Family and Education

b. c.1552, 1st s. of Richard Norton I of East Tisted by his 1st w. m. (1) c.1576, Mabel, da. of Henry Beecher, alderman and haberdasher of London, 3s. 2da.; (2) Elizabeth, da. of Richard Capell, wid. of Humphrey Adderley of Weddington, Warws. suc. fa. 1592. Kntd. 1601.

Offices Held

J.p. Hants from c.1592, sheriff 1596-7.

Biography

Norton was the son of a well-connected country gentleman with estates in the eastern half of Hampshire, who twice represented the county in Parliament, and may have been responsible for finding his son a seat at Petersfield, where the family had a little property. Little more is known about Norton’s career. On his first marriage, the manor of Nutley and lands in Preston Candover were settled on him, but the family home at East Tisted was at the same time secured to his stepmother, who lived until the year of his own death, 1611. In his undated will, Norton bequeathed his soul to Almighty God, hoping to be accepted ‘among the holy company of the elect’ and to be saved ‘through the only merits of His dear son Jesus Christ’. He asked to be buried at East Tisted and left some lands at Alton to his second son, £700 to his youngest son, £10 to his married daughter and £2,000 to his unmarried daughter. He left £300, his livestock and half his household goods at Rotherfield to his wife and the residue to his son, Sir Richard Norton, whom he appointed the sole executor. He died 31 Aug. 1611.

Vis. Hants (Harl. Soc. lxiv), 15; Vis. Warws. (Harl. Soc. xii), 263; C142/131/184, 233/118, 322/170; PCC 22 Harrington, 90 Wood.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: Patricia Hyde

Notes