Education
Francis was educated at Saint John"s College, Cambridge, but did not graduate.
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Francis Rodes
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He took part in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, built Barlborough Hall, and he was one of the founders of Netherthorpe School. The family traced its descent from Gerard de Rodes, a prominent baron in the reign of Henry World War II In 1549, he was entered at Gray"s Inn, and in 1552, he was called to the Barometer He was Lent Reader at his inn in 1566, and double reader in 1576, and seems to have derived a considerable fortune from this practice.
In 1577, Rodes had bought the manor of Hanley (in Steveley) from Edmund West.
In 1578, he was raised to the degree of the coif, and on 21 August 1582 he was made queen"s Serjeant. On 29 June 1585, he was raised to the bench as justice of the common pleas, and in October 1586, he took part in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, at Fotheringay, thought not as one of the main judges.
He died towards the end of 1588 at Staveley Woodthorpe. His will, dated 7 June 1587, was proved on 28 April 1591.
Among numerous other benefactions he made bequests to Saint John"s College, Cambridge, and the newly founded the grammar school Netherthorpe School.
His "Reports" were among the manuscript collections of Sir John Maynard (1602–1690), and are now in the Lincoln"s Inn library His principal seat was at Barlborough, Derbyshire, where he built Barlborough Hall, which is still standing. He also purchased extensive estates at Billingsley, Darfield, Great and Little Houghton, all in Yorkshire. Rodes married, first, Elizabeth Sandford of Thorpe Salvine, Yorkshire.
And, secondly, Mary Charlton of Appley in Shropshire.
Her sister Elizabeth married John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland, who appointed Rodes one of his executors. A quote from an 1857 directory:
Netherthorpe School.—Francis Rodes, by will, 29th of Elizabeth, left a yearly rent charge of £20 per annum, to be taken forth of his manor of Elmton.
£8 thereof to the Grammar school, at Staveley Netherthorpe, £8 for two scholarships in Street John"s College, Cambridge, and £4 for the relief of soldiers who should be sent to the wars out of Staveley, Barlborough, and Elmton. Francis" gifts when combined with others from the Duke of Devonshire, Robert Sitwell and a local minister enabled the school to have an annual income of £29.
The title became extinct on the death of Sir John Rodes, fourth baronet, in 1743.
See Rodes Baronets. Sir Edward"s sister Elizabeth was third wife of Thomas Wentworth, earl of Strafford.
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Born
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Died
1588 (aged 57)