Adrian Poynings, born about 1512 in Ghent, Flanders, where his father was serving as ambassador to the Emperor Maximilian, was the youngest of seven illegitimate children of Sir Edward Poynings of Westenhanger Castle, Kent, by several mistresses, one of whom, Rose Whethill, daughter of Adrian Whethill of Calais and Margaret Worsley, is generally considered to have been Adrian Poynings' mother. He had two elder brothers, Thomas Poynings, 1st Baron Poynings, and Edward Poynings, and four sisters: Jane Poynings, who married firstly Thomas Clinton, 8th Baron Clinton, by whom she was the mother of Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln, Lord Admiral of England, and secondly, as his second wife, Sir Robert Wingfield, by whom she had no issue; Margaret Poynings, who married Edward Barry or Barre of Sevington; Mary Poynings, who married Sir Thomas Wilsford or Wilford; and Rose Poynings, who married a husband surnamed Lewknor. By his father's marriage to Isabel or Elizabeth Scott, daughter of Sir John Scott, Marshal of Calais, and sister of Sir William Scott, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, he had a half brother, John Poynings, who died young. His stepmother, Elizabeth Scott, was buried in Brabourne church, where she is commemorated by a brass.
Career
Poynings was enrolled at Gray's Inn in 1533. His military service began during the Boulogne campaign of 1546. His brother, Edward, captain of the guard at Boulogne, was killed in action in January, and replaced by Thomas Wyatt, whose lieutenant Poynings became in February. In June 1546 he was appointed captain of the citadel at Boulogne, and a year later, captain of the town. His nephew, Lord Clinton, became governor of Boulogne in 1548, and Poynings continued to serve there until the town was returned to the French in 1550. In 1552 he was appointed lieutenant of the castle of Calais, and in 1557 was present, with 48-foot soldiers, at the Battle of St. Quentin. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth on her accession to the crown in 1558, and was Member of Parliament for Tregony in 1559. On 1 December 1560 he was appointed captain of Portsmouth, a position he held until his death. During the English occupation of Le Havre, then known to the English as Newhaven, in 1562, he was appointed high marshal, and since the overall commander, Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, 'lacked experience, he was directed by the privy council to be instructed by his marshal'. Poynings' orders for the conduct of the English forces at Newhaven included strictures such as 'Any English who shall draw his weapon or fight without the town shall lose his right hand. Any soldier that gives a blow within the town shall lose his hand.' In late November 1562 Sir Hugh Paulet replaced Poynings at Newhaven, although he continued to serve on the military council. On 25 March 1563 he was directed to return to London to report to the Privy Council, and while he was there, the garrison at Newhaven under Warwick surrendered on 27 July. As a reward for his services he was granted denization in 1564. Poynings' wife, Mary West, was coheir to the barony of West after the death of her half-brother, Thomas West, 9th Baron De La Warr, and eventually sole heiress to her sister, Anne West. In 1567 Poynings unsuccessfully claimed the other title held by the West family, the barony of De La Warr, in right of his wife. Poynings' final years were spent as captain at Portsmouth, where he is said to have quarrelled with the mayor and burgesses, 'who accused him of high-handedness and violence'. Poynings died 15 February 1571, and was buried at St Benet, Paul's Wharf, London. Administration of his estate was granted to his widow on 22 February. She was also granted the wardship of their three daughters.
Marriage and issue
Poynings married Mary West, daughter of Sir Owen West of Wherwell, Hampshire, eldest son of Thomas West, 8th Baron De La Warr, by his third wife, Eleanor Copley, by whom he had three daughters:
Anne Poynings, who married, as his first wife, Sir George More of Loseley Park, Surrey, by whom she was the mother of Anne More, who married the poet John Donne.
