Body of beheaded man1600s Nuneaton Can this archival record assist researchers?

[Ruskie]

You might be right about that Jim - I thought it might have a cult/religious/symbolic significance, and didn't think it might be something so logical. 

[Al in Vane]

I think the earlier suggestion that it was the Duke of Monmouth could be on the money, after his execution in 1685 some claim that he was exhumed and his head stitched back on in order for a portrait to be done, was this an explanation given out at the time to cover it all up, as he was a nephew of James II it is  possible that the body was then delivered into the family for burial. The hands and thumbs may have been tied for what would have been a rough journey over unmade roads to Warwickshire. There was no plate or indication of who was in the coffin because it had all been done in secret
The T could have been Tynedale of which he was Baron and the B for Buccleuch as he had married into that family.

[jim1]

He had a public execution so it was no secret.Why would he be buried with the Leigh family to which he had no connection?
Why the initials T B instead of his own J S.
The headless body didn't have his head sewn back on,it was found placed in position & held with a black ribbon.
It's a long shot but the only shot so far.
I'm looking at the Browne & Boteler famlies.

[Al in Vane]

Jim, I thought I had explained all that! The execution was not secret but what happened afterwards was if my explanation was correct, as for the initials how many people would know who you were talking about if you said James Scott, most have heard of the Duke of Monmouth. In those days great store was taken of their titles. He was married into the Scott family who owned the Hall at Newnham Regis, that is his connection. he took their name.
It is all supposition, so I will be interested with your conclusions from the Browne/Boteler families.

[jim1]

One of the bodies is Dame Marie Browne "Dau. of one of the Leighs & of Lady Marie dau. of the Lord Chancellor Brackley".
He was John Egerton & his daughter Mary was Francis Leigh's mother & his father's (also Francis) 2nd. wife.
When the excavation took place the Chapel was owned by John Scott who inherited from his paternal Grandmother the Duccess of Buccleuch dau. of the Duke of Montagu.
It goes on to say it came into the family through his grandfathers marriage to the dau. of the Earl of Chichester (Thomas Wriothsley).
I'm not sure whose grandfather the article refers to,that of John Scott or the Duke of Montagu.
I'm wondering if it's Maria Browne's husband.

jim

[Skoosh]

There are some kings buried in strange places, an English king apparently lies under a Stirling car park, which seems a bit careless, and what was supposed to be the body of James IV, killed at Flodden, lay unburied by his megalomaniac brother in law, Henry VIII, in a cellar at Sion House? lovely family!

Skoosh.

[jim1]

Yes I suppose stranger things happen.
The heraldry so far is this:
Francis Leigh ( Baron Dunsmore & Earl of Chichester) married for the 2nd. time to Audrey Boteler.
They had a daughter Elizabeth who married (1642) Thomas Wriothsley (4th. Earl of Southampton).
He inherited the title Earl of Chichester from his father-in-law.
Thomas & Elizabeth had a daughter Elizabeth who married (1673) Ralph (1st. Earl later Duke of Montagu).
Elizabeth & Ralph had a son John (2nd. Duke) who married (1705) Mary Churchill.
As he had no sons the title of succession died out.
John & Mary had a daughter Mary who married George Brudenell who inherited the title & became the 1st. Duke of Montagu (2nd. Ed.)
Mary & George had a daughter Elizabeth who married Henry Scott (3rd. Duke of Buccleuch).
These are the Grandparents of John Scott who owned the Chapel when the bodies were dug up.

[Skoosh]

So the Scott connection there is later than the death of Monmouth Jim.

Skoosh.

[MargP]

http://www3.open.ac.uk/media/fullstory.aspx?id=11768

I think we need the above program to sort this out

Margp