William Holliday
Encyclopedia
William Holliday (c. 1565 – February 14, 1624) was a wealthy London
businessman and chairman of the East India Company.
He was apparently born in Gloucestershire. It is not clear who his parents were: Burke's Commoners makes him out to be the son of Lawrence and Anne Holliday of Gloucester, but the children listed in Lawrence's will (1587) and the brother and sister named in William's will (1623) do not have the same names, so they appear to be different families. Nevertheless, according to William's will, he was a cousin of Sir Leonard Holliday, who was later Lord Mayor of London.
William was later sent to London, probably in the 1580s, where he served an apprenticeship in the Worshipful Company of Mercers
, which controlled the city's textile industry.
He married circa 1600, Susan (or Susannah), the daughter of Henry Rowe, a prominent member of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers
and later Lord Mayor (whose father, Sir Thomas, had been an earlier Lord Mayor). William and Susan had two daughters: Anne (born in 1602) and Margaret (born circa 1603).
William evidently had a successful career as a mercer. He was also involved in the East India Company, of which his cousin Sir Leonard had been a founder, and was elected as a 'committee', i.e. director, in 1616.
In 1617 he served as Master of the Mercers Company and was elected a sheriff for the year
. In February 1618, he was elected an alderman of the City.
William's stature and success were reflected in the arranged marriages of his two daughters. In April 1619, after "long and ernest sollicitation" by the Marquess (later Duke) of Buckingham
, who was acting on instructions from King James, he married off Anne to Sir Henry Mildmay
. In February 1620, William married off his younger daughter Margaret to Edward (later Sir Edward) Hungerford. They later lived at Farleigh Hungerford Castle
, and are buried there.
In 1621, William was elected governor of the East India Company, a position he held for the remaining three years of his life.
William died on 14 February 1624 and was buried in or near St Lawrence Jewry
church. He left a substantial estate: around £40 000 in cash, and properties in London, Middlesex, and Gloucestershire. His widow Anne later married the Earl of Warwick
. She died in 1646.
Many years later, their daughter Margaret erected a monument to William, Anne, and her sister Anne, in St Lawrence Jewry church. It was irreparably damaged during an air raid in 1940.
. The arms were: Sable, three helmets Argent, a bordure of the same, i.e. a black shield displaying three silver helmets all within a silver border. The crest was the upper half of a gold lion, looking straight ahead, and holding an anchor. These arms and crest bear some resemblance to those of Sir Leonard Holliday, the differences being in the trimming of the helmet, the edging of the border, and the direction in which the lion faces.
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...
businessman and chairman of the East India Company.
He was apparently born in Gloucestershire. It is not clear who his parents were: Burke's Commoners makes him out to be the son of Lawrence and Anne Holliday of Gloucester, but the children listed in Lawrence's will (1587) and the brother and sister named in William's will (1623) do not have the same names, so they appear to be different families. Nevertheless, according to William's will, he was a cousin of Sir Leonard Holliday, who was later Lord Mayor of London.
William was later sent to London, probably in the 1580s, where he served an apprenticeship in the Worshipful Company of Mercers
Worshipful Company of Mercers
The Worshipful Company of Mercers is the premier Livery Company of the City of London and ranks first in order of precedence. It is the first of the so-called "Great Twelve City Livery Companies". It was incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1394...
, which controlled the city's textile industry.
He married circa 1600, Susan (or Susannah), the daughter of Henry Rowe, a prominent member of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers
Worshipful Company of Ironmongers
The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Ironmongers, who were originally known as the Ferroners, were incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1463...
and later Lord Mayor (whose father, Sir Thomas, had been an earlier Lord Mayor). William and Susan had two daughters: Anne (born in 1602) and Margaret (born circa 1603).
William evidently had a successful career as a mercer. He was also involved in the East India Company, of which his cousin Sir Leonard had been a founder, and was elected as a 'committee', i.e. director, in 1616.
In 1617 he served as Master of the Mercers Company and was elected a sheriff for the year
. In February 1618, he was elected an alderman of the City.
William's stature and success were reflected in the arranged marriages of his two daughters. In April 1619, after "long and ernest sollicitation" by the Marquess (later Duke) of Buckingham
Duke of Buckingham
The titles Marquess and Duke of Buckingham, referring to Buckingham, have been created several times in the peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. There have also been Earls of Buckingham.-1444 creation:...
, who was acting on instructions from King James, he married off Anne to Sir Henry Mildmay
Henry Mildmay
Sir Henry Mildmay was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1659. He supported the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War and was one of the Regicides of Charles I of England....
. In February 1620, William married off his younger daughter Margaret to Edward (later Sir Edward) Hungerford. They later lived at Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Farleigh Hungerford Castle, sometimes called Farleigh Castle or Farley Castle, is a medieval castle in Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset, England. The castle was built in two phases: the inner court was constructed between 1377 and 1383 by Sir Thomas Hungerford, who made his fortune working as a...
, and are buried there.
In 1621, William was elected governor of the East India Company, a position he held for the remaining three years of his life.
William died on 14 February 1624 and was buried in or near St Lawrence Jewry
St Lawrence Jewry
St Lawrence Jewry is a Church of England guild church in the City of London on Gresham Street, next to the Guildhall.-History:The church was originally built in the twelfth century and dedicated to St Lawrence The church is near the former medieval Jewish ghetto, which was centred...
church. He left a substantial estate: around £40 000 in cash, and properties in London, Middlesex, and Gloucestershire. His widow Anne later married the Earl of Warwick
Earl of Warwick
Earl of Warwick is a title that has been created four times in British history and is one of the most prestigious titles in the peerages of the British Isles.-1088 creation:...
. She died in 1646.
Many years later, their daughter Margaret erected a monument to William, Anne, and her sister Anne, in St Lawrence Jewry church. It was irreparably damaged during an air raid in 1940.
Coat of arms
Shortly before his death in 1624, William obtained a grant of arms and crest from the College of ArmsCollege of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. The arms were: Sable, three helmets Argent, a bordure of the same, i.e. a black shield displaying three silver helmets all within a silver border. The crest was the upper half of a gold lion, looking straight ahead, and holding an anchor. These arms and crest bear some resemblance to those of Sir Leonard Holliday, the differences being in the trimming of the helmet, the edging of the border, and the direction in which the lion faces.