stuff. To my son Hugh, I give God's blessing and mine, money, plate, &c, the lands of Ardern Hall and Hornedon House, with remainder to cousin John Shaa. To my daughter Katherine, money, plate, &c. My loving friend Sir Reynold Bray, executor; gold cup to him and his wife. My cousin Geoffrey Downes, gen., coexecutor; gold cup to him and my good Lady Ingaldesthorp. My son Thomas Riche, Lord Mayor, husband of my daughter Margaret. My cousin John Shaa, goldsmith. — Codicil mentions “John Shawardyn, my ward, son of John Shawardyn, of Essex, goldsmith.”^[17]

Edmund Shaa’s inquisition post mortem recites that his will had left his wife Julian the use of his lands so long as she did not remarry; his heir was his son Hugh, with remainder to a “cousin” (i.e. probably nephew) John Shaa, previously mentioned.^[18]     Their son Hugh dying s.p. and v.m.,^[19] his rights in the unentailed portion of estate passing to his sisters, who in his inquisition post mortem, dated 4 Nov. 7 Hen. VII [i.e. 4 Nov. 1491], are described as “Margaret Ryche, aged 20 years and more, wife of Thomas Ryche of London, mercer, and Katharine Broun, aged 18 years and more, wife of William Broun of London, mercer.”^[20] Some, at least, of the remaining lands, passed to their cousin, John Shaa. In the inquisition post mortem of the widow Julian Shaa, dated 29 Oct. 10 Hen VII [i.e. 29 Oct. 1494], the daughters, “Margaret now wife of Thomas Riche, and Katherine now wife of William Broun, both of London, mercers,” are further described as “aged 22 and more” and “aged 20 and more,” respectively.^[21] In 1506 the executors of Edmund Shaa’s estate caused a number of properties in St. Mary le Bow to pass (in a rather labyrinthine manner) to the Goldsmiths’ Company, and Nicholas Alwyn, citizen and alderman, of St. Pancras, London, by his will dated 1505 and proved 1506, left (in a modern paraphrase) “6 messuages, etc., and also 95/17, to the master and brothers of the hospital of St. Thomas of Acre, to sing and keep obits for Sir Edmond Shaa, Hugh Shaa, and others of that family.”^[22] From the descent of Edmund Shaa’s lands, we see the impossibility of the attribution to Edmund Shaa of a daughter Elizabeth, wife of William Poyntz of Ockenden, Essex.^[23]
    Of their children, the elder daughter was:

1. Margaret Shaa, b. probably in 1471 (aged 20 on 4 Nov. 1491; aged 22 on 29 Oct. 1494), m. (1) before 4 Nov. 1491, Thomas Riche, mentioned as “My son Thomas Riche, Lord Mayor, husband of my daughter Margaret” in the will of his father-in-law. She m. (2) (as his second wife) after 1495, John Raynsford, Knt., of Colchester and Bradfield, Essex. Their daughter Julian m. William Waldegrave, Knt., of Smallbridge in Bures St. Mary, Suffolk, and was mother of Dorothy Waldegrave, who m. Arthur Harris, Esq., of Woodham Mortimer, Essex, and was mother of Dorothy Harris, who m. wife of Robert Kempe, Esq., of Gissing, Norfolk, and was mother of Richard Kempe, Secretary (1634) and Acting Governor (1644-45) of Virginia, whose nephews Col. Matthew Kempe and Edmund Kempe were also Virginia colonists.^[24]

3.  Katherine Shaa, younger daughter, b. probably in 1473,^[25] living 1494 but d. by 3 Nov. 1497. She is referred to as “my right welbeloved doughter Kateryn Shaa” in her father’s 1487 will, and coupled with the fact that she cannot have been aged more than 14 years at the time, this suggests that she was then unmarried.^[26] As previously noted, she is however called “Katharine Broun, aged 18 years and more, wife of William Broun of London, mercer” in the inquisition post mortem of her brother Hugh, dated 4 Nov. 1491, and “Katharine now wife of William Broun … of London, mercer … aged 20 and more” in that of her mother, dated 29 Oct. 1494. She m. therefore by 4 Nov. 1491, William Browne, of “Flambard’s Hall,” London, mercer, Mayor of London in 1513-14, b. 1468-69 (aged 30 at the inquisition post mortem of his father, taken 8 Feb. 1499), will dated 29 May 1513, proved 1 July 1514, son and heir of Sir John Browne, Mayor of London in 1481-82, by his second wife, Anne Belwood. See BROWNE for the continuation of the line.

Notes

The content of this page first appeared as part of an ancestor table, under the now-defunct URL http://cybrary.uwinnipeg.ca/people/dobson/genealogy/AT/view_AT.cfm?ID=29, on 21 August 2002
This page was last revised 11 December 2010