Sir Henry Neville

When one re-reads this family history of Sir Henry Neville, it's not hard to see why Shakespeare's first three plays were the trinity of Henry VI, and later, with Richard III, a tetralogy. Still not sure why Shakespeare made Richard III look so bad when his wife was a Neville: Anne Neville --> Queen Anne.

Sir Henry Neville was not that far removed from the first baron Neville ... Ralph de Neville.

Sir Henry Neville, Shakespeare, d. 1615, elder son of Sir Henry Neville, d. 1593; and, Elizabeth Gresham, who in turn was granddaughter of Sir Richard Gresham, Lord Mayor of London. Family roots: Yorkshire.

Sir Henry Neville, d. 1593; Billingbear House, Berkshire, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Henry VIII. So, Shakespeare's father was in King Henry VIII's privy chamber. Older brother of Sir Thomas Neville, Speaker of the House of Commons. The Neville surname by this time was "noble in blood, distinguished in chivalry, eminent in counsel, and celebrated in the historic annals of Britain."

Sir Edward Neville, d 1538; Addington Park, Kent. Brother of George Nevill (sic) 5th Baron Bergavenny; the two brothers became close to King Henry VIII (their distant cousin) and the queen, Catherine of Aragon. Esquire of the Body and Sewer Keeper (official overseeing service to Henry VIII's household. Knighted in 1513; by 1516, Master of the Hounds and Gentleman of the Privy Chamber. Shakespeare's grandfather was in privy chamber.

George Neville, 4th Baron Bergavenny, d. 1492, English nobleman. Knighted by Edward IV (Richard III's brother) in 1471 after fighting for the King at the Battle off Tewkesbury. Wow.

Edward Neville, de facto 3rd (de jure 1st) Baron Bergavenny, d. 1476. Seventh son of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Joan Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford -- John of Gaunt ... third son of King Edward. In 1436 he married daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 1st Earl of Worcester, and the former Isabel le Despenser. Wife died in 1448 and he married again -- more daughters.

1428 - 1472, the "kingmaker." Richard, Earl of Warwick, eldest son of 5th Earl of Salisbury (thus, became the 6th Earl of Salisbury; married into Warwick to become 16th Earl of Warwick. Married Anne Beauchamp, 16th Countess of Warwick, three children including Queen Anne of England; before marrying Richard III had been married to Prince Edward, only heir to King Henry VI, but that Prince killed at Battle of Tewkesbury, age 17.

Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland, d. 1425, an English nobleman of the House of Neville. His mother was a Percy, Maud Percy.

John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville, d. 1388 and Maud Percy, d. 1379. Maud Percy was a daughter of Henry de Percy, 2nd Baron Percy of Alnwwick, Northumberland. English peer, naval commander, and soldier. Eldest son.

Ralph Neville, 2nd Baron Neville of Raby, d. 1367. He led the English forces to victory against King David II of Scotland at the Battle of Neville's Cross, 1346.

Ralph Neville, 1st Baron Neville, d. 1331, Raby Castle, County Durham, an English nobleman and head of the powerful Neville family.

Robert de Neville. Middleham Castle in Yorkshire; born 1223;  heir to his grandfather Sir Robert de Neville of Raby, d. 1282. Robert de Neville was the eldest son of Geoffrey fitz Robert (later Geoffrey de Neville, d. c. 1242), and the grandson of Robert fitz Meldred, Lord of Raby. Robert de Neville, 2nd Baron Neville of Raby, d. 1282, a medieval English nobleman. Raby Castle in County Durham — Robert Neville was born about 1217 in Durham, England, son of Geoffrey Neville (~1197–<1242) and Joan Monmouth (~1203–>1247).

Geoffrey FitzRobert de Neville, Baron of Raby Also Known As: "Geoffrey Neville" Birthdate: circa 1197 Birthplace: Raby Castle, Staindrop, County Durham, England (United Kingdom) Death: after September 29, 1242. 

Robert fitz Meldred, Lord of Raby. 1170 - 1248.

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Robert FitzMaldred, Lord of Raby Raby Keverstone Castle, Staindrop, Durham, England 

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Neville, or Nevill, the family name of a famous English noble house, descended from Dolfin son of Uchtred, who had a grant from the prior of Durham in 1131 of "Staindropshire," co. Durham, a territory which remained in the hands of his descendants for over four centuries, and in which stood Raby castle, their chief seat. His grandson, Robert, son of Meldred, married the heiress of Geoffrey de Neville (d. 1192-1193), who inherited from her mother the Bulmer lordship of Brancepeth near Durham. Henceforth Brancepeth castle became the other seat of the house, of which the bull's head crest commemorates the Bulmers; but it adopted the Norman surname of Neville (Neuville). Robert's grandson, another Robert, (d. 1282) held high position in Northumbria, and sided with Henry III in the Barons' War, as did his younger brother Geoffrey (d. 1285), ancestor of the Nevills of Hornby. 

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Robert, Lord of Raby changed his name to that of his wife because of her high s tanding and wealth. All sons were to be named Neville after the stipulation of Isabels grandfather Gilbert Neville that all male issue assume the name Neville .