Benedict Barnham
Encyclopedia
Benedict Barnham was a London
merchant, the fourth son of the merchant Francis Barnham.
of the City of London
, and served as Sheriff of the City of London from 1591 to 1592. He was married to Dorothy Smith. They had several children, of whom Elizabeth married Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven
, and Alice
married Sir Francis Bacon
.
Benedict Barnham (also appears as Benet Barnham) was a London Alderman and merchant, and Member of Parliament for Yarmouth. He was also a sheriff of London during the 33rd year of the reign of Elizabeth I (1591-2); his father had been Sheriff before him. Benedict was elected at the premature age of 32 because thirteen men more senior than he declined to serve in 1591 due to the financial demands of the office.
A note in the Genealogical Record of the Barnum Family refers to Saint Clement's Church in connection with Benedict. He was christened at Saint Clement, Eastcheap. The church is located on Clement's Lane, near Eastcheap in the City of London.
In 1592 Robert, earl of Sussex had mortgaged the manor of Drayton, in County Hampshire, to Alice and Benedict Barneham for the sum of £1,054, but three months later the enrollment was canceled and the earl redeemed the manor for £1,024. He conveyed it to Richard Garth later that same year, in whose family it remained for about forty years.
Benedict's elaborate and pious will is still to be read in Somerset House. He left his money, plate and jewels to his wife and four daughters, so they had no lack of this world's goods. One paragraph in the will says: "Item: I give to my daughter, Alice Barneham [sic], my lease of certain lands at Moulsham
and Chelmsford
in the County of Essex. And if it happen that the same Alice doe die and unmarried then I give the same lease to Elizabeth my eldest daughter, etc."
Alderman Benedict Barnham died in 1598, seized of a house called Westbourne and 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) in Paddington, Kensington, and Chelsea detached, held of the Crown by 1/40 knight's fee, and a further 66 acres (267,092.8 m²) there, of unknown tenure, including 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) occupied by William Lisle. Of Barnham's five daughters Alice married Francis Bacon, Viscount Saint Alban, and in 1626 John, later Sir John, Underhill; and Bridget married Sir William Soame of Thurlow, Suffolk.
The following entry appears in Oxford Alumni, 1500-1886, 1500-1714, Volume I: Barnham, Benedict, of St. Alban Hall in or before 1572 (s. Francis, of London, merchant and alderman), M.P. Minehead 1588-9, and Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, 1597-8, alderman of Breadstreet Ward 1591, sheriff of London and Middlesex 1591, F.S.A. 1592, died 3 April 1598, aged 39. See Remembrancia of London, 80; Foster's Parliamentary Dictionary; & D.N.B.
According to Boyd's Inhabitants of London, Benedict Barnham, citizen, draper, alderman and sheriff, freed two apprentices: 1) Abraham Cartright, citizen & draper, 16 Sep 1590 and 2) Edmond Hill, citizen and draper, 15 Jul 1603. Since Benedict died in 1598, the second entry is suspect. Perhaps Edmond Hill completed the full term of his apprenticeship under Benedict's heirs.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
merchant, the fourth son of the merchant Francis Barnham.
Life
Barnham was aldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, and served as Sheriff of the City of London from 1591 to 1592. He was married to Dorothy Smith. They had several children, of whom Elizabeth married Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven
Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven
Mervyn Touchet , 2nd Earl of Castlehaven , convicted rapist and sodomite, was the son of George Tuchet, 1st Earl of Castlehaven and his wife, née Lucy Mervyn. He succeeded his father as 2nd Earl of Castlehaven and 12th Baron Audley on 20 February 1616/7...
, and Alice
Alice Barnham
Alice Barnham, Viscountess St Albans was the wife of English scientific philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon.-Family:She was born 14 May 1592, to Benedict Barnham and his wife Dorothea, née Smith. Benedict Barnham was a London merchant, who held the positions of Alderman, Sheriff of London ,...
married Sir Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
.
Benedict Barnham (also appears as Benet Barnham) was a London Alderman and merchant, and Member of Parliament for Yarmouth. He was also a sheriff of London during the 33rd year of the reign of Elizabeth I (1591-2); his father had been Sheriff before him. Benedict was elected at the premature age of 32 because thirteen men more senior than he declined to serve in 1591 due to the financial demands of the office.
A note in the Genealogical Record of the Barnum Family refers to Saint Clement's Church in connection with Benedict. He was christened at Saint Clement, Eastcheap. The church is located on Clement's Lane, near Eastcheap in the City of London.
In 1592 Robert, earl of Sussex had mortgaged the manor of Drayton, in County Hampshire, to Alice and Benedict Barneham for the sum of £1,054, but three months later the enrollment was canceled and the earl redeemed the manor for £1,024. He conveyed it to Richard Garth later that same year, in whose family it remained for about forty years.
Benedict's elaborate and pious will is still to be read in Somerset House. He left his money, plate and jewels to his wife and four daughters, so they had no lack of this world's goods. One paragraph in the will says: "Item: I give to my daughter, Alice Barneham [sic], my lease of certain lands at Moulsham
Moulsham
Moulsham is a suburb of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It is located to the south of the town centre and has two distinct areas: Old Moulsham and Moulsham Lodge.-History:...
and Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
in the County of Essex. And if it happen that the same Alice doe die and unmarried then I give the same lease to Elizabeth my eldest daughter, etc."
Alderman Benedict Barnham died in 1598, seized of a house called Westbourne and 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) in Paddington, Kensington, and Chelsea detached, held of the Crown by 1/40 knight's fee, and a further 66 acres (267,092.8 m²) there, of unknown tenure, including 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) occupied by William Lisle. Of Barnham's five daughters Alice married Francis Bacon, Viscount Saint Alban, and in 1626 John, later Sir John, Underhill; and Bridget married Sir William Soame of Thurlow, Suffolk.
The following entry appears in Oxford Alumni, 1500-1886, 1500-1714, Volume I: Barnham, Benedict, of St. Alban Hall in or before 1572 (s. Francis, of London, merchant and alderman), M.P. Minehead 1588-9, and Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, 1597-8, alderman of Breadstreet Ward 1591, sheriff of London and Middlesex 1591, F.S.A. 1592, died 3 April 1598, aged 39. See Remembrancia of London, 80; Foster's Parliamentary Dictionary; & D.N.B.
According to Boyd's Inhabitants of London, Benedict Barnham, citizen, draper, alderman and sheriff, freed two apprentices: 1) Abraham Cartright, citizen & draper, 16 Sep 1590 and 2) Edmond Hill, citizen and draper, 15 Jul 1603. Since Benedict died in 1598, the second entry is suspect. Perhaps Edmond Hill completed the full term of his apprenticeship under Benedict's heirs.