Bedingfield, Henry, Sir (1587 -1657)

Sir Henry Bedingfield, of Oxburgh Hall, in Norfolk, was the son of Thomas Bedingfield of Oxburgh Hall, and Frances, daughter and coheir of John Jerningham, of Somerleyton. Though of an old Roman Catholic family, he was brought up a Protestant, and married, firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Lord William Howard, of Naworth Castle, in Cumberland. They had a son, Thomas, who died before his father, in 1655, without issue. Sir Henry married, secondly, Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Peter Hoghton, of Hoghton Tower, in Lancashire. An active royalist during the civil war, Sir Henry was captured and committed to the Tower of London, and died, 22 November 1657, shortly after his release. His ancestor Sir Edmund Bedingfield, who died in 1446, had married Margaret daughter and eventual heir of Sir Robert Tuddenham, and acquired with her extensive estates, including the lordship of Oxburgh. The library at Oxburgh Hall was sold at Sotheby's 26 July 1922 lots 561 612.