Lording Barry

Lording Barry1 M, b. 1580, d. before 21 July 1629

• Birth* 1580 Lording Barry was born in 1580 at London, England.3
• Anecdote* 1600 The prinicpal source for the information on Edmund Scarburgh's wife Hannah is from a monograph by Cecil L'Estrange Ewen, printed in 1938, entitled "Lording Barry, Poet and Pirate", which gives a pedigree for several generations of Barry's family and allied lines along with dates of wills (and extensive information on the life and career of Barry, whose antecedents had been something of a literary mystery...it was thought, for instance, that "Lording" was some sort of honorific and that he was the son or bastard son of a Lord Barry). Lording Barry's association with Edward Bennett is mentioned in "The Encyclopedia of English Renaissance Literature", p.51 (viewable via Google Books). The will of Lording Barry, as follows, names him as "Captain and part-owner of the good shippe Edward of London". (See also John Bennett Boddie, "Seventeeth Century Isle of Wight"; mentions grant of a letter of marque to Edward Bennett for the ship Edward, of London on p. 51). Lording Barry, sometime playwright and partner in the theatre company of the Children of the King's Revels, later pirate, and in later life part-owner of the privateer Edward of London, whose principal owner was Edward Bennett of Bennett's Plantation (uncle of Richard Bennett who was gov. of Virginia, and great-uncle of Elizabeth Bennett who married Charles Scarburgh, son of Col. Edmund Scarburgh).2
• Will - Father's* 1607 Lording was named in his father's will in 1607. Lording Barry was left the sum of approximately £10 in his father's will of 1607 (one-fifth of one-third of the estate); he invested it in a theatre company, the Children of the King's Revels, at Whitefriars, London. He is known as the author of at least two plays; "Ram Alley", and "The Family of Love" (previously attributed to John Webster, best known as the author of "The Duchess of Malfi"). Barry went heavily into debt over his theatrical venture, and was jailed in the Marshalsea Prison, from which he escaped, and, buying a horse on credit, made his way to Ireland and a career of piracy. A vessel he was aboard, the Fly, was taken by a King's ship on return from a pirating voyage; Barry was among those turned ashore by the Royal Navy officer (Ewen speculates that the leniency shown to Barry may have something to do with the fact that a Barry, Viscount Buttevant, was one of the King's Commissioners for piracy, and that the arms of Barry's father--given in "A Visitation of Wales and Part of the Marches" as "barry of six argent and gules, a crescent or for difference" were almost identical to those of the Viscounts Buttevant). Barry later took part in Sir Walter Raleigh's last, failed expedition to the Orinoco in 1616-17, and returning to England was eventually in partnership with Edward Bennett, as seen above from his will.4
• Anecdote 1617 In 1617 Lording Barry had another nearly disatrous privateering adventure, as part of Sir Walter Ralegh's gold-mining expedition to Guyana. Back in London, Barry became part-owner of a trading vessel called the Edward of London, whose principal owner was Edwad Bennett, a commissioner of Virginia at the court of England. This ship was, in 1627, granted a letter of marque to take pirates and enemy ships. Barry's career at sea seems to have come full circle. Barry wrote no other plays and seems not to have married or had children. His niece Hannah Scarburgh, however, emigrated to Virginia, and had children and grandchildren there. Some small genetic remnant of Barry was, perhaps, at last enjoying the riches and freedom of a new world which the playwright had so vigorously pursued.5
• Will* 18 July 1625 Lording made a will on 18 July 1625 at London, England. In the name of God, Amen. I Lordinge Barrye, captaine and part owner of the good shippe called the Edward of London, beeing of perfect minde and memorie thankes be to god doe make and declare this my last will and testament in writing in manner and forme followinge. To Charles, son of Edmond Scarburgh of Saint Martines in the Fields, 3l. to buy him a gold ring. To Mr Robert Overye of Staple Inn, 20s. to buy him a gold ring. To Mr Francis Burnell of the City of London, 20s. to buy him a gold ring. Executors and residuary legatees: Hannah, wife to Edmond Scarburgh of St Martins in the Fields and Edmond, son to said Edmond and Hannah. 18 July, I Chas. (1625). Witnesses: Robert Ball, clerk; Robert Overeye, Richard Overye. Probate 21 July 1629. Grant to Hannah Scarburgh. Inventory, 49s. 8d. (Diocese & Chapter of St Paul's, Reg. D., folio 363).1
• Death* before 21 July 1629 He died before 21 July 1629 at England. It was on this date that his will was probated.1

Citations

1. [S2434] Christopher Handy, to M.K. Miles, Diocese & Chapter of St. Paul's, Reg. D., folio 363.
2. [S2434] Christopher Handy, to M.K. Miles, monograph by Cecil L'Estrange Ewen, printed 1938, entitled "Lording Barry, Poet and Pirate."
3. [S2434] Christopher Handy, to M.K. Miles.
4. [S2434] Christopher Handy, to M.K. Miles, Source: "Lording Barry, Poet and Pirate", C. L'Estrange Ewen. Privately printed, 1938.
5. [S2434] Christopher Handy, to M.K. Miles, The Encyclopedia of English Renaissance Literature, p. 51.