Sir William Fitzwilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London

William Fitzwilliam (Sheriff of London)

Sir William Fitzwilliam (c.1460 – 9 August 1534) was a Merchant Taylor, Sheriff of London, servant of Cardinal Wolsey, and a member of the council of Henry VII.

William Fitzwilliam was the second son of John Fitzwilliam, esquire, of Greens Norton, Northamptonshire, and Helen Villiers, the daughter of William Villiers, esquire, of Brooksby, Leicestershire, by Joan Bellers, the daughter of John Bellers of Eye Kettleby in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.[1][a][b]

Fitzwilliam began his career as a London merchant in the service of Sir John Percyvale. He was admitted to the livery of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors in May 1490. He served as Warden in 1494 and 1498, and was elected Master in 1499.[3] He resided in Bread Street ward, and later in St Thomas the Apostle.[2] In addition to his activities as a London merchant, he became a Merchant of the Staple at Calais. In 1503 he was elected alderman for Broad Street ward. In January of that year he was influential in obtaining a new charter for his Company which allowed the Merchant Taylors to encroach on the interests of the other London companies. In 1505 he was a candidate for Sheriff of London, but was not elected; in 1506 Henry VII intervened to secure the office for him.[3]

In 1510 the Mayor and Aldermen elected him as Sheriff a second time. He refused to serve, and in consequence was fined 1000 marks and disenfranchised. His franchise was restored and the 1000 mark fine was remitted by the Court of Star Chamber on 10 July 1511; nonetheless, he left his career as a London merchant and entered the service of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who had aided him during his quarrel with the City authorities. He became Wolsey's treasurer and high chamberlain, and was appointed to Henry VII's council.[2][3]

In addition to several properties which he owned in the City of London, he acquired property at Marholm, Cambridgeshire, and a country house at Gaynes Park in Chigwell, Essex. He served as Sheriff of Essex from 1513 to 1515.[2][3]

In 1515 he was knighted. He had purchased the manor of Milton in Northamptonshire in 1506, and about 1515 went to live there, serving as Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1523 and 1528. From 1–5 April 1530, after Wolsey's fall from power, Fitzwilliam entertained the Cardinal and his retinue at Milton.[2][3][4]

On 26 May 1533 he signed indentures by which the Merchant Taylors were granted 1200 marks to fund religious services at Crowland Abbey and to maintain four Almshouses at Marholm. He also rebuilt the church of St Andrew Undershaft in London, and the chancel of the parish church at Marholm.[2]

He made his will on 28 May 1534, appointing as executors Sir John Baker and Anthony Cooke, as well as his cousins Richard Waddington and Richard Ogle. The will was proved 5 September 1534.[5] He died 9 August 1534[6] at his mansion house at St Thomas the Apostle in London, and was buried in a marble tomb in the chancel of the church of Marholm.[2][3][7]

Fitzwilliam married firstly Anne Hawes, the daughter of Sir John Hawes, alderman of London, by whom he had two sons and two daughters:[8]

1. Sir William Fitzwilliam [Sir William Fitzwilliam, Knight]
2. Richard Fitzwilliam, esquire, [Richard FitzWilliam, Esq.] who married Elizabeth Knyvet, the daughter of Charles Knyvet, esquire.
3. Anne Fitzwilliam, [Anne Fitzwilliam, of Brittany] who married Sir Anthony Cooke.[9] Through his daughter Anne, Fitzwilliam was the great-grandfather of the philosopher and statesman, Sir Francis Bacon.
4. Elizabeth Fitzwilliam, [Elizabeth Brudenell] who married Sir Thomas Brudenell.

Fitzwilliam married secondly, Mildred Sackville, sister of Sir John Sackville (died 1557), and daughter of Richard Sackville, esquire, of Withyham, Sussex, by Isabel Digges, the daughter of John Digges, esquire, by whom he had three sons:

1. Christopher [Christopher Fitzwilliam]
2. Francis [Francis Fitz William]
3. Thomas [Thomas Fitzwilliam]

and two daughters:

1. Eleanor [Ellen Helena Fitzwilliam] who married Sir Nicholas Strange, and
2. Mary [Mary Guildford] who married John Shelley.[8]

Questionable profiles on geni.com include:

1. [Lady Anne Taylor Swift](removed 5/3/2021)
2. [Lady Mary Catherine Shelley] Possible duplicate of [Mary Guildford] born to 2nd wife Mildred.
3. Missing a profile for Richard FitzWilliam.
4. [Mary FitzWilliam] (probable duplicate of [Mary Guildford])

Fitzwilliam married thirdly Jane Ormond, daughter and coheiress of John Ormond, esquire, of Alfreton, Derbyshire, by Joan Chaworth, the daughter of Sir William Chaworth, by whom he had no issue. Jane Ormand had earlier been the wife of Sir Thomas Dynham (died c.1520), and Sir Edward Greville (d. 22 June 1528).[7]

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Fitzwilliam_(Sheriff_of_London)

________________

• Sir William FitzWilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
• M, #73085, b. circa 1460, d. 9 August 1534
• Father John II FitzWilliam, Esq.1,11,12,13 b. c 1415
• Mother Ellen Villiers1,12,13 b. c 1430
• Sir William FitzWilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London was born circa 1460 at of Gains Park, Theydon Garnon, Essex, England.1 He married Anne Hawes, daughter of Sir John Hawes, Sheriff & Alderman of London, circa 1485 at of London, Middlesex, England; They had 2 sons (Sir William; & Richard, Esq.) and 2 daughters (Anne, wife of Sir Anthony Cooke; & Elizabeth, wife of Sir Thomas Brudenell).14,1,5,6,10 Sir William FitzWilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London married Mildred Sackville, daughter of Richard Sackville, Esq., Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex and Isabel Digges, circa 1514; They had 3 sons (Christopher; Francis; & Thomas, Esq.) and 2 daughters (Eleanor, wife of Sir Nicholas Strange; & Mary, wife of John Shelley, Esq.).1,11,2,6 Sir William FitzWilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London married Jane/Joan Ormond, daughter of John Ormond, Esq. and Joan Chaworth, circa 1529; No issue.2,3,6,7 Sir William FitzWilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London left a will on 28 May 1534.11,2,6 He died on 9 August 1534 at St. Thomas the Apostle, London, Middlesex, England; Buried at Marholm, Northamptonshire.1,11,2,3,6,7 His estate was probated on 5 September 1534.2,6
• Family 1 Anne Hawes b. c 1460, d. b 1514
• Children
  • Sir William FitzWilliam+14 b. c 1490, d. 21 Dec 1568
  • Richard FitzWilliam, Esq.+2,6 b. c 1492, d. b 1559
  • Anne FitzWilliam+15,2,5,16,6,9,10 b. c 1500
  • Elizabeth Fitzwilliam+1 b. c 1510, d. 2 Sep 1558
• Family 2 Mildred Sackville b. c 1490, d. b 1529
• Child
  • Mary FitzWilliam+17,8 b. c 1515
• Family 3 Jane/Joan Ormond
• Citations
• [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 333.
• [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 218-219.
• [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 268-269.
• [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. III, p. 466-467.
• [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, p. 144-145.
• [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. II, p. 677.
• [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 120-121.
• [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 171.
• [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. IV, p. 508.
• [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. V, p. 93.
• [S15] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, p. 350.
• [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 217.
• [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. II, p. 676.
• [S9737] Unknown author, Foster's Yorkshire Pedigrees.
• [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 91.
• [S6] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry: 2nd Edition, Vol. I, p. 236.
• [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 314.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2432.htm#... _____________________
• William FITZWILLIAM of Milton (Sir Knight)
• Born: ABT 1440, Gainspark Hall, Essex, England
• Died: 9 Aug 1534, Milton, Northamptonshire, England
• Notes: made his fortune in London as a merchant tailor, alderman and sheriff of London. Treasurer and Chamberlain to Wolsey. Purchased Milton in 1506.
• Father: John FITZWILLIAM of Milton
• Mother: Ellen VILLERS
• Married: Anne HAWES
• Children:
  • 1. William FITZWILLIAM of Gainspark (Sir Knight)
  • 2. Elizabeth FITZWILLIAM
  • 3. Anne FITZWILLIAM
  • 4. Richard FITZWILLIAM of Milton
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/FITZWILLIAM.htm#William FITZWILLIAM of Milton (Sir Knight)1 ___________________
• Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 19
• Fitzwilliam, William (1460?-1534) by Walter Baker Clode
• FITZWILLIAM, Sir WILLIAM (1460?–1534), sheriff of London, was son of John Fitzwilliam. His mother was Ellen, daughter of William Villiers of Brokesby in Leicestershire. It has been claimed that the family was descended from one William Fitzwilliam of Green's Norton, who is stated to have been a natural son of William the Conqueror. But the existence of this natural son receives no confirmation from contemporary documents, and he is probably a figment of the genealogists. Fitzwilliam lived and traded in Bread Street, London, afterwards in St. Thomas Apostle, having a country house at Gaynes Park, Chigwell, Essex. He was admitted to the livery of the Merchant Taylors' Company of London in 1490, of which he was warden in 1494 and 1498, and master in 1499, obtaining a new charter for the company on 6 Jan. 1502. In 1505 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the shrievalty of London, but was appointed to the office on the king's nomination in 1506, and was elected alderman of Broad Street ward in the same year. Elected sheriff of London in 1510 he refused to serve, and was in consequence disfranchised and fined one thousand marks by the lord mayor. The franchise was restored and the fine remitted by order of the Star-chamber, 10 July 1511. He became treasurer and high chamberlain to Cardinal Wolsey, who appointed him one of the king's council. In 1515 he was nominated sheriff of Essex, was knighted in 1522, and was sheriff of Northampton in 1524. He entertained Wolsey during his disgrace, 1–5 April 1530, at Milton Manor, Northampton (the seat of the present Earl Fitzwilliam), which he purchased in 1506 from Richard Wittelbury. Fitzwilliam rebuilt the church of St. Andrew's Undershaft, London, and the chancel of Marholm, Northamptonshire. By deed (26 May 1533) he settled twelve hundred marks on the Merchant Taylors' Company for certain religious uses since applied (under scheme of 1887) to divinity scholars at St. John's College, Oxford. Fitzwilliam married, first, Ann, daughter of Sir John Hawes: secondly, Mildred, daughter of Sir R. Sackville of Buckhurst; thirdly, Jane, daughter of John Ormond. He had by his first wife issue Sir William, his heir (father of Sir William Fitzwilliam, 1526–1599 [q. v.]), Richard, Elizabeth, and Ann; by his second wife, Christopher, Francis, and Thomas. He died 9 Aug. 1534. His will is dated 21 May 1534. He was buried at Marholm.
• [Bibl. Top. Brit. vol. x.; Gibson's Castor, p. 187; Manuscript Records of Merchant Taylors' Company; Corporation of London Repertory Book; Collins's Peerage, iv. 387 sq.; Testamenta Vetusta, ii. 665; Greyfriars Chronicle (Camd. Soc.); Cavendish's Life of Wolsey.]
• From: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Fitzwilliam,_William_(1460%3F-1534)_(DNB00)
• https://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofnati19stepuoft#page/230/mode... ______________
• Sir William FitzWilliam
• Birth: 1455 Theydon Garnon, Essex, England
• Death: Aug. 9, 1534 London, Greater London, England
• Knight of Gaynes Park in Theydon Garnon, Essex, of Milton in Castor and Marholm, Northamptonshire. Warden and Master of the Merchant Taylor's Company, London, Mayor of the Staple Calais in London, Alderman of London, Sheriff of London, Treasurer to Cardinal Worsley.
• Son of John FitzWilliam and Helen Villiers, grandson of John FitzWilliam and Eleanor Greene, William Villiers and Joan Bellers.
• Husband of Anne Hawes, daughter of Sir John Hawes of London. They had two sons and two daughters; Sir William, Richard, Anne nad Elizabeth, the wife of Sir Thomas Brudenell.
• Secondly, he married Mildred Sackville, the daughter of Richard Sackville and Isabel Digges. They had three sons and two daughters; Christopher, Francis and Thomas, Eleanor, wife of Sir Nicholas Strange, and Mary, wife of John Shelley.
• Thirdly, he married Jane Ormond, daughter and co-heiress of John Ormond and Joan Chaworth, widow of John Dinham. They had no issue.
• William was knighted in or before 1518. He rebuilt the greater part of the church of St Andrew Undershaft in London and the chancel of Marholm church in Northamptonshire.
• Sir William left a will dated 28 May 1534, proved 05 Sept 1534. He died at St Thomas the Apostle but was buried at Marholm.
• (bio by: Anne Shurtleff Stevens)
• Family links:
• Spouses:
• Anne Hawes Fitzwilliam (1462 - 1512)
• Jane Ormond FitzWilliam (____ - 1542)
• Children:
  • William FitzWilliam (____ - 1576)*
• Inscription:
• When William acquired Milton Hall in 1505 he was in an "association" with Anne Hawes that for some reason is not on record. When she died in 1512 she was buried in the churchyard associated with that estate. Possibly for that reason, William opted to be buried with his legitimate wife, Mildred (Maud) Sackville, in St Edmund Church near Hardingston-- and his original family seat of Milton.
• Burial: St Mary The Virgin Churchyard, Marholm, Peterborough Unitary Authority, Cambridgeshire, England
• Find A Grave Memorial# 110238563
• From: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=110238563 ___________________________

Notes: made his fortune in London as a merchant tailor, alderman and sheriff of London. Treasurer and Chamberlain to Wolsey. Purchased Milton in 1506.

Birth: 1456 Hardingstone Northamptonshire, England Death: 1534 Hardingstone Northamptonshire, England

William's family seat was an estate called Milton near Hardingston (I'm not sure whether it was in Milton Malsor or Milton Keynes) but an older brother inherited that title, and William was given the Lordship of Gainspark. In 1505 he confused matters by acquiring the considerably more stately Milton Hall near Peterborough in Huntingdonshire, and the title that went with that holding. This has confused genealogists who keep trying to put him in the lineage of his brother John, and make his father his grandfather. His is a model transitional figure in respect to his hereditary honors, as his appointed ones made him a more prominent figure on the social scene, and a more powerful one in the realm of politics. He served as Alderman and Sheriff of London, and was an important liaison between the mercantile (and eventually Puritan) class-- and the Royal and Baronial echelons whose power over English governance they were to usurp by violent means in the following century. In the former society, the relaxed legality of his first marriage to Anne Hawes was not a hindrance, and was left uncorrected so that he might make an advantageous match later in life, for the sake of consolidating holdings. In the moribund Feudal system, things were done this way-- but in the more black-and-white morality of the middle class, William's heirs found it necessary to legitimize that first marriage, not for the sake their daughter Anne Fitzwilliam (who married Sir Anthony Cooke, a man of power and prominence but a Commoner)-- but for their granddaughter Mildred, who was betrothed to Lord Burghley, also a commoner but one who had risen to a much higher station, and as Elizabeth I's Secretary of State had to assert his authority over subordinates whose "high birth" went back for centuries. Inscription: When William acquired Milton Hall in 1505 he was in an "association" with Anne Hawes that for some reason is not on record. When she died in 1512 she was buried in the churchyard associated with that estate. Possibly for that reason, William opted to be buried with his legitimate wife, Mildred (Maud) Sackville, in St Edmund Church near Hardingston-- and his original family seat of Milton.

Burial: St Edmund Church Hardingstone Northamptonshire, England

Created by: Bill Velde Record added: Jun 17, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 71502864

• THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN MERGE WITH Find A Grave Memorial# 110238563 LISTED ABOVE. __________________________________________

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Sir William FitzWilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London

• M, #73085, b. circa 1460, d. 9 August 1534
• Father John II FitzWilliam, Esq.1,11,12,13 b. c 1415
• Mother Ellen Villiers1,12,13 b. c 1430

 Sir William FitzWilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London was born circa 1460 at of Gains Park, Theydon Garnon, Essex, England.1

He married Anne Hawes, daughter of Sir John Hawes, Sheriff & Alderman of London, circa 1485 at of London, Middlesex, England; They had 2 sons (Sir William; & Richard, Esq.) and 2 daughters (Anne, wife of Sir Anthony Cooke; & Elizabeth, wife of Sir Thomas Brudenell).14,1,5,6,10

Sir William FitzWilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London married Mildred Sackville, daughter of Richard Sackville, Esq., Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex and Isabel Digges, circa 1514; They had 3 sons (Christopher; Francis; & Thomas, Esq.) and 2 daughters (Eleanor, wife of Sir Nicholas Strange; & Mary, wife of John Shelley, Esq.)1,11,2,6

Sir William FitzWilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London married Jane/Joan Ormond, daughter of John Ormond, Esq. and Joan Chaworth, circa 1529; No issue.2,3,6,7

Sir William FitzWilliam, Alderman & Sheriff of London left a will on 28 May 1534.11,2,6 He died on 9 August 1534 at St. Thomas the Apostle, London, Middlesex, England; Buried at Marholm, Northamptonshire.1,11,2,3,6,7 His estate was probated on 5 September 1534.2,6

Family 1 Anne Hawes b. c 1460, d. b 1514 Children

• Sir William FitzWilliam+14 b. c 1490, d. 21 Dec 1568
• Richard FitzWilliam, Esq.+2,6 b. c 1492, d. b 1559
• Anne FitzWilliam+15,2,5,16,6,9,10 b. c 1500
• Elizabeth Fitzwilliam+1 b. c 1510, d. 2 Sep 1558

Family 2 Mildred Sackville b. c 1490, d. b 1529 Child

• Mary FitzWilliam+17,8 b. c 1515

Family 3 Jane/Joan Ormond

Citations

1. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 333.
2. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 218-219.
3. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 268-269.
4. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. III, p. 466-467.
5. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, p. 144-145.
6. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. II, p. 677.
7. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 120-121.
8. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 171.
9. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. IV, p. 508.
10. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. V, p. 93.
11. [S15] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, p. 350.
12. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 217.
13. [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. II, p. 676.
14. [S9737] Unknown author, Foster's Yorkshire Pedigrees.
15. [S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 91.
16. [S6] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry: 2nd Edition, Vol. I, p. 236.
17. [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 314.

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