William Pitt

Notes for William Pitt: William, son and heir of Nicholas, married Helena, daughter of James and Helena de Haviland. James, of the Isle of Guernsey, was Justice of the Royal Court of the Island from 1517 until his death 14 October 1540. Helena, wife of James de Haviland, was the daughter of Ricard de Beauvois of Guernsey. After James’ death, Helena evidently went to live with her brother, and records were fond placing her there as late as 1552. William and Helena had at least three sons. John was the oldest. He was at one time Clerk of the Exchequer to Queen Elizabeth 1. From his line descended the Earl of Chatham, once Prime Minister of England, who died in 1778 and is buried in Westminster Abbey. The second son was Christopher Pitt, who was captain of the Handmaid, a Bristol ship in the Armada campaign of 1588. That was when the British ships defeated the famous Spanish Armada, a much larger fleet of ships. Because of this victory, England was able to keep its Church of England (Protestant) from being placed under the authority of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. The third son was Thomas.