Charles Berkeley MP (1599 - 1668)

Born 14 Dec 1599 in Bruton, Somerset, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Penelope (Godolphin) Berkeley — married 6 Sep 1627 (to 12 Jun 1668) in Breage, Cornwall, England

Descendants

Died 12 Jun 1668 at age 68 in Bruton, Somerset, England [uncertain]

Biography

Charles Berkeley MP is Notable.

Charles Berkeley, son of Maurice Berkeley and his wife, Elizabeth Killigrew, was born on 14 December 1599. He was educated at Eton College and Queen's College, Oxford. He succeeded his father in 1517 and was returned to Parliament for the first time as member for Somerset in 1521.^[1] Charles was knighted on 26 August 1623 at Beaulieu, the seat of the Earl of Southampton. ^[2] He was returned to Parliament again in 1624, as member for Bodmin this time, and for Heytesbury in 1625, 1626 and 1628. ^[1]

On 6 September 1627 he married Penelope Godolphin, daughter of Sir William Godolphin and his wife, Thomasine Sidney, who bore him 6 sons 2 of whom died in Charles' lifetime and 9 daughters of whom 7 died before their father.^[3] The later version of History of Parliament says 4 sons, 2 of whom died before Charles and mentions no daughters.^[1]

An active Royalist during the Civil War Charles was taken prisoner at Gloucester in 1642 and compounded heavily for his estates in 1646.^[3] His fortunes revived with the restoration of Charles II in 1660 being appointed a Privy Councilor and Comptroller of the Household.^[1] His second son, Charles, had been on intimate terms with the Royal family in exile and was favoured with knighthood on the 30th May 1660 the day after the restored King entered London in triumph. Young Charles continued to rise in favour and was created Viscount FitzHardinge of Berehaven in 1663 and Earl of Falmouth on 17 March 1665. He was killed aboard the Royal Charles at the Battle of Lowestoft on the 3rd of June (OS) and was buried in Westminster Abbey on the 22nd. His Earldom became extinct but Charles succeeded to his son's Viscountcy by special remainder.^[1] Charles Berkeley died on 12 June 1668 and was buried at Bruton. ^[1]

Research notes

Children

Maurice Berkeley* 1628–1690

Charles Berkeley* 1630–1665

William Berkeley* 1634–1666

Elizabeth Berkeley* 1635–1636

Elizabeth Berkeley Bridgeman* 1636–1664

Penelope Berkeley* 1639–1639

Penelope Berkeley* 1640–1645

Jane Berkeley* 1641–1718

Mary Berkeley* 1648–1652

John Berkeley* 1650–1712

• Burial Blessed Virgin Mary Churchyard • Bruton, South Somerset District, Somerset, England

Find A Grave: Memorial #120070481

The Right Honorable Charles Lord Viscount Fitzhardinge was buried during the hour after midnight on June 26, 1668 in a lead coffin in the vault within the chancel of Bruton church, after a sermon preached by Rev. John Randall, minister of Bruton. No image or sources given on this entry

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} History of Parliament online Vol 1660-1690: BERKELEY, Sir Charles I (1599-1668), of Bruton, Som. and Pall Mall, Westminster
2. ↑ Knights of England Page 182
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} History of Parliament online Vol 1604-1629: BERKELEY, Charles (1599-1668), of Bruton, Som

• Wikipedia biography

• British History online: Bruton

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to Simone Cody for identifying duplicate (which had wrong parents) and helping the merge to go through.