Early Life
Frances Bosvile was the daughter of
Robert Bosville of Eynesford in Kent, a merchant in London, and his wife
Elizabeth Sybyll.
Frances would have been born some time between 1582 and 1586 (most likely=1583). The Bosvil(l)e family intersects this tree in multiple places, including the Whichcote and Fitzwilliam lines. Also, through the Bosviles we trace back to
Roger le Bigod, one of the Magna Carta Barons.
From
FHoHoD1:
The
Bosviles of Aynsford (now Eynsford), Kent, were descended from Sir John Bosvile, Knt, Lord of Erdesley, co. York, living 19 Henry III (1234-1235). His pedigree, mentioned by Berry, ends with Sir Ralph Bosvile of Bradbourne, Kent, whose uncle married
Elizabeth, only daughter and heir of
John Sibyll of Aynsford
The same source then has this picturesque, if unflattering, description of
Frances:
Miss Bosvile was very little, ugly and vain, but she used to say that "her father could put money-bags under her feet to make her tall as anybody". She likewise boasted that "though she was not snout fair that she was penny white". It is also said of her that a new fashion for dressing the hair, which was called the 'Buckingham cut', having arrived in Derry from London, she went to church dressed after this cut, and seeing another lady dressed in the same manner, she got so angry that coming out she took out her scissors and cut off that particular lock from the other lady, telling her, "There's the Buckingham cut for you!".
Footnotes
[1] The Family History of Hart of Donegal, by Henry Travers Hart, London, 1907, page 32, quoting a "Kilderry manuscript"
1586 - 1654 (~ 72 years)
