Christopher Osborne, MP

Family and Education 2nd s. of Peter Osborne and bro. of John. educ. Eton c.1571; King’s, Camb. 1575, fellow 1578, m. 1590, Joan, da. of Humphrey Moseley, 1s.

Offices Held

Clerk in the office of the ld. treasurer’s remembrancer in the Exchequer; attorney of duchy of Lancaster in the Exchequer 1579-93.

Biography Osborne inherited two offices in the Exchequer, which must have provided him with the greater part of his income until 1591, when the Queen granted him the manor of North Fambridge, adjacent to his father’s property in South Fambridge, part of which had been settled upon him at his marriage the year before. He no doubt owed his seat at Helston to his own and his father’s patron, Lord Burghley. In 1589 all three Osbornes were in the House, and it is therefore impossible to apportion their activity with any confidence. What there is appears under Peter Osborne.

Osborne died in 1600, in ‘strong hope of a joyful resurrection’. He left money and tokens of remembrance to his brothers and sisters, and a piece of gilt plate ‘in fashion like a cluster of grapes’ to his mother. His only child, John, was to have £100 at 20 and £200 at 21; by a codicil this was increased by a further £100. John was also to receive a Bible, ‘printed at Antwerp at the King of Spain’s charge’, and other books. The issues and revenues of all his lands were left to his wife. Osborne made his brother Henry his heir in several lawsuits, to prosecute them and receive the profits he expected from them, and he asked his clerks to bring his Exchequer accounts up to date, for which they would receive double their usual fees.

Lansd. 106, f. 1; Somerville, Duchy, i. 459; DNB (Osborne, Peter); T. Wright, Essex, ii. 672; C142/249/59, 262/124; London IPMs (Brit. Rec. Soc., Index Lib. xxxvi), 245-9, 272-5; PCC 18 Wallop; HMC Hatfield, x. 112