Thomas Luttrell

Monument in Dunster Church toThomas Luttrell (died 1571) of Dunster Castle and his wife, both recumbent effigies (left). To the right are shown Thomas's son George Luttrell (c.1560–1629) kneeling next to the recumbent effigy of his first wife, with his arms above centre quartering Hadley. Erected by George's son Thomas Luttrell (d.1644), whose arms impaling Popham are shown at top right Thomas Luttrell (died 1571), of Dunster Castle in Somerset, feudal baron of Dunster, was a Member of Parliament for his family's newly enfranchised pocket borough of Minehead (two miles north-east of Dunster Castle), from 1563 to 1567 . by his wife Margaret Wyndham (d.1580), a daughter of Sir Thomas Wyndham (d.1521) of Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk. Thomas inherited the family estates on the death of his elder brother Sir John Luttrell (d.1551), a soldier who died without male progeny.

Career He sold the Devon and Somerset estates, excepting Dunster Castle, apparently to meet debts. These were however "amply replaced" by the large estate inherited from his wife.

Marriage

He married Margaret Hadley on 27 Aug 1560, daughter and eventual sole heiress of Christopher Hadley (1517-1540), lord of the manor of Withycombe Hadley in Somerset. The former manor house of the Hadleys survives as Court Place in the village of Withycombe. Thomas Luttrell and Margaret Hadley were related spiritually as well as by blood, as Margaret was the god-daughter of Thomas's mother, making them in the eyes of the church spiritually related as brother and sister; and both were descended from Elizabeth Courtenay (d.1493), daughter of Sir Philip Courtenay (1404–1463) of Powderham. Margaret's great-grandfather Richard Hadley had married Philippa Audley, a daughter of Sir Humphrey Audley (alias Touchet) (c.1434-1471) (a younger son of James Tuchet, 5th Baron Audley, 2nd Baron Tuchet (c. 1398–1459)), by his wife Elizabeth Courtenay (d.1493), who was the widow of Sir James Luttrell (d.1461), the great-grandfather of Thomas Luttrell. In consequence of this consanguinity in 1557 a papal bull was procured from Pope Paul V to sanction the marriage. The legal difficulties encountered by the marriage are related by Maxwell-Lyte as follows: He was twice Sheriff of Somerset, in 1593 and 1609 and built the pier in Minehead harbour. He embarked on a major rebuilding of Dunster Castle. survives in Dunster Church, inscribed as follows: Here lyeth the body of Thomas Luttrell Esquire who departed this lyfe in sure hope of a most joyful resurrection the 16 day of Jany Ano Dom 1570 Ano 13 of Elizabeth late Queene of England, being then High Sheriff of the Countie of Somerset & one of the youngest sones of Andrew Luttrell, Knight, the sayd Thomas being lawfully married unto Margaret Hadley daughter & sole heire of Christopher Hadley of Wythycombe in the sayd county Esquire, by whom he had issue 3 sonnes & 3 daughters, George, John, Andrew, 3 daughters vidz Ursula, Margaret and Mary the which Andrew, Ursula and Margaret dyed without any issue of their bodyes. The heraldry is as follows: top left, Luttrell; top right (arms of George's son, Thomas), Luttrell impaling Argent, on a chief gules two stag's heads cabossed or (Popham), also visible in Marshwood House, Blue Anchor; centre (arms of George Luttrell), Luttrell quartering: quarterly of four, 1&4: Gules, on a chevron or three cross crosslets sable(Hadley), 2&3: Or, on a bend cotised sable three horse's heads and necks argent bridled or (Durborough of Withycombe).