The deed of which this short article are taken was finalized because of the Robert Whitney himself towards the 8 Oct 1492, thus showing in addition to that he had been real time at the time, however, even more important that the provider are latest (the later fifteenth millennium becoming an infamously bad period to possess records). New document checks out: “…shall will always be toward said Robert Whitney and his heirs because of the themselves and the body away from Custance [Constance] earlier his first partner, des Audeley, knight, lord Audeley, legally begotten, for ever to hang of the captain lords of these fee having characteristics thereof formerly owed and you will regular…“.
Even though the document does not explicitly state as frequently, there are lots of information we could needless to say infer out of this small passing. The initial and most obvious you’re one to Robert and you will Constance had been no further hitched from the 1492, if action try authored. That it very most likely means that Constance had died at the same time (usually you to definitely the woman marriage in order to Robert was actually annulled, and this looks unrealistic because of your times and you can because of the existence from procedure from their relationships). The following, and perhaps more important piece of info is you to Constance is Robert’s basic girlfriend, not their second/history spouse, as many low-modern-day sources allege, hence one Robert had without a doubt been partnered at least one time just after Constance’s dying (since the this woman is named “1st girlfriend”).
The main cause of your misunderstandings could possibly get only be phonetic. On this amount, We once more trust Burke’s careful look, and this reads as follows:
Brand new Welsh poet Lewis Glyn Cothi penned a lengthy, yet sadly undated, epithalamium inside the tribute on the relationships of merch Tomas ab Rosser/Meistres Alis dewiser, [Mistress Alice, child regarding Thomas guy off Roger] so you can Robert Whitney, Esq
With based one to Constance Touchet is actually Robert’s very first wife, his relationship into daughter of Tomas abdominal Rosser [Thomas ap Roger Vaughan off Hergest] need took place through to the performance of one’s deed.
Certain pedigrees and non-modern present baffled the original and you may 2nd brands away from Whitney’s second partner. You to definitely pedigree regarded their because d out of the lady father and grandfather’s very first names. This is exactly probably as a result of the Welsh patronymic naming individualized. Most other source called their Elsbeth but still someone else, Alice. The initial name away from Robert Whitney’s widow is actually Age. This will be turned-out by the listing of granting of one’s administration of your own house out of Robert Whitney, Esq.
The desire away from Robert Whitteney esq., of one’s parish of Whitteney are provided to Elizabeth their relict and James their child. James looked from the Hereford for the twenty seven September as he is actually offered to administer and strength is actually kepted to own Age to administer at the another day.
As for being named Alice, perhaps the transition out of the lady first-name went something like: Elisabeth > Elsbeth > Eliz’ > Alis > Alice
Issue have to be requested, not, if or not Alice Vaughan is their next girlfriend and E his widow try yet a 3rd, in the past unidentified wife? All of the records looked at because of it article make zero mention out of a definite 3rd wife, plus the misunderstandings related her Welsh label therefore the irregularities off gothic English program and you may spelling strongly recommend in my opinion you to definitely Alice, whose relationship in order to Whitney try discussed by the Cothi, and you will Age, his widow, was in fact actually that and the same.
In the absence of latest advice to suggest otherwise, I believe Burke’s theory one to Alice (or Age) Ve body’s extremely probably best. As he says, regardless of if her day from passing isn’t identified, she try yes real time in may 1525, in the event that list giving the woman this new administration of the lady husband’s have a tendency to is old, some 30 years immediately after their partner’s dying. Unless she lived as more ninety, since Robert Whitney passed away in early 1490s being up to 60 years old, they comes after that his widow Alice/E was a student in all opportunities slightly young, perhaps of the up to a decade.
