Throckmorton Baronets

Throckmorton Baronets

There have been two baronetcies created for different branches of the Throckmorton family, 6th. cousins, both descended from Sir John Throckmorton(d.1445), Under-Treasurer of England temp. King Henry VI(1422-1461). Both titles, which were in the Baronetage of England, are now extinct. The Throckmortons, originally of Throckmorton near Pershore, Worcestershire, trace their history back to the 12th century. In 1409 Sir John de Throckmorton, Under-Treasurer of England, married Eleanor Spinney (or Spiney or Spinetti or de la Spine), daughter and heiress of Guy Spinney of Coughton, Warwickshire, where the senior branch of the family, which bore the junior baronetcy, became established. The Coughton estate included in 1968 a dower house named "Spiney House, Coughton", named after that family. Both branches were mostly determined Roman Catholics and members of the senior line were involved in or connected with pre-reformation plots and conspiracies including the Throckmorton Plot of 1583 and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

The senior Throckmorton Baronetcy, of Tortworth in the County of Gloucester, was created in the Baronetage of England on 29 June 1611 for William Throckmorton(d.1628), of Coss Court, Tortworth, Gloucestershire, 6th in descent from John Throckmorton, younger son of Sir John Throckmorton, Under-Treasurer of England. The third Baronet sat as Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire and Wotton Basset. The title became extinct on the death of the fourth Baronet in 1682.

The junior Throckmorton Baronetcy, of Coughton in the County of Warwick, was created in the Baronetage of England on 1 September 1642 for Robert Throckmorton(d.1650), of Coughton Court, near Alcester, Warwickshire, 6th in descent from Thomas Throckmorton of Coughton, eldest son of Sir John Throckmorton, Under-Treasurer of England. Elizabeth Throckmorton was the wife of Sir Walter Raleigh. Although Royalist sympathisers during the Civil War the family was one of very few recusant families to survive the turbulent 16th and 17th centuries with their estates intact. The sixth Baronet assumed the additional surname of Courtenay in 1792 on inheriting the Courtenay estates of Molland, Devon, through his mother. However, none of his successors have used this surname. The eighth Baronet was Member of Parliament for Berkshire. The title became extinct on the death of the twelfth Baronet in 1994. However, the Throckmorton family is still resident at Coughton Court as tenants of the National Trust.