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Sir Henry Holande, the third Duke of Exeter


Sir Henry Holande was the son of John Holande by his first wife, Anne, the widow of Edmund Mortimer, earl of March. He was born on 27 June 1430 in the Tower of London, and was probably murdered by Yorkists in 1475. An inquistion was taken when he came of age. Testimony was given concerning his baptism ...that his aunt, Lady Constance, widow of the Earl Marshal, Duke of Norfolk, carried him in her arms from the Tower to Cold Harbour and thence to a barge to St. Stephen's Westminster, where he was christened. Cold Harbour was a house which stood on the bank of the river near All Hallows Lane, just east of the existing Cannon Street railway bridge. During the reign of Edward II, the house (Cold Harbour) belonged to Sir John Abel and after passing through other hands was in 1397 the town house of John Holande, earl of Huntingdon.

Henry was married to Anne (born 1439 in Fotheringay, York), a daughter of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York and sister to the princes who afterwards became Edward IV and Richard III. In 1449, Henry Holande became the Duke of Exeter and Lord High Admiral at the age of 19 years. After the weary wars in France, Sir Henry Holande, one of the richest and most magnificent dukes, fell in distress and oblivion and resided in Flemish cities, consuming his heart in poverty and despair. He returned to England in time to take part in the crowning disaster of barnet. Sir Henry Holande was wounded during the battle of Warwick in 1471 when King Edward IV proclaiming that the leading Lancastrians were notorious traitors! The traitor's list contained the names of Queen Margaret and Edward, her son; Henry, late Duke of Exeter; Edmund Beaufort calling himself duke of Somerset; the earls of Oxford and Devonshire; Viscount Beaumont, seven knights, two squires, three clerks and one friar.

According to the chronicler Fabian, Henry Holande's body was found a few months later floating in the sea between Calais and Dover and none knew how it came there. Sir James Ramsey, in his book, Lancaster and York, however, stated that Henry Holande was in the Tower of London after his sanctuary and was living until June of 1475. On 21 June 1473 a bill of 6s. 8d. was paid to William Sayer, purveyor to the Town of London for food for Henry, called duke of Exeter, for seven days from 26 May and again 6s.8d. for the week beginning 31 May.

After his death, Anne, the wife of Sir Henry Holande, married secondly, Sir Thomas St. Leger. It is in this marraige agreement that we learn details. The estates of John Holande, the first duke of Exeter were confiscated in 1461 qhwn hia wife (anne) was 22. The argument is that Anne, duchess of Exeter, was born in 1439 and she obtained a divorce from the duke on 12 Nov 1467 and then married Sir Thomas St. Leger. The divorce reportedly occurred when Sir Henry Holande was in exile. As she was the sister of King Edward IV, the Holande estates in Devonshire, etc. were restored to her. An Act of Parliament passed in 1464 specified that such gifts and grants that the King shall make to Anne, his sister, wife of Henry, (third) duke of Exeter, shall be to all intents good in law to the only use of the said Anne. During August of 1467 there was a settlement of the Exeter estates. King Edward granted to Anne, his sister, castles, manors, etc. in Wales, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Wilts to herself for life, with the remainder to go to her daughteer by the duke of Exeter (Henry Holande). The Lady Anne Holande, in general tail, and then, in default of that daughter living and having issue, to the Duchess Anne in general tail. Later, Anne gave birth to a daughter, Anne St. Leger, and in 1467 a settlement was obtained at the instance of Sir Thomas St. Leger to enable his daughter to succeed Anne Holande and her issue.

According to an old historian, Lady Anne Holande, while she was still a child, was contracted about 1465 to Thomas Woodville, a brother of Edward IV's queen, which match did not occur because sometime after the year of 1467 Anne Holande died unmarried, and her mother, Anne, the duchess of Exeter, died in 1476.

The unhappy marriage of Sir Thomas Holande, the third duke of Exeter to Anne Plantagenet brought forth one child, Anne Holande, who died unmarried. However, it is said that the duke also had two illegitimate sons, Thomas and William. It is at this point, ca 1435 that the Holland names are found in the London christening records. The following (wills) records exist in London: The last will and testament of John Holland, citizen and skinner, dated 1438, London Comissary Court; Elizabeth Holland 1544; John Holland 1547; John Holland 1548; Richard Holland 1544, London Consistory Court, St. Michael's, named Thomas Holland as his brother; Ralph Holland 1445, draper, London Court of Hustings named church wardens of St. Margaret Parish in London; Ralph Holland, 1452, London Court of Hustings, mentioned his wife Matilda and his tenements on the cornere of Adelane, St. Alban Parish de Wodestrete, St. Clements Lane near Eastchepe; Ralph Holland, tailor, Codicil 24 Jan 1443, London Court of Hustings, disposes of his tenement in Bokeslenburg, St. Benedict and named nuns as heirs; Robert Holland, shearman, 1442, London Commissary Court; Robert Holland 1513, London Commissary Court; Johan Holland, widow, of Hackney Middlesex, 1516, London Commissary Court named John Holland.

The inquistions of Richard and Thomas Holland (brothers) in 1517, London Inquistiones post Mortem, testified that Henry Clophill died 6 Jul 1526. Later in 1526, Richard Holland testified that William Clopton, heir of William, was aged 21.

The two illegitimate sons mentioned by historians of which I have discovered no information, were probably born ca 1460. Thomas Holland is recorded on the IGI records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be the father of Henry Holland of London, as follows. There is no reference given. However, the Mortuary Record of St. Margaret's Parish in London provided the burial of Thomas Holland as beiing on 29 Jul 1540.

Henry Holland (ca 1480/90-1561)belonged to the St. Margaret's Church in Westminster, London. The parish records are complete on his family members. Henry made his last will and testament in 1561 in London wherein he directed that his body be buried at St. margaret's and named Thomas, George, Mary and Henry Holland; also a grandson, Edward Holland. Henry Holland was mentioned in trace documents in London along with Richard Holland and Thomas Holland (above paragraph) From my studies Richard and Thomas both appear to have been born ca 1480/90, the same time as Henry. Other Hollands mentioned as having been buried at the same parish church (Mortuary) was John Holland, buried 13 Aug 1547 and Robert Holland who made his will in 1557 in London naming his wife, Elizabeth and son, George Holland. Issue of Henry Holland:

Sources:

Lancaster and York by Sir James Ramsey, Vol. II, p. 370; Rymer, Vol. XI, p. 713; Tower Records; Parish Records of St. Margarets in Westminster, London; St. Martin-in-the-Fields; and St. Clement Lanes in London; Cavaliers and Pioneers, 3 part I by Nugent.