Children and Wards of Sir Thomas More
Thomas More was born in London on 7 February 1478. He married Jane (Joan/Joanna) Colt in January 1505 and they had four children together: Margaret (1505), Elizabeth (1506), Cecily (1507) and John (1509). Jane died in 1511. Shortly after the death of his first wife Thomas married for a second time to a widow by the name of Alice Middleton.
CHILDREN OF SIR THOMAS MORE
Margaret “Meg” (More) Roper: 1505-1544
Born in 1505, Margaret was the oldest daughter and favorite child of Sir Thomas More. She was highly educated and extremely devoted, just like her father.
She was baptized and turned over to a close neighbor, Mistress Giggs who was her wet-nurse and had just had a child of her own, another Margaret. Mistress Giggs died shortly after giving Margaret back to her parents and Margaret Giggs was adopted by Thomas and Joanna and became Margaret More’s closest friend. – Read More: Freelance History Writer: Margaret Roper, Daughter of Sir Thomas More
In 1520/1, Margaret married William Roper who became a member of the More household just a couple of years prior to their marriage.
Margaret and William had five children: Elizabeth (1523-1560), Margaret (c.1526-1578), Mary (1527-1532 to 1572), Thomas (1533-1598) and Anthony (1544-1597)
After the execution of her father in July 1535, Margaret rescued his severed head from London Bridge and incurred charges for it. She was later pardoned.
Margaret Roper died on Christmas Day in 1544.
Elizabeth (More) Dauncey: 1506-1564
Elizabeth was the second child and daughter of Thomas More and his first wife, Jane (Joan/Joanna) Colt. She married William Dauncey in 1525.
Elizabeth and William had seven children: John, Thomas, Bartholomew, William, Germain, Alice and Elizabeth.
In 1543, her husband and grandfather (John More) along with others were implicated in the Plot of Prebendaries of Canterbury. The Prebendaries’ Plot was an attempt to oust Thomas Cranmer from the office of archbishop of Canterbury. They were later pardoned.
Cecily (More) Heron: 1507-?
On 29 September 1525, Cecily married Giles Heron who was ward to Thomas More in 1523 after the death of his father.
Cecily and Giles had three children: Thomas, John and Anne.
Giles Heron was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on charges of treason in 1540.
John More: 1509-1547
John was the youngest of More’s children with Jane Colt and his only son. It appears that John was named at Thomas More’s father, John More.
In 1527, John became betrothed to his father’s ward, Anne Cresacre. They married and had eight children together: Thomas II, Augustine, Edward, Gerome, Thomas III, Bartholomew, Anne, Francis.
During his father’s downfall John was behind his father’s decisions. Because of this John was also under scrutiny. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, heavily interrogated and eventually released.
After the execution of his father he was suspected of being involved in the Plot of the Prebendaries of Canterbury. He most likely signed the Act of Supremacy and was later pardoned.
John More died in 1547.
WARDS OF SIR THOMAS MORE
Margaret Giggs:
Margaret was born in 1508 to Thomas Giggs, and his wife Olive (Alice) Hoo. Margaret was born around the same time as Margaret More. Her parents were close neighbors to the More family. (See Margaret (More) Roper)
Foster-daughter of Sir Thomas More. She was raised with the More children and experienced the same education as them. She married John Clement(s) in 1526. Clement was a highly valued tutor for the More children.
Margaret Giggs was present as the execution of Thomas More.
Margaret and John left England when the very Protestant Edward VI ascended to the throne. They did not return until Catholic Mary I succeeded the throne. Upon Elizabeth’s accession they left England again.
Margaret Giggs died in 1570 and her husband in 1571.
Anne Cresacre:
Anne was Sir Thomas More’s ward. She was just a baby when she was taken into their household. Anne, just as Margaret Giggs was educated alongside the More children.
In 1527 she was betrothed to Thomas More’s only son, John. They had eight children together. John More died in 1547 and Anne remarried. In 1559 she married George West.
Anne Cresacre died in 1577.
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Sources:
Lewis, Lesley; “The Thomas More Family Group Portraits After Holbein”
The Center for Thomas More Studies – “The Family and Descendants of Sir Thomas More”
Freelance History Writer: Margaret Roper, Daughter of Sir Thomas More
Evelyn, Danielle; Thomas More’s adopted daughter (Sunday, 12 October 2014)
