Robert Spencer (1567 - 1627)

Born 21 Jul 1567 in Goldington, Bedfordshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Willoughby) Spencer — married 15 Feb 1587 in Brington, Northamptonshire, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 25 Oct 1627 at age 60 in Brington, Northamptonshire, England [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chet Spencer [send private message]

Robert Spencer was a member of the aristocracy in British Isles.

Biography

Robert Spencer, son of John Spencer,^[1] is listed born on 21 July 1567 in Goldington, Bedford, England. His christening was 27 July 1567 in Goldington, Bedford/Bedfordshire, England. ^[1]

Sir Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer, of Wormleighton was the son of Sir John Spencer, Kt and Mary Catlin. On 15 February 1587/88 he married Margaret Willoughby, daughter of Sir Francis Willoughby and Elizabeth Lyttelton in Brington, Northamptonshire, England. She died in childbirth. Children: Mary, Elizabeth, John, William Spencer, 2nd Baron Spencer of Wormleighton, Richard, Edward, Margaret.

Sir Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Brackley from 1597 to 1598. He held the office of Commissioner for Musters, Northamptonshire on 19 December 1600. He held the office of Sheriff of Northamptonshire from 1601 to 1602. He was knighted before 07 October 1601.

On 25 June 1603 in Althorp, Brington, Northamptonshire, England, he entertained Queen Anne and Prince Henry for two days on their journey from Scotland into England, when The Satyr, a masque by Ben Jonson, was performed for their benefit. He was created 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton [England] on 21 July 1603 by King James I, "as he said, for the report of his being the greatest moneyed man in England." Between 08 October 1603 and 09 December 1603 he went on a special mission to Stuttgart to invest Frederick, Duke of Wurtemburg with the Garter on 06 November 1603. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn on 02 February 1606/7.

He was buried at St. Mary's Church in Brington, Northamptonshire, although his bowels were buried at Wormleighton.

It was Robert's custom to feed fifteen poor persons every Monday and help all who came to the gates of his mansions. He had been a lenient landlord and a kind master, providing amply for his servants in their old age. He was held in high estimation by his friends, many of them entrusted their whole estates and the education of their children to his care. He was reputed to possess more ready money than anyone else in England.

Research Notes

Citation

Robert Catelyn in the England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858

Name: Robert Catelyn [Roberti Catelyn ]

Probate Date: 22 Feb 1574

Source Citation

The National Archives; Kew, England; Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 57

Source Information

Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

Original data:

Prerogative Court of Canterbury: Wills of Selected Famous Persons. Digitized images. Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 1. The National Archives, Kew, England.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers. Digitized images. Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11. The National Archives, Kew, England.

Notes

PCC Will of Sir Roberte Catelyn, Chief Justice of the Pleas 1574/75

Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers. Name of Register: Pyckering. Will of Sir Roberte Catelyn, Chief Justice of the Pleas. Held by: The National Archives, Kew - Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Date: 22 February 1574/75

Reference: PROB 11/57/118

Will written 24 May 1574

Roberte Catelyn knight chief Justice of the Pleas

-buried in the church of Sutton, Bedfordshire

-poor of Great Saint Bartholomewes next Smythfeilde in London

-poor of Sutton, Potton, Sondey [Sandey], Eyworth, Omiton? and Mylhoe in Bedfordshire

-to every of my clerks, servants

-household servants

-nephew Gabryell Catelyn younger son of my brother Willyam Catelyn

-after decease of the said Gabryel to my wife Anne Catelyn

-all the gilt.. plate were sometime Thomas Burgoynes esquire her late husband

-my daughter Mary Spenser

-Robert Spenser my godson son of the said Mary

-appointed my wife until my said godson come to his age of 24

-if godson Robert Spenser... his father John Spenser

-godson Robert Spencer shall have my greate bowle all gilte with the cover which I bought for maister Marten of London goldesmythe at his said age for a remembrance of me his old grandfather

-son in law [step-son] John Burgoyne esquire

-Elizabeth Smyth the daughter of my sister Margarett Johnson and to Catelyn Johnson the youngest son of my said sister and to Robert Johnson his brother

-Ursula Catelyn daughter to my brother William Catelyn to her marriage

-niece Frances Lenton

-children of my sisters Mary Temple and Agnes Byckerton

-cousin Robert Catelyn

-son in law [step-son] Robert Burgoiyn

-son in law [actual son in law] John Spenceer esquire husband unto my daughter

-executors Sir William Cordell knight and Mr[Master] of the Rolles, Gilbert Gerrard esquire attorney general to the Queens Majesit and my loving wife Anne Catelyn, John Burgoign esquire son of my said wife, Robert Burgoign gentleman his brother, and William Thomas my trustie servant

-brother William Catelyn

-bretheren in law Robert Temple Martyne Byckerton and Segrave and to my natural sisters their wives

-old servant Robert Hare

-servant Margaret Gryse

-Mary Thomas wife of Morrys Thomas

-old servant George Kytchynor

-servant William Hunsted

-Thomas Gyrlinge

-John Midleton scholemaister unto Robert Spencer

-friend Mr Doctor Lopas

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7MP-841 : 22 July 2020), Robert Spencer, 1567.

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13928240/robert-spencer

• http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/spencer-robert-1570-1627 SPENCER, Robert (1570-1627), of Wormleighton, Warws.; later of Althorp, Northants.] The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981