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the thirteenth and fourteenth century. By the
fifteenth century they held estates at Chelmington and Wye, and one,
Roger Twysden, was in Jack Cade's rebellion (1450). One Thomas Twysden
was a monk, Bede, at Battle Abbey, and, after its dissolution,
successfully managed the estate at Wye for his brother's son and heir,
Roger, while a minor. Subsequently William Twysden of Chelmington and
Wye married Elizabeth (Plate III), the heiress of Roydon, East Peckham,
in 1542, and this brought the main Twisden family definitely back to
West Kent. Elizabeth must have been both an attractive personality, for
she married three times, and a good business woman, for, as Lady Golding, she survived all three husbands and actively helped her son,
Roger Twysden (Plate III), to build up and acquire the Roydon Estate.
This Roger Twysden became Sheriff of Kent (1599) and
married Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Wiat, the younger (Plate IV), of
Allington Castle.
(It is here interesting for Kent folk to note that Roger's
sister Margaret married Richard Dering of Pluckley, while his daughter
Margaret Twysden Married Sir Henry Vane, the elder.) The eldest son of
Roger and Anne, William Twysden (Plate V), born 1566, married into yet
another Kentish family. His wife, Anne Finch (Plate V), was the daughter
of Sir Moyle Finch, 1st Bart. of Eastwell, by Elizabeth, 1st Countess of
Winchelsea. William was a great courtier and became the 1st |
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Twysden
Baronet of Roydon
(1611). He and his wife lived in great style, and had a family of
considerable interest. The daughters, Anne and Elizabeth (Plate VII),
married Sir Christopher Yelverton and Sir Hugh Cholmley, both
subsequently prominent in the Civil War. The latter ultimately had to
leave his native county in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and is buried
at East Peckham. Of the sons, the 4th, John Twysden, M.D. (Plate VII),
was a noted man of science in his time, as well as a qualified medical
practitioner. He was particularly interested in mathematics, astronomy
and chemistry and was famous for his "Viper Powder." He also
wrote a treatise in defence of Christianity and was buried in St.
Margaret's Westminster.
The eldest son, Sir Roger Twysden (Plate VI), the second
Baronet of Roydon, was a scholar and antiquarian. During the Civil War
he suffered great hardships for his outspoken and unbiased opinions. He
was imprisoned by the Parliamentarians, his estates sequestrated and
wilfully mismanaged. His wife, Isabella Saunder (Plate VI), behaved
heroically in trying to obtain his release and pardon, but, despite the
fact that his cousin, Sir Heneage Finch (Plate IV), was Solicitor
General at the time, it was long before he obtained relief, and,
although his son, William, 3rd Baronet of Roydon, tried to put the
estate once more in order, this Roydon branch of the Twysden family
became more notorious than prosperous. |