Down through the ages, there have been those who have suffered the most horrendous of deaths at the hands of the executioner of the day, treason seems to be a conviction handed out rather regularly. Hugh the younger De Spencer was my 20th Great granduncle and he suffered a particularly gruesome ending on 24th November 1326 in Hereford England. Hugh was judged and found guilty of High Treason and sentenced to death. While awaiting his execution in prison he attempted to starve himself to death, trying the easier way to die was his motivation. He was sentenced to death by Hanging and Drawing and Quartering, the most gruesome form of execution alongside burning at the stake. The demise of Hugh the Younger was well documented and we can explore his life up to his death, personally, I believe his punishment was somewhat excessive.
A less gruesome form of execution may have been Beheading if we consider the possible speed of execution in comparison to the latter. But there must be some consideration for personal choice nowadays so I leave it up to the reader to decide the less gruesome. The truth is that executions could often be a prolonged process by intent or incompetent executioners.
In my deep family history, some made their way through life without drawing adversity to themselves, seems that stepping on toes on your life journey was a shaw way to bring the executioner's axe swinging down on your head. There are 25 people, in my family who suffered death at the hands of the executioner, Hugh's death amongst them.
Another person I would like to bring forward is my 3rd Cousin 14x removed Anne Boleyn and wife to the tyrant King Henry VIII also a 6th Cousin 13x removed from myself.
We have all learnt of the fate of the wives of Henry VIII but when we discover that we have an ancestral connection to people in history we tend to take a much more in-depth look at their lives, and possibly take on a more personal interest in history; this has been true in my case. I have read countless articles and publications about Anne Boleyn, leading up to and including her execution at the Tower of London.
I can say that I do experience a personal attachment to her story and consequently absorb more attention to how she may have been feeling in her last hours.
Public outrage over the executions was not uncommon, just as we see today some would be in support and others would not be in support of an execution. In the case of Edmond of Woodstock Plantagenet, public anger at his execution delayed his death by 5 hours because no Axman would go against public opinion. A convicted murderer was called upon to do the deed in exchange for his pardon.
Alice (Alicia) Beconshawe her Father: White Beconshawe Sir and Mother: Edith Bond Husband: John Lisle Sir.
Alicia was charged with the treason of harbouring the King's enemies when she gave shelter to John Hikes. She thought he was seeking shelter for religious dissent, however, he was being sought for treason. Three times the jury found the 80-year-old Alicia innocent and three times Judge Jeffries refused to accept the verdict. Originally sentenced to be burnt at the stake, James II commuted the sentence to beheading at the intercession of the Clergy of Winchester. She was beheaded in Ringwood Market Square on Sep. 2, 1685.
Revenge could be said to be the motivation for some executions, On 17th November 1326 Edmund 9th Earl of Arundel Fitzalan was executed by Queen Isabella, after being captured by John Charlton of Powys an old foe at Shrewsbury. The historical account tells us he was executed with a blunt sword and that it took 22 blows of the sword to remove his head.
There are stories behind each execution, it is a fascinating research journey; to be taken. If we take the time to look a little deeper than we usually do we will be rewarded with a richer understanding of our family history. Give thought to how lucky we are that our executed ancestors had issues (children)to continue their family line, so we are here to explore their lives and our history. Below are 26 ancestors who have met with gruesome endings, 24 were executed by beheading.
1. Hugh the Younger De Spencer, 20th Great granduncle.
2. Edmund of Woodstock Plantagenet, 20th Great granduncle. 3. Edmund 9th Earl of Arundel Fitzalan, 20th Great grandfather. 4. Thomas 2nd Earl of Lancaster Plantagenet, 20th Great granduncle. 5. Henry 1st Earl of Northumberland Percy, 19th Great grandfather. 6. Thomas 1st Earl of Worcester De Percy, 18th Great granduncle. 7. Anne Boleyn Queen, 3rd Cousin 14x removed. 8. Owen Meredith Tudor, Husband of 4th Cousin 20x removed. 10. Margaret 8th Countess Salisbury Plantagenet, 5th Cousin 14x removed. 11. Richard 11th Earl of Arundel Fitzalan, 18th Great grandfather. 12. Robert Devereux, 6th Cousin 11x removed. 13. Christopher Blount, Husband of 5th Cousin 12x removed. 14. Robert De Holland, Husband of 1st Cousin 22x removed. 15. John 1st Duke of Northumberland Dudley, 2nd Cousin 15x removed. 16. Edward Neville, 2nd Cousin 17x removed. 17. Richard 5th Earl of Salisbury Neville, 17th Great granduncle. 18. Mary I Stuart Queen, 8th Cousin 11x removed. 19. Richard Grey, 4th Cousin 18x removed. 20. Robert 8th Baron of Willoughby De Eresby Welles, 3rd Cousin 16x removed. 21. Richard 7th Baron of De Welles, 2nd Cousin 17x removed. 22. Edward 17th Earl of Warwick Plantagenet, 5th Cousin 14x removed. 23. Jane Grey Lady, 8th Cousin 11x removed. 24. John Guildford Dudley Lord, Husband of 8th Cousin 11x removed.
25. Charles 1st King, 10th Cousin 9x removed.
26. Alice Beconsaw Lady, 4th Cousin 10x removed.
Executions in England go back many years before the arrival in 1066 of William I the Concorer. There were no less than 200 notably trivial crimes that could result in the execution of an individual if they found themselves foul of the law.
In my research, I discovered that repeated Vagrancy was on the list of crimes punishable by death (hanging). In the 16th century, there was no distinction between vagrants and unemployed. In 1547 it was passed that after a second offence, a sentence of death may be applied.
72,000 people are estimated to have fallen victim to this law during the Reine of King Henry VIII.
Be grateful for the ancestors who have survived down through the ages and given you the gift of today.
Recommended reading:
Tower, by Nigel Jones.
Anne Boleyn, by Eric Ives.
Lady Jane Grey, by Eric Ives.
Copyright © Noel Bond. Researched and written by Noel Bond, No written part of this Blog may be reproduced in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.
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