Gen. Hercules Foljambe

From The Phillips, Weber, Kirk, & Staggs families of the Pacific Northwest

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jweber&id...

ID: I33109

• Name: Hercules FOLJAMBE , Sea Captain & General 1
• Sex: M
• Birth: BEF 1550 in Moorhall, Bakewell, Derbyshire, England 2
• Death: 27 NOV 1632 in Misterton, Gainsborough, Nottinghamshire, England 1
• Burial: Rotherham, Yorkshire West Riding, England

Note: The following e-mail from myself to Gordon Kirkemo, who has posted to SGM in the past concerning Hercules Foljambe and Anthony (his supposed son) summarizes my current thinking on the matter, based on my findings in A2A shown below. Note that is is not an oversight in my files that I have Anthony born before the marriage date of Hercules and Sarah:

--

Gordon,

I have had a little time to consider the information that I found in A2A, even while I am arranging for a record agent to transcribe the key Latin document concerning the divorce of Hercules & Anne Hardwicke on the grounds of adultery. I have come up with some interesting possibilities.

The weakness in arguing that Anthony was a legitimate son of Hercules is that Hercules, according to the pedigree on medievalgenealogy.org.uk, died without issue with his uncle Roger inheriting his holdings (of course we find that he had very little money towards the end of his life, and spent 5 1/2 years in debtors prison). Anyway, if Anthony were his son, then an illegitimate relationship would seem likely.

We know from the second A2A document on Hercules, that he had already arranged marriage to Sarah (Rye) Poge before his divorce was final. In fact Hercules states much later in his life, according to the third A2A document, that he had been giving money & support to Sarah and her children since March 1600, more than a year before Sarah & Hercules were married. This situation certainly leads to the speculation that Hercules fathered a child by Sarah out of wedlock. This child would have been born around March 1600, which is precisely the year that you estimate Anthony was born....

The following copy of my post to SGM (with a couple of modifications), 12 Jul 2005, shows most of my information on Hercules:

1. Jim Weber Jul 12, 6:25 pm

• Newsgroups: soc.genealogy.medieval
• From: "Jim Weber"
• Date: 12 Jul 2005 15:25:18 -0700
• Local: Tues,Jul 12 2005 6:25 pm
• Subject: Hercules Foljambe, possible father of Anthony Fulghum/Fulgham of VA

Dear Newsgroup,

Gordon Kirkemo posted to SGM, 12 Jun 2003, about the circumstantial evidence that Capt. Anthony Fulghum/Fulgham, b. c1600, was a son of Hercules Foljambe. Hercules was a sea captain and major general who accompanied the Earl of Cumberland in the late 1590's on raids in the West Indies (including the capture of San Juan, Puerto Rico). Apparently Anthony, probably born in England, spent time in Barbados and the West Indies before obtaining a land grant in 1643, in the name of "Fulliamb", in Isle of Wight Count, VA. Gordon Kirkemo's post gives more details, and there was one earlier post by a Chris Robinson (which gave an incorrect pedigree for Hercules). There are also several Fulghum/Fulgham familiy forums that have information on Anthony and Hercules.

The Foljambe Pedigree, on medievalgenealogy.uk.org, has an entry for Hercules, which I have copied below. The pedigree states that Hercules was married three times: 1) Sarah daughter of John Hardwick of Hardwick; 2) Anne; 3) Sarah daughter of Edward Rye, of Aston, and widow of George Poge, of Misterton. It also states that Hercules died without issue, when his uncle Roger inherited (not terribly encouraging for Anthony's paternity).

Digging around in the A2A, searching under "Hercules", I found 3 entries, copied below, which both support and contradict the above account. While Hercules may have been a good ship captain and military man, the entries indicate that he was probably not a good husband, nor financial manager.

The first A2A entry indicates that his wife Anne was named Hardwicke, which puts into doubt whether he was married 2 or 3 times in total, it being possible that his 1st wife "Sarah" was a mistake. Also it gives some hope to Anthony's being a bastard child (of either mother or father), as Hercules and Anne are getting a divorce based on adultery. I have asked for more details from the Nottingham archives; meanwhile maybe someone else has information on this?

The second A2A entry indicates that Hercules was arranging his next marriage to Sarah (Rye) Poge, even before his 1st divorce was final.

The third A2A entry shows that poor Hercules had a lot of trouble in his last marriage. It reads like a soap opera of lengthy court procedings with appeals to the Star Chamber. It also indicates that Hercules may have only been married twice (I think he is including his last/current marriage in his count of "two unfortunate marriages"). It also indicates that Hercules was born a short time before 1550 (he claimed to be aged 82 late in his life, and d. 27 Nov 1632). And he apparently spent 5 1/2 years in debtors prison. It also mentions giving money & support to Sarah (Rye) Poge and her children starting in March 1600, long before his divorce was final. Could she have been his mistress and possible mother of Anthony?

My big question thus far concerns the Hardwick family, which Hercules married. Does anyone know if John Hardwick, father of Sarah/Anne, is related in any way to the John Hardwick who married Elizabeth Leeke. I know that that particular line died out in coheirs with no male issue, but Peter Sutton in a post to SGM, 13 Aug 2000, indicated that Hercules' mother, Elizabeth Draycott, married James Hardwick the son of John & Elizabeth Leeke, after Hercules' father's death. It seems like the mother could have arranged a marriage for her son with a handy "cousin" within the Hardwick family, or something like that. Sarah/Anne's father is described as "of Hardwick".

Does anyone have anything on the ancestry of Hercule's first wife, Sarah/Anne Hardwick and her father John Hardwick of Hardwick?

Jim Weber

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The following entry for Hercules was copied from: http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/families/foljambe/foljambe.shtml

[From Joseph Foster, Pedigrees of the county families of Yorkshire, vol.1 (London, 1874). Many thanks to Barbarann K. Ayars for being kind enough to transcribe this lengthy pedigree.]

HERCULES FOLJAMBE, 2nd son, born ....., a general and sea captain under the Earl of Cumberland, in his expedition to the West Indies, married, 1st, Sarah, daughter of John Hardwick, of Hardwick, Esq.; 2ndly, Anne .....,; 3rdly, Sarah, daughter of Edward Rye, of Aston, Esq., and widow of George Poge, of Misterton, co. Notts., by whom she had had issue, Darcy Poge and 4 other children, and died 27 November, 1632, s.p., bur. at Rotherham.

--

All three A2A entries were copied from Nottinghamshire Archives: Foljambe of Osberton: Deeds and Estate Papers:

A2A ENTRY #1:

• Reference: DD/FJ/4/13/1
• Creation dates: 18 July 1601
• Language: Latin
• Scope and Content: Letters exemplifying sentence of divorce in consistory court of Lichfield.

Between Hercules Fowliambe, esq., and Anne Hardwicke alias Fow liambe, his wife, of Horsley (Derbs.); for adultery.

Seal.

A2A ENTRY #2:

• Reference: DD/FJ/4/13/3
• Creation dates: 24 May 43 Eliz. (1601)
• Scope and Content: Lease.

1) Sara Poge of Misterton, widow.

2) Godfrey Garrett of Eckenton, esq.

Francis Gregorye of Gaynsburgh, gent.

(1) to (2) rectory and glebe of Misterton, with lands there and in Heaton, Retford and Walkeringham. For 40 years if (1) and intended husband Hercules Foliambe of Gainsborough so long live.

Sig. and seal.

(See legal papers.)

A2A ENTRY #3:

• Reference: DD/FJ/5/1/7
• Creation dates: 1591-1612 (?); 4 Dec. 1591; n.d c.1600; 10 Oct. 1601; 8 Feb. 1601/2; Feb. 1601/2; 19 Feb. 1601/2; 1602; [Lent 1602]; 6 Nov. 1604; 12 Nov. 1604; [1604-5]; 24 April 1605; 24 May 1605; 24 May 1605; 2 July 1612; [1612 ?]; n.d; n.d; n.d; n.d; n.d
• Scope and Content: NOT DEPOSITED AT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ARCHIVES

Captain Hercules Foljambe of Misterton; letters and papers, chiefly re. wrongs allegedly done to him by Sarah Poge, her father Edward Rye, and others.

Includes:-

• 1. Copy marriage settlement; Geo. Poge of Misterton and Sarah Rye of Aston (Y.).
  • f.1.
• 2. Letter, Sara Poge to "cossen" H.F.
  • f.3.
• 3. Bond.
  • Sir Rob. Bassett of Omberley (D.) to Godfrey Garrett of Eckington (Db.), esq., for payment of £105. f.5.
• 4. "A relacion of parte of the wrongs donne unto me ..." addressed by H.F. to Sir Thos. Egerton, Lord Keeper, memo. by latter, "Kepe this, but lett his counsell move in open Courte". Recounts how Sarah Poge tried to "cozen" him into marriage and how his brother and others attacked his house, with account of his 2 unfortunate marriages. f.6.
• 5. H.F. to Edward Rye, on a proposal by Lord Keeper to refer their differences to arbitration. f.10.
• 6. Copy letter, Sir Thos. Egerton to Edward Rye; as 5. f.12.
• 7. Bill in Star Chamber; H.F. v. Rye and others.
  • Re. attack on house he holds under lease from Sarah Poge, with interrogatories, etc. ff.13-84.
• 8. Draft award of arbitrators.
  • E. Rye to convey to H.F. and wife Sara [Poge] for lives, rectory of Misterton and lands late of Geo. Poge, with remainder to latter's children; also to surrender deeds, etc., taken at forcible entry.
  • H.F. to pay E.R. £50. f.85.
• 9. Order for E. Rye to appear before Commissioners, or in default to surrender rectory of Misterton; followed by evidence as to award as 8. ff.86, 88-95
• 10. Copy report on proceedings as 9. f.96.
• 11. Draft commission to - "to restore Fol. to the presente possession of the saide rectorie and freehold landes... and likewise to doe him what further good and lawfull favour you maie in respect of the equitie of his cause [and] his longe service done to our late sister in her warrs of dyverse Kingdomes". f.98.
  • [Rye had obtained a Star Chamber injunction and again ousted H.F.]
• 12. Star Chamber order for counsel to attend. f.99.
• 13. Letter, Sir Rob. Swyfte to Lord Chancellor Ellesmere, re. award as 8 above. f.101.
• 14. Sir R. Swyfte to Thos. Chamberlayne of Grays Inn; as 13. f.103, 105.
• 15. Star Chamber order re. award to H.F. f.107.
• 16. Bill in Chancery, H.F. v. Sir Rob. Bassett; complains of his not paying annuity of £100 due on deed of 1600 in consideration of advance of £500; H.F. having been imprisoned for 5½ years through this. f.109.
• 17. Petition of H.F. to James I. for reference to Earl of Arundel and others of his case against Godfrey Plattes to whom on going on foreign service he had assigned his property on trust, and who had forged an absolute conveyance. Recites services abroad under Queen Elizabeth, and that, be 82, he is not likely to live the length of a suit to recover his rights. f.110.
• 18. Petition as 17; for 200 oaks from Bille and Birkeland; recapitulates services, adds that he saved Earl of Cumberland from drowning, and had spent above £10000 in service. f.112.
• 19. Notes of money laid out for Sara Poge and children from March 1600. f.113.
• 20. Note of "money and other things Godfraye Garrate hathe of H.F. and dothe detayne." f.116, 117.
• 21. Note of "such landes and leases and debtes as shall appeare both by spetialties, bondes and good testimony". f.119. [See also Charters, App 79, 81.]

  ---

The following information probably indicates the incident mentioned by Hercules above, in which he rescued the Earl of Cumberland from drowning (copied from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Puerto_Rico):

On November 22, 1595 Sir Francis Drake, hero of the battle of the Spanish Armada, sailed with 27 vessels and 2,500 troops in the company of Sir John Hawkins, tried and failed to conquer the island by sailing into San Juan's harbour. In the process they set San Juan ablaze. During the battle it is said that a cannon ball ripped through the Drake's cabin splintering a stool underneath him and killing two men.

Aware of Drake's failed strategy of assaulting San Juan by sea, on June 15, 1598, the British Navy led by George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, anchored 21 ships and landed troops in Santurce. They were met by Spanish resistance while attempting to cross the San Antonio bridge, near what today is known as Condado. It is said that Cumberland nearly drowned after falling into the water in heavy armour. The British conquered the island and held it for several months. They were forced to abandon this conquest owing to an outbreak of plague among the troops. The following year, Spain sent 400 soldiers, 46 cannons and a new governor, Alonso de Mercado, to rebuild the city of San Juan.

NOTE: Apparently the Earl financed his own expeditions and didn't make a lot of money (at least on the Puerto Rico raid). Probably Hercules spent money with little return as well.