"In 1550, Dame Jane Knightley constructed a tomb for herself and her husband at Upton, Northamptonshire, that included the inscription: 'Pray for the soul of Rich Knightley esq. which died the 30th day of the month of March in the year of our Lord 1537 and for the soul of Jane, his wife, which died ______ [day and month are missing] 1550.'" [1]
1544 April 22 - 1547 Feb 15 Plaintiffs James Duffylde and Frances his wife, a daughter and heir of Richard Knyghtley, esquire, sued defendant Valentine Knyghtley in the Court of Chancery concerning legacies of Richard Knyghtley, knight, father of the said Richard and Valentine, payable out of the manor of Fawsley. Northampton. [2]
1544-1551 Plaintiffs Robert Stafford, knight, and Jane his wife, late the wife of Richard Knyghtley, esquire, sued defendants Valentine Knyghtley, knight, in the Court of Chancery concerning Farthingstone wood, conveyed together with manors and lands in Upton, Starton, Litchborough, Woodford, Byfield and Farthingstone, by Richard Knyghtley, knight, father of defendant and of the said Richard. Northampton. [3]
1577 Conveyance of a fourth part of some houses and lands in Napton, from William Saunders of Gloucester, gent., and Mary Saunders his wife, daughter of the late Richard Knyghtley, esq., and Jane, Lady Stafforde, to James Duffield of Medmenham, Bucks., esq. [4]
[1] Barbara J. Harris, "The Fabric of Piety: Aristocratic Women and Care of the Dead, 1450–1550," Journal of British Studies 48 (April 2009), 308-335, at 319, citing Albert Hartshorne, The Recumbent Monumental Effigies in Northamptonshire (London, 1876), 98, [JSTOR], [JSTOR(UM)].
[2] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, Court of Chancery, C 1/1115/82-83, [UKNationalArchives].
[3] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, Court of Chancer, C 1/1269/46-49, [UKNationalArchives].
[4] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, Warwickshire County Record Office, CR 611/577/1, [UKNationalArchives].