KYNASTON, Francis (1516-90), of Oteley, Salop.

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Apr. 1554

Family and Education

b. 17 Nov. 1516, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of George Kynaston of Oteley by Jane, da. of Sir Edward Grey of Enville, Staffs. m. by 1568, Margaret, da. of Francis Charlton of Apley Castle, Salop, wid. of Arthur Chambers or Chambre (d.1564) of Petton, Salop, 2s. 6da.; 1s. illegit. suc. fa. 8 Dec. 1542.1

Offices Held

J.p. Salop 1579-82.


Francis Kynaston came from a cadet branch of a Shropshire family which was descended from the princes of Powys. He held some of his lands of the 3rd Earl of Derby, who may have promoted his election as junior knight to Mary’s second Parliament. Although without office in the shire, Kynaston was connected with many of its leading families, his relatives including both his fellow-Member William Charlton (also sitting in his only Parliament) and the sheriff who returned them, Adam Mytton. His uncle Thomas Grey I, one of the knights for Staffordshire in the same Parliament, was also chiefly notable for the range of his connexions. Kynaston’s Membership may not have been unconnected with his family’s dispute with Thomas Vernon over the barony of Powis.2

There were later to be recusant Kynastons, but his appointment to the bench in 1579 implies that Francis Kynaston was not one of them: no support has been found for the local tradition that he was knighted and appointed chamberlain and cupbearer to Queen Elizabeth. In 1582-3 he arranged the marriage of his elder son Edward to a daughter of Sir Nicholas Bagnall and a year later he settled his lands upon his sons. He made his will on 30 July 1590, naming his wife executrix, and died on the following 4 Aug. He was buried at Ellesmere.3

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: Alan Harding


  • 1. Date of birth estimated from age at fa.’s i.p.m., Wards 7/1/37. Vis. Salop (Harl. Soc. xxviii), 99; (xxix), 299 which incorrectly gives date of death as 1581; PCC 60 Drury.
  • 2. Dwnn, Vis. Wales, i. 320 and n; W. Burson, ‘Kynaston Fam.’, Trans. Salop Arch. Soc. (ser. 2), vi. 209-22; LP Hen. VIII, xvi; CP40/1105, m. 4 (enrolled deed); C142/127/46.
  • 3. Cath. Rec. Soc. xviii. 273; xxii. 125; lx. 114; Trans. Salop Arch. Soc. (ser. 4) xi. 40; C142/227/216; PCC 60 Drury; Pevsner, Salop, 128.