Known as Sir Henry Knyvett of Charlton. His name was also spelt Knyvet. Sir Henry was born at Charlton, Wiltshire, England and was High Sheriff of the county in 1577. He died June 14, 1598 at Charlton by Malmesbury, Wiltshire and was buried there.

All children from the marriage with Elizabeth Stumpe. She was born in 1543 , Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England; married Sir Henry May 13, 1563, Laycock, Wiltshire, England; died July 14, 1585, Charlton, Wiltshire, England.

Mary Sydenham was the daughter of John Sydenham and Ursula Brydges.

He was a soldier who had" lost both limb and blood" during the seige of Leith against the French in 1560, after which he frequently served in Scotland. Henry recieved a special commendation from Elizabeth I, mentioned in a letter of thanks to Lord Grey in 1560. She then granted him a knighthood at Salisbury in September 1574 during a progress to Bristol.

His marriage took place on his return from the wars in Scotland. Through his wife's property round Charlton where they lived, he became one of the most important people in the county. He was appointed as the High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1577 and between 1584 and 1597 served as a Member of Parliament for Malmesbury on four occasions. In 1580 he almost lost his life in a duel with Richard Mody of Garsdon manor, whose widowed mother had been William Stumpe's third wife. Fortunately he survived after being nursed by his opponent!

The account of the cause of the duel comes from the records of an action brought in the Court of Chancery, by Anthony Hungerford against Sir Henry Moody, the son of one of the duellists, about 40 years after the occurence. The account reads:
"By reason of mortal and cruel hatred, there was a duel or single combat in Garsdon Marsh in which fight Mr. Richard Moddy did greviously and, as was supposed, mortally wound Sir Henry Knyvett, who being so wounded, the place of the fight being near the house of Antony Hungerford, was brought thither by Richard Moody and others. Moody did lead Sir Henry Knyvett by one of his arms thereunto, and find Antony Hungerford's wife there, her husband being absent, Mr Moody did earnestly and passionately request her that Sir Henry Knyvett might lack nothing that was in the house, or that she could do to save his life, and that he would see her satisfied".

He sent her messages after to the same effect. Mr Hungerford's wife performed all this. Sir Henry Knyvett could not be removed for 26 days. The physicians and surgeons sent by the Queen had the whole house. Mrs Hungerford provided them with lawns and cambrics which were spoiled and stained with blood and worn out. Hay was consumed to the amount of 30 pounds and many great trees were cut down for firewood.Ther was a great concourse of friends of Sir Henry Knyvett, much meat and victuals consumed. The house like to be burned down by reason of great fires, if Lord Viscount Wallingford, Sir William Knightly and others had not been present, and by extraordinary pains, preserved the whole house.

In spite of Mr Moody's promise to recompense Mr. Hungerford for his losses, the only recompense he got was that one of his sons was most dangerously and barbarously stabbed by one of the sons of Mr. R. Moody, by which young Hungerford was very likely to have died. He languished of his wounds 15 years, costing his father much money. No other compensation being made for all the expenses they had incurred after the duel, an action was brought and satisfaction sought in the Court of Chancery.

During the period immediately prior to the invasion by the Spanish Armada in 1588, Sir Henry was actively involved in preparing the nation's defence, he was one of the Deputy Lieutenants for Wiltshire, and became responsible for raising the militia. He was one of the captains appointed to attend the Lord Chamberlain in London to work out the details of the defence. In 1596, Sir Henry wrote a pamphlet entitled "The Defence of the Realme". It was an interesting but, considering the times, not very workable scheme of National Defence, more than 300 years ahead of his time as far as England was concerned.

Thomas Hobbes, the Philosopher, who was born in Malmesbury in 1588 told his friend Aubrey the Antiquary, that Sir Henry had some command at the Invasion of 1588 and shortly after his return "died of a feaver he got there". Though as a matter of fact he did not die until June 14th 1598. He died intestate at Charlton, and was buried there with great ceremony. The Knyvett memorial in the Charlton Church is one of the few memorials not desecrated by Cromwell's troops.

There is no picture of him at Charlton but the effigy on his tomb in the parish church where he is shown lying beside his wife Elizabeth, makes him appear a person of strong character and fine physique and does not show what limb has been lost despite quotes stating that he had.

National Archives (UK)
Reference: 88/2/1
Court roll, 4 membranes, of the Manor of Charlton, (1563-1573)
Lord: Henry Knyvett, knight.

Reference: 88/2/13
Court roll, 3 membranes, of the Manors of Burton Hill, Cowfold and Rodbourne, (1563-1573)
Lord: Henry Knyvett, knight.

Reference: 88/1/26A
Exemplification of a Fine in Charlton, Malmesbury, Rodbourne, Burton Hill, Brokenborough, Hankerton, Brinkworth and Cowfold. Henry Knyvett and Elizabeth his wife to Thomas Boynton and John Stanhope of their manors, (1564)

Reference: 88/1/158/3
Fine of land in Stinchcombe, Berkeley, Woodchester, Gloucestershire. Henry Knyvett and Elizabeth to Thomas Boynton and John Stanhope. With two exemplifications, (1564)

Reference: 88/2/7
Court roll, 4 membranes, of the Manors of Brinkworth and Burton Hill, Cowfold and Rodbourne, (1569-1572)
Lord: Henry Knyvett.

Reference: 88/9/1E
Notes, being details of a dispute between Chandos and Sir Henry Knyvett concerning timber rights in Brinkworth, (c1570)

Reference: 88/2/17
Court roll, 2 membranes of the manor of Brokenborough, (1570-1574)
Lord: Henry Knyvett, knight.

Reference: 88/2/21
Court book, of Manors of Brokenborough, Charlton, Burton Hill, Cowfold, Rodbourne, Hankerton and Brinkworth, (1570-1582)
Lord: Henry Knyvett, knight.

Reference: 88/9/1M
Quitclaim. Sir Henry Knyvett to Robert Halton of his rights in the manor of Ellerton, Yorkshire, for securing £700, (1579)

Reference: KNY 454 371 x 9
Grant. (1576) By Henry Knyvett to Thomas Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe of legacy of £50 from Sir Thomas Knyvett of Buckenham Castle Henry's brother, and debts of Sir Edward Eraye to the said Sir Thomas and from the said Sir Thomas to the said Henry

Reference: 88/1/88/90
Three deeds. Bargain and sale of a house in Charlton - Lord Howard to Sir Henry Knyvett. Deed and licence of alienation concerning settlement of Knyvett estates in Brinkworth on Lord Howard, (1582-1585)

Reference: 88/2/22
Court book of manors of Brokenborough, Hankerton and Charlton, (1583-1586)
Lord: Henry Knyvett, knight.