Sir James HARRINGTON of Exton, Knight

Born: BEF 1517 / ABT 1534, Exton, Rutlandshire, England

Died: Jan 1592

Father: John HARRINGTON of Exton (Sir)

Mother: Elizabeth MOTON

Married 1: ¿?

Married 2: Lucy SIDNEY ABT 1540, Penshurst, Kent, England

Children:

1. John HARRINGTON (1º B. Harrington of Exton)

2. James HARRINGTON of Ridlington (1º Bt.)

3. Theodosia HARRINGTON

4. Mabel HARRINGTON

5. Sarah HARRINGTON (B. Hastings /B. Zouche of Harringworth)

6. Mary HARRINGTON

7. Elizabeth HARRINGTON

8. Anne HARRINGTON

9. Catherine HARRINGTON

10. Henry HARRINGTON of Wicklow (Sir)

11. Son HARRINGTON

12. Son HARRINGTON

13. Son HARRINGTON

14. Margaret HARRINGTON

15. Son HARRINGTON

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 John Harrington of Exton and brother of Edward Harrington. Educ. I. Temple 1536. Married, by 1539, Lucy, dau. of Sir William Sidney of Penshurst, Kent. Suc. fa. 25 Aug 1553. Kntd. Jun 1565. J.p. Lincs, (Kesteven) 1547, Rutland from c.1559; High Sheriff of Rutland Aug-Nov 1553, 1560-1, 1566-7, 1578-9, 1586-7; commr. musters, Rutland and Leics. by 1569.

Through his brother-in-law Sir Henry Sidney he was connected with the Dudleys, and it was the Earl of Leicester who knighted him in 1565. Like them he was inclined to puritanism, being described as ‘an earnest furtherer of religion’ by the Bishop of Lincoln in 1564. During Parliament of 1572 he was named to committees on a private bill for Lord Stourton (13 Mar 1576) and the Queen's safety (25 Jan 1581).

Near the end of his life Harrington was noted by Lord Burghley as a ‘knight of great possessions’, fit to be made a baron. His will, dated 7 Apr 1591, made generous provision for his servants and friends. Nearly all his lands went to his eldest son, John, who received a barony in 1603. One manor, certain leases and tenements were divided between his younger sons Henry and James, whom he made joint executors. Subsequently, by a codicil dated 22 Jan 1592, just before his death, he appointed James sole executor and it was he who proved the will four days later, afterwards erecting at Exton a fine monument to his parents.

Some sources gives his age at death as 80 but the other make him several years younger.

Sources:

I. Grimble, Harrington Fam. 73-4.

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