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The Leveson Family, c.1299-1561

In 1299 Richard Leveson of Willenhall married Margery the heiress of Henry, the son of Clement de Wolverhampton. An agreement made at the time of their marriage survives in the Sutherland Papers, stating that Henry granted all of his lands, rents, holdings and moveable goods in the Manor of Wolverhampton to Richard and Margery and their heirs. This agreement marks the start of the Leveson family’s rise in wealth and status. By the early sixteenth century Richard’s great grandsons Nicholas and James Leveson were increasing their wealth as merchants in the wool trade in London and Wolverhampton. This allowed them to make extensive purchases of land and property in Kent, Staffordshire and Shropshire which laid the foundations of the Leveson family’s fortune. The Sutherland Papers contain the wills of James and Nicholas Leveson, and their sons Thomas and Richard. These fascinating documents provide much detail about the family life and local influence of the Leveson family during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, reflecting their concern with ensuring the legacy of the Leveson family for future generations.

Click on the links below to see documents relating to the Leveson family during this period

Browse the Leveson Family, c.1299-1561

Richard and Margery Leveson, 1299

Nicholas Leveson (c.1490-1539)

James Leveson (c.1500-1547)

Thomas Leveson of Halling (1532-1576)

Richard Leveson (d. 1561)