Jasper More (1547-1614) was master of Larden Hall, a 1000 acre estate in Shropshire England he had spent years building. The More family lived in the area since the twelfth century and had royal ancestry from ancient Britain back to Edward III.
More family Ancestry
Dorothy Sutton
Richard Wrottesley
Jane (Joan) Wrottesley
Richard Cressett, Esq.
Margaret Cressett
Thomas More
Jasper More, Esq.
Elizabeth Smale
Jasper More married Elizabeth Smale (1560-1627) and they had nine children:
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- Eleanora Moore 1575–Deceased
- Richard Moore 1577–1607
- Jane Moore 1578–Deceased
- John Moore 1579–1605
- Elizabeta Moore 1580–Deceased
- Mary Moore 1582–Deceased
- Bridget Moore 1584–Deceased
- Katherine More 1586–1640
- Walter Moore 1588–1590
In 1607 Jasper More’s only living son Richard was killed in a duel fought over a woman with Francis Sheppard from Baucott estate in Corvedale. This left the family with no surviving male heir to take over Larden Hall after Jasper. His only remaining child was his unmarried youngest daughter Katherine More. Soon after his son’s death, Jasper More was visited by his wealthier cousin Richard More who lived in nearby Linley Hall.
Katherine’s grandmother was Jane Pemberton. A headstrong woman who kept her maiden name after marriage. She was the subject of a portrait miniature by the famous 16th-century German artist Hans Holbein the Younger, painted about 1540. Holbein was known as a painter of the English court, where his paintings included those of King Henry VIII and several of his wives.
Because Jasper More had no surviving male heir, it was agreed upon that in order to preserve the More family name and both Larden & Linley estates. His twenty three year old daughter Katherine would be put in an arranged marriage with Richard More’s son, seventeen year old Samuel More who was Katherine’s cousin. In October 1610 Richard More paid Jasper More £600 and the marriage would take place a few months later at St. James church in Shipton.
Katherine & Samuel More
Married February 4th 1611
2 Responses
Fascinating history! Proud to be a part of it!
I’m blessed you are a part of it Chris.