Emma Barnard (Willoughby, Child)

The 16^th October 2025 is the 300^th anniversary of the death of Emma Barnard who was an owner of Middleton Hall. She was the wife of Francis Willughby F.R.S. and she died on the 16^th October 1725. 

Portrait of Emma Willoughby née Barnard. Courtesy of Lord Middleton.

Emma was born about 1646 and was the younger daughter of Sir Henry Barnard, a Turkey merchant, and Emma Charlton. Francis Willughby, rather notoriously, could not be encouraged into marriage until his brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Wendy, suggested Emma to him and introduced them in 1667. Emma and Francis were married on the following 9^th January at her home in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

After they were married Emma and Francis made Middleton Hall their principal home, despite it being in the dower possession of Francis’ mother Cassandra. Letters reveal how Emma was warmly welcomed into the Willoughby family by Francis’ sisters, who wrote about the great affection and happiness Francis and Emma both gave to each other. Together Emma and Francis had three children, Francis, Cassandra and Thomas.

However, their happiness was abruptly cut short when Francis died in 1672. Letters reveal that Emma’s grief was severe and she fell into a very protracted deep melancholy. It was written that she still continued to feel her loss acutely more than 30 years later. In Francis’ will he gave Emma the freedom to choose her dower house and she chose Middleton Hall. Hence, following the death of her mother-in-law in 1675, Emma gained possession of Middleton and retained possession until her own death. It was at this time that she constructed the corner fireplaces at Middleton Hall. In 1676, when John Ray published Francis Willughby’s Ornithologia, Emma paid for the illustrations in the book.

On 22^nd August 1676, Emma married Sir Josiah Child of Wanstead Manor, Essex. Her father is reported to have arranged this marriage with the aim of securing the finances of the Willoughby estates. However, the marriage came at great personal cost to Emma, the Willoughby children and even Middleton Hall itself because it was never again the principal Willoughby family home. Emma and the Willoughby children then moved to Wanstead and at about this time an inventory of Middleton Hall was compiled. Emma’s bedroom is mentioned by name (Lady Child’s Chamber) and one particular item in this room draws the attention – the portrait of Francis Willughby. 

Sir Josiah was the governor of the East India Company and was described as a “sordidly avaricious” and ruthless character. The household soon descended into unhappiness and it was written that Emma was torn between loyalty to her children and to her “petty and controlling” husband, with whom she also had several children. She unhappily sided with her husband and this resulted in her eldest son running away. Soon afterwards, he was followed by his siblings and the Willoughby children even ended up in court claiming against Sir Josiah who had denied them access to all of the Willoughby estates.

After the death of Sir Josiah in 1699, the Willoughby children began to re-engage with their mother and, in 1707, she permitted her son Thomas to begin a renovation of Middleton Hall. Following her death, it was Thomas who then inherited Middleton. Emma was buried at St John’s Church at Middleton, at rest with her beloved husband Francis.

Further Reading: Tim Birkhead (ed), Virtuoso By Nature: The Scientific Worlds of Francis Willughby FRS (1635-1672), 2016.

Tim Birkhead, The Wonderful Mr Willughby, 2018.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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