Sir Henry CAPELL, Sheriff of Essex

Born: ABT 1514, Rayne, Essex, England

Died: 22 Jun 1588

Father: Edward CAPELL of Raineshall (Sir)

Mother: Anne PELHAM

Married 1: Catherine MANNERS AFT 16 Aug 1543

Children:

1. Arthur CAPELL (Sir Sheriff of Herfordshire)

2. Frances CAPELL (b. 1548, Hadham, Hertford, England)

3. William CAPELL

4. Edward CAPELL (b. 4 Mar 1558)

5. John CAPELL (b. 2 Jun 1560)

6. Gamahel CAPELL

7. Agnes CAPELL (b. 1 Jan 1562)

8. Frances CAPELL (b. 18 Mar 1564)

9. Anne CAPELL

10. Robert CAPELL (b. 19 Feb 1567)

11. Mary CAPELL

Married 2: Mary BROWNE

The details in this biography come from the History of Parliament, a biographical dictionary of Members of the House of Commons.

First son of Sir Edward Capell by Anne, dau. of Sir William Pelham of Loughton, Essex. Married first Catherine, dau. of Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland; and secondly Mary, dau. of Sir Anthony Browne, wid. of Lord John Grey of Pirgo, s.p. In 1561 his father conveyed to him the manor of Rayne in Essex. By 1563 Sir Edward was one of the leading gentry in Hertfordshire, and Henry, as his heir and a brother-in-law of the Earl of Rutland, was prominent enough to become junior knight of the shire to Sir Ralph Sadler. ?Capt. of 500 footmen on Scottish campaign 1560; the Duke of Norfolk was not impressed by him as a commander, telling Cecil that Capell's company never went into the field 100 strong. Suc. family 19 Mar 1577. j.p. Essex from 1575, q. c.1583, j.p.q. Herts. from 1577; sheriff, Essex 1579-80, Herts, 1585-6.

Died 22 Jun 1588; his will, drawn up less than a week before he died, was proved 13 Jul following. He left annuities of £40 and £20 to his younger sons, and asked the eldest, Arthur, the sole executor, to see that they were promptly paid. The ready money in the house was to be equally divided between Arthur and his step-mother Mary, who also received valuable bequests of plate and a life interest in the Essex property. Will mentions a marriage settlement with Lord Montagu by which Capell's second wife received Rayne and lands in Bocking, Braintree, Panfield and Felstead. In addition to his Hertfordshire and Essex estates he owned the manors of Icklingham Barners in Suffolk, Great and Little Fransham, Norfolk, and Wrington, Somerset. £8 was to be distributed to the poor of Much and Little Hadham and two other Hertfordshire parishes.

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