Family Connections

Henry Hastings was the absolute stereotype for the eccentric, hunting, shooting and fishing, English country squire. Even in his own time he was considered far from typical. Henry became the squire of Woodlands upon his marriage to Dorothy Willoughby in 1587.  The following description of him is attributed to Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, later the first Earl of Shaftesbury, and describes Henry in 1638 at the time of his wifes death.  Although it must have been written, or at least updated,  over twenty years later following his death. 

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