James Collier

Family and Education b. c.1560, 1st s. of Robert Colyer of Darlaston by his 2nd w. Agnes, da. of Sir Thomas Venables of Kinderton, Cheshire. m. 1586, Jane, da. of Robert Needham of Shenton, Notts., 1s. suc. fa. 1586.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Newcastle-under-Lyme 1586.

Biography The Colyer family, established in the vicinity of Stone, Staffordshire, during the reign of Henry VII, did well out of the dissolution of the monasteries. Inheriting the manors of Darlaston, Stone, Yerlett and Hilderstone with about 6,500 acres of land, Colyer at once began to sell out. In his first year he disposed of 100 houses and 1,000 acres of land for £480. Each year more went until, by his death, he had nothing left save a house in Stone called Newhall and three small properties. Over a period of ten years he realised £2,200. His reasons are unknown.2

He was returned at Newcastle-under-Lyme through the influence of the mayor Ralph Smythe, who had married Colyer’s sister Margaret. The Robert Colyer then on the town council was presumably a relative. Colyer died intestate 14 July 1597, leaving a nine year-old son.3

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603 Author: R.C.G. Notes 1. C142/215/253; J. C. Wedgwood, Staffs. Parl. Hist. (Wm. Salt Arch. Soc.), i. 385. 2. Erdeswick’s Surv. Staffs. 33-5, 38, 50, 509; C142/215/253; Colls. Hist. Staffs. (Wm. Salt Arch. Soc. xiii), 259; (xv), 170, 171, 172, 181, 182, 191, 192; (xvi), 102, 103, 132, 146, 156, 163; Wards 7/24/184. 3. T. Pape, Newcastle-under-Lyme, 16, 46, 206; Wards 7/24/184

James siblings : -

      1. 	Margaret Collier

 	2. 	James Collier b. 1538, d. c 1597

 	3. 	Letitia Collier b. c 1540

 	4. 	Thurston Collier b. c 1542

 	5. 	Richard Collier b. c 1544

 	6. 	Isabel Collier b. c 1546

 	7. 	Mary Collier b. c 1548

 	8. 	Grace Collier b. c 1550

 	9. 	Elizabeth Collier b. c 1550, d. 14 Oct 1594

 	10. 	Cecilia Collier b. c 1552

Son of Robert Collier 1515-1587 and Joyce Skrymsher 1516-1553 Marriage 1563 - Jane Needham

JAMES4 COLLYER (SIR ROBERT3 COLEIRE, JAMES2 COLIE'RE, ROBERT1) was born Abt. 1538 in London, England. He married JANE NEEDHAM. She was born 1542 in Shavington, Shropshire, England.