Margaret Whitmore (c1576-1637), Lady Grobeham, 2nd wife of Sir John St.John 1st Baronet
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Margaret Whitmore was born in around 1576, the daughter of a wealthy merchant and alderman William Whitmore, and his wife Anne.
Margaret has the distinction of appearing in effigy on the monuments of both her husbands before she was dead. She married first Sir Richard Grobham in 1604. Sir Richard died in 1629 and was buried in the church of St. Giles, Great Wishford, Wiltshire. He lies in effigy alongside Margaret on a tomb in the chancel. Margaret married the widowed Sir John St. John, 1st Baronet in 1630. She lies next to him in effigy on the magnificent eight poster St. John family monument in the church of St. Mary’s, Lydiard Tregoze installed by Sir John in 1634.
The inscription Sir John dictated for the memorial reads:
Margaret was the daughter of William Whitmore, Knight of Apley in the county of Shropshire; she is living, in her fifty eighth year, notable for the fame of her virtue and given to good works; she is to be added to the tomb of this family when her times comes unless she one day decides otherwise.
Margaret died in 1637 and is buried with Sir John and his first wife Anne Leighton in the St. John family vault beneath St. Mary’s Church.
Oil on canvas
J73 X W62cm
Purchased in 1965 from Vernon St.John, 6th Viscount Bolingbroke
- Artist:
- English School
- Type:
- Portrait
- Location:
- Dining Room, Lydiard House
- Owner:
- Swindon Borough Council
- Reference:
- LYD 1992-23
- Copyright:
- Lydiard House
- Credit:
- Friends of Lydiard Park
- Last updated on:
- Monday 8th August 2022
