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, Yorkshire; 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 towards the end of 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.
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 (1589–1645),. 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 - Marmaduke Langdale, first Baron Langdale (bap. 1598, d. 1661), royalist army officer, and only son of Peter Langdale, esquire (d. 1617), and his wife, Anne Wharton (bap. 1576/7, d. 1646).
The title became extinct on the death of Sir John Rodes, 4th baronet, of Balber Hall, Derbyshire, son of Martha,
who never married,he died in 1743.
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