Thomas Darcy, born in 1506, was the only son and heir of Roger Darcy (d. 30 September 1508) by Elizabeth Wentworth, the daughter of Sir Henry Wentworth, and aunt of Queen Jane Seymour.[1][2]
After his father's death, Thomas Darcy became the ward of Sir John Raynsford.[5] He married Raynsford's daughter Audrey in 1521. She died childless in 1527 and he later married Elizabeth, daughter of John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford and Elizabeth Trussell. They had five[5] or eight[6][unreliable source] children, including John, who succeeded as 2nd Baron Darcy of Chiche. He married Frances, daughter of Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich, and they had issue, including Thomas, 3rd Baron and 1st Earl Rivers.[7]
He was knighted in 1532, and sat in parliament for Essex in 1539, 1545 and 1547, and possibly in 1536.[5]
Following the death of the Earl of Oxford in 1540, he held offices usually held by the de Veres: Steward of St. Osyth's, Keeper of Colchester Castle and Keeper of Tendring Hundred. His position in court was assisted though his relations with the de Veres and his cousin, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset.
On 5 April 1551, he was created Baron Darcy of Chiche to serve as Lord Chamberlain of the Household, and in this role, he led a commission to reform the revenue courts. He was elected to the Order of the Garter on 6 October.[5]
Following the attainder and execution for treason of Sir Nicholas Carew in 1539, Darcy was granted the principal Carew estate at Beddington, which he later sold back to Carew's heirs.
He died on 28 June 1558 at Wivenhoe in Essex and was buried at St Osyth's Priory. He was succeeded by his eldest son John as 2nd Baron Darcy of Chiche.[5]
Cokayne, George Edward (1912). The Complete Peerage, edited by Vicary Gibbs. Vol. II. London: St Catherine Press. p. 16.
Cokayne, George Edward (1916). The Complete Peerage edited by Vicary Gibbs. Vol. IV. London: St. Catherine Press. p. 78.
Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G. (ed.). Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. Vol. III (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City. pp. 237–8. ISBN978-1449966393.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G. (ed.). Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. Vol. IV (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City. p. 289. ISBN978-1460992708.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
