Genealogy & Family History Index

Rhodes of Barlborough & Great Houghton

Francis Rodes (1530?–1588), judge, born about 1530, was son of John Rodes of Staveley Woodthorpe, Derbyshire, by his first wife, Attelina, daughter of a Thomas Hewett of Wales in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Staveley is situated between Chesterfield and Barlborough.

The family traced its descent from Gerard de Rodes, a prominent baron in the reign of Henry II.

Although educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, he did not graduate. In 1549 he was entered at Gray's Inn, and in 1552 was called to the bar. On 29 June 1585 he was raised to the bench as justice of the common pleas, and in October 1586 he took part in the trial of Mary Queen of Scots at Fotheringay.

His principal seat was at Barlborough, Derbyshire, where he built the hall; he also purchased estates at Billingsley, Darfield, Great and Little Houghton, all in Yorkshire.

He married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Brian Sandford of Thorpe Salvin, Rotherham; and, secondly, Mary, eldest daughter of Francis Charlton of Appley in Shropshire. Her sister Elizabeth married John Manners, fourth earl of Rutland, who appointed Rodes one of his executors.

He died 1588 at Staveley Woodthorpe. His will, dated 7 June 1587, was proved on 28 April 1591; among numerous other benefactions he made bequests to St. John's College, Cambridge, and the newly founded grammar school at Staveley Netherthorpe.

Will of Frances Rodes

He confirms the conveyances previously made to his younger sons Peter, Godfrey, Robert and Frances of his manors of Haughton, Billingley and Hickleton and lands in Haughton, Billingley and Hickleton, Darfield and Bolton, Yorkshire. and instructs his servants Thomas Boyer and Richard Crosby that Godfrey, the eldest son by his second wife Mary, is to have the manors of Haughton, Billingley and lands in Haughton, Billingley and Darfield, and a certain £600 due; the manor of Barlbrough, Derbyshire, which he had settled on his son Frances the elder, by his first wife to allure him to study, he now leaves to his eldest son John owing to the untowardness of Frances, who is to have two rent charges amounting to £40; he directs that the portion of his daughter Katheren be made up to 1000 marks; that of his daughter Troweth to £600; his daughter Elizabeth, if the marriage being arranged between her and Richard Tempest shall not take place, to have the benefits devised for the marriage; his 4 youngest daughters Attaline, Cicely, Judeth and Bridgett £500 a piece and to be brought up at Wodthorpe or Barlbrough by his eldest son John; to his 'daughter Bassett' a chain of gold value £40 which he desires her to bequeath to 'her sonne and myne Nedd Bassett'; to the newe erected Grammar School at Staveley Netherthorpe, Derbyshire, the finding of 2 scholarships in St. John's Cambridge £8 p.a. and £4 p.a. to the relief of maimed soldiers in Staveley, Barlbrough and Elmeton, Derbyshire from certain rent charges; certain rent charges from the manor of Elmeton to his servant Jeffrey Wattsonn, who is to assist his son John in the better getting of coal and ironstone , he to have £6 13s. 4d. every year the colliers get 2000 loades and 5 marks for any further 1000 loades; other bequests to servants. Probate granted in Court of Arches. 14 Aug. 1589.

Rodes was succeeded in the Barlborough estates by his eldest son by his first wife, Sir John Rodes (1562–1639), whose son Francis (d 1645) was created a baronet on 14 Aug. 1641. Netherthorpe School was endowed in 1599 by Francis

Godfrey, was the eldest son by his second wife. The judge left two other sons, Peter and Robert, and seven daughters, Katherine, Truth (Troweth), Elizabeth, Attaline, Cicely, Judith, and Bridget.

Darfield and Great Houghton passed to the judge's eldest son by his second wife, Sir Godfrey Rodes (d 1634), whose son, Sir Edward Rodes (1599–1666), served as sheriff of Yorkshire and colonel of horse under Cromwell; he was also a member of Cromwell's privy council, Sheriff of Perthshire, and represented Perth in the parliaments of 1656-8 and 1659-1660.

Sir Edward's(1599-1666), sister Elizabeth was third wife of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford.

On 16 February 1607 Katherine, daughter of Sir John Rodes married Sir John Hotham, first baronet (1589– She had died by 16 July 1614, when Hotham married his second wife, Anne Rokeby (b. 1593), daughter of Ralph Rokeby of York, the secretary to the council of the north. Hotham was knighted on 11 April 1617.

Lenox (d.1639), daughter of Sir John Rodes of Barlborough and his third wife, Catherine, (daughter of Marmaduke Constable of Holderness), married on 12 September 1626, at St Michael-le-Belfry in York to Marmaduke Langdale, first Baron Langdale (1598-1661), royalist army officer, and only son of Peter Langdale(d.1617), and his wife, Anne Wharton (1576/7-1646).

The title and the male line of the family became extinct on the death of Sir John Rodes, 4th baronet, of Balber Hall, Derbyshire, son of Martha, who never married, and died in 1743. His sister and heiress married Gilbert Heathcote, whose grandson, Gilbert, took the name of Rodes, and died in 1768. Cornelius, nephew of Gilbert, took the name of Rodes in addition to that of Heathcote in 1776.