Pt. 10: Drurys of Godwick

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Ruins of Godwick Church, Co. Norfolk at dusk

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Sir Roger Drury of Rougham (c. 1345-1420, m.Margaret Naunton) was succeeded by Sir William Drury of Rougham. Sir William married Katherine Swynford, grand-daughter of Catherine Roet Swyndford who married John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (father of King Henry IV).

The eldest som of Sir William Drury and Katherine Swynford was Thomas Drury of Rougham (c. 1430-1486), who m. Katherine Whitewell. Their eldest son was John Drury, Esq. (c. 1456-1499) m. Margaret Felton. he was succeeded by John Drury of Rougham. His second son was John Drury of Godwick, Norfolk.

John Drury of Godwick, as the second son, would not have inherited his father's estate at Rougham. Although a church had stood at Godwick since the 12th century, when he acquired Godwick the population was already nearly deserted due to the Black Death of 1348. He sold Godwick Hall to Sir Edward Coke in 1580. Coke bought Godwick and nearby Tittleshall, and became Attorney General. Coke rebuilt the church tower and added the brick barn which stands today; as Attorney General, he prosecuted the Gunpowder Plotters and was instrumental in drawing up the Petition of Rights against Charles I (and was imprisoned in the Tower of London as a result). Two years prior to selling Godwick, John Drury was prosecuted on Aug. 25, 1578 as a recuscant. According to the Acts of the Privy Council, "John Drury of Gottwitt gentleman... refused to come to the Churche at the tymes of praiers sermons and other divine services... ordered to enter into bonds 200 li a pece that they should not depart from their lodging..."

John Drury of Godwick is listed again in Recusants in the Exchequer Pipe Rolls 1581-1592: "Drewrye, John, gent., of Godwicke Hall, Norfolk, 3 mths recusancy (from 13 Apr. 1587; conv. 1 Apr. 1588) - Record of land-seizure, 18 Oct. 1588; Rental of lands seized 18 Oct. 1588. By this time his holdings in Godwick were already sold. Again in 1592 he was prosecuted for persisting in his Recusancy (P.C.C. 1, "Clarke").

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John Drury of Godwick who died about 1592, and his wife Eleanor Sidney had the following children: Robert, Gentleman of Docking (d. 1624), Thomas, William, Frances, and Francis. Frances married Fermour Pepys who was related to Samuel Pepys, author of Pepy's Diaries. John Drury, gent. of Godwick apparently owned lands in Docking, Norfolk; his oldest son Robert inherited those lands.

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Left: A present occupant guards the gate at the ruins of Godwick Church.

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