Hawkesley
48. Thomas Middlemore, of Hawkeslow, esquire. As already mentioned, p. 44, he was admitted with his wife Eleanor to the Guild of Knowle in 1506 being described as "Thomas Myddulmore armiger de Frogemorton," i.e. Throckmorton,
In 1538 he was returned in a muster roll as liable to find harness, a byll, etc, Otherwise he is only known to us by the pedigree preserved by Vincent. He married Eleanor, one of the daughters of Sir Thomas Throckmorton, of Coughton, Worcestershire, by Margaret daughter
and heir of Robert Olney, of Weston, Bucks. Eleanor was sister to Dame Margery Middlemore, of whom particulars are given on page 30 ante.
Thomas Middlemore and Eleanor Throckmorton had issue:
i. William Middlemore, of whom neat (47).
ii. Mary, married as first wife William Gower, of Woodhall, in Worcestershire, descended in the tenth generation "from Richard Gower temp. Edward I" The arms of this ancient family were, Azure a chevron between three wolves' heads erased or[3].
A daughter who married . . . Tracy.
And probably also
iii. Margaret, who married Edward Underhill of Eatington, Warwickshire, esquire. Of this marriage there is abundant concurrent testimony, and also that she was daughter of Thomas Middlemore. It is not so certain who this Thomas Middlemore was. Vincent says he was "of Hawkesley," other authorities state that she was "daughter of . . . Middlemore, of Edgs Middlemore was of Throckmorton, and this fact, when examined in connection with the register of the Guild of Knowle, seems to show that Vincent's statement is correct [4]Dr. William Throckmorton, her uncle, in 1537 apparently refers to this lady, for after leaving various bequests to his "cousin Margaret," without mentioning her surname, he adds, "I will that nothing be delivered to my cousin Margaret till she be divorced from her husband." The significance of this is seen when we remember that the Underhills were a notable Protestant family, and it is easy to understand that their alliance with a daughter of so prominent a Roman Catholic family as the Middlemores would be deeply resented, and this remarkable clause in Dr. Throckmorton's will, suggesting separation, may be taken as an indication of their displeasure.
Edward Underhill and Margaret Middlemore had issue six sons and nine daughters, of whom Thomas Underhill
was a leading Protestant, and to commemorate him a sermon was founded at St. Mary's, Warwick.
They were buried in Lower Eatington church. Dugdale says Lower Eatington : In the body of this church be severall marble grave stones, whereon are portraitures in brass ; viz., the first of a man in a gown, with his wife, over whose heads are two coats of armes
1. A Cheveron betwixt 3 trefoiles.
2. Party per Chevron arg. and sable, 2 Morecocks, of the second, in chief.
And at their feet a plate with this epitaph
Here lyeth buried under this stone Edward Underhill, sometime gentleman of tbis Town with Margaret sometime his wife; which Edward deceased this World the fifth day of November an. D. MDribi. In whose follys I besu have mercy. Amen.
Under their protraiture are six sons and nine daughters.