Nicholas Leveson

Nicholas Leveson was born about 1485 in Kent, the son of Richard Leveson. He had siblings named; John, James and Mary. Nicholas became a successful trader of fine cloths including silk and linen in London. He married Dionysia Bodley and had many children. In 1535 Nicholas was named High Sheriff of London.

Nicholas wrote a will the following year on November 7th, 1536. He asked to be buried in a tomb on the north side of the St Andrew Undershaft Church in London. The will was proven October 13th, 1539. St Andrew Undershaft is one of the few churches in London that survived both the Great Fire and the Blitz, and it still stands today. The present building dates from 1532, but a church has stood at the site since the 12th century. A brass engraving honoring Nicholas and Dionysia is still displayed at the church. The scene displays each of them kneeling with many children pictured behind them. Nicholas is depicted with a youthful face, clean shaved with his hair straight and over his ears. Three coats of arms are also included. The coat of arms for Nicholas Leveson was described as "Azure, a fess nebulee argent, between three leaves or, quartering argent, a chevron gules between three cinquefoils pierced sable. Crest: a goat's head erased argent, attired or."