xiv
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE.
he held lands in Ashton in Northamptonshire, Lempster in Herefordshire, and Mark's hall in Essex.
Le Neve lost his mother in the eighth year of his age[1]; and about his twelfth was sent to Eton, and admitted into the lowermost remove of the third form[2]. After he had been there about two years his father died[3], leaving him under the guardianship of his kinsman, Mr. Peter Le Neve[4].
- ↑ She died 12th Dec. 1687, and was interred in the north aisle of Westminster Abbey, behind the organ, on the 17th of the same month. She was buried with twenty-four escutcheons, in which the arms of Le Neve are distinguished by the difference of a third son ; and as her husband was the fourth son, this difference is probably not personal, but that of the branch of the family of Le Neve to which he belonged.
- ↑ He must have been an oppidan, and not on the foundation, i.e. one of the King's scholars; lists of whom, with certain particulars attached, are entered in the "Registrum Regale." The name of Le Neve does not there occur. Of the oppidans no such record is kept.
- ↑ He died on Sunday the 26th July 1693, and was buried on the 2nd of August, by the side of his wife Amy, in Westminster Abbey. His first wife, Frances, who died on the 12th May 1677, was also buried in the north aisle of the abbey. In his will, dated 17th May 1693, and proved the 8th of August following, he mentions his brothers-in-law Edward Browne and Edward Rigby, and their wives, as well as his aunt Lucy Molyneux. He also named his brother Edmund and his cousin Oliver Le Neve. He appointed his kinsman Peter Le Neve, esq., his executor, and guardian of his son.
- ↑ He was son and heir of Francis Neve, alias Le Neve, citizen and draper of London, and grandson of Firmian Neve, alias Le Neve, of Ringland in co. Norfolk. He was born 21st Jan. 1661-62, appointed Rouge Croix 17th Jan. 1688-89, afterwards Richmond Herald, and subsequently Norroy King of Arms. He held also the office of Deputy Chamberlain of the Exchequer. He had the honour of being the first President of the Society of Antiquaries, which office he held from 1717 to 1724. He died 24th Sept. 1729, ætat. 67. Very contradictory opinions relative to his relationship to John Le Neve have obtained. They have been supposed to be brothers ; and it has also been asserted that no connexion existed between them. It is quite clear, however, that there was blood relationship, though perhaps not very near; for John Le Neve, the father of the compiler of the "Fasti," calls Peter his kinsman, and appoints him executor of his will, and guardian of his only child. In MS. Harl. No. 6098, is a letter from Richard Bowchier, dated from Chichester, 22nd March 1714, to John Le Neve, the compiler of the "Fasti," in which the writer says, "Remember me to yr cosin, my friend Mr. P. Le Neve." The present Somerset Herald, (Mr. Courthope,) to whom the Editor is indebted for the pedigree printed at p. xii., is of opinion "that John Le Neve, of Cavendish, was descended from Robert Le Neve, of Ringland co. Norfolk, great-grandfather of Peter Le Neve, Norroy; so that if the father of the compiler of the ' Fasti' was not (as I suppose he was) second-cousin of Peter Le Neve, Norroy, he was not fur- ther removed than third-cousin."
