James Tuchet, 5th Baron Audley

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James Touchet, 5th Baron Audley was a general who led the House of Lancaster forces during the Battle of Blore Heath in the Wars of the Roses. He was born circa 1398.

Audley was the son of John Tuchet, 4th Baron Audley and his wife Isabel. In his youth he served as a soldier and fought for Henry V of England in the Hundred Years' War.

Audley had two homes:

Heighley Castle in Madeley, Staffordshire
Red Castle near Market Drayton, Shropshire

He also owned large estates in Shropshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

Audley died in the afternoon of September 23, 1459, when he was slain at the Battle of Blore Heath. It is possible that he was killed by Sir Roger Kynaston of Stocks near Ellesmere, England (Kynaston incorporated emblems of the Audley coat-of-arms into his own). Audley's Cross still stands on the battlefield to this day, and marks the spot where he died.

Audley was buried in Darley Abbey, north of Derby, about 40 miles away from Blore Heath. Unfortunately, the Abbey no longer stands, so his final resting place is no longer marked.

Marriages and children

Audley was first married to Margaret de Ros on February 24, 1414/1415. She was daughter to William de Ros, 7th Baron de Ros and Margaret Fitzalan. Margaret was daughter to John Fitzalan and Eleanor Maltravers. They were parents to three children:

John Touchet, 6th Baron Audley (born circa 1420 - September 26, 1490).
Margaret Touchet (born circa 1422 - died before 1480). Married Richard Grey, 3rd Earl of Tankerville.

Audley was remarried to Eleanor de Holand. She was an illegitimate daughter to Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent and Constance of York. They were parents to at least seven children:

Anne Touchet (born circa 1422 - 1503). She married Sir Thomas Dutton. Sir Thomas Dutton died in the battle of Blore Heath along with his father-in-law James Touchet, Lord Audley, 5th Baron of Audley and Heighley Castle.
Elizabeth Touchet (born circa 1433). She married Edward Brooke, 6th Baron Cobham.
Sir Humphrey Touchet (born circa 1435 - May 6, 1471). He married Elizabeth Courtenay. He was among the casualties of the Battle of Tewkesbury.
Edmund Audley (born circa 1437 - August 23, 1524). Successively Bishop of Rochester, Bishop of Hereford and Bishop of Salisbury.
Thomas Touchet (born circa 1439 - June 1507). Married Catherine.
A daughter (Christian name unknown) who was born circa 1442. Known to have married Humphrey Grey. He was son of Henry Grey, 2nd Earl of Tankerville, and Antigone of Gloucester. Antigone was reputed to be an illegitimate daughter of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor Cobham.
Constance Touchet (born circa 1443). She married Sir Robert Whitney.

Descendants

Descendants of Lord Audley include Thomas Jefferson, the 2nd President of the United States and the late Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales.

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