William Killigrew (Chamberlain of the Exchequer)

Modern arms of Killigrew: Argent, an eagle displayed with two heads sable a bordure of the second bezantée. The bezantée bordure indicates a connection to the ancient Earls of Cornwall

Sir William Killigrew (died 1622) of Hanworth, Middlesex, was a courtier to Queen Elizabeth I and to her successor King James I, whom he served as Groom of the Privy Chamber.^[1] He served as a Member of Parliament at various times between 1571 and 1614 and was Chamberlain of the Exchequer between 1605 and 1608. Several of his descendants were also royal courtiers and many were buried in Westminster Abbey.

Origins

Killigrew was the fifth son of John III Killigrew (d.1567) of Arwenack, Cornwall, the first Governor of Pendennis Castle, situated on land within the Arwenack estate, appointed by King Henry VIII.^[2] His mother was Elizabeth Trewennard, 2nd daughter of James Trewennard of Trewennard,^[3] in the parish of St Erth, Cornwall.^[4] The monumental brass of John III Killigrew (d.1567) survives in St Budock's Church, near Arwenack.

Career

Under Queen Elizabeth I

In 1571 he was elected Member of Parliament for Grantham in Lincolnshire and in 1572 he was elected MP for Helston in Cornwall. He became feodary and escheator for the Duchy of Cornwall and Constable of Launceston Castle in 1576 by which year he was Groom of the Privy Chamber to Queen Elizabeth I. In 1578 he was farmer of the profits from seals in the Court of Queen’s Bench and the Court of Common Pleas. He was commissioner for musters for Cornwall by 1582 and was a Justice of the Peace for Cornwall from 1583 to 1587. In 1584 he was elected MP for the Killigrew pocket borough of Penryn. He was receiver for Devon and Cornwall by 1588 and was commissioner for goods from Madre de Dios in 1592. In 1593 he was elected MP for Fowey in Cornwall. He was commissioner acting treasurer of the chamber in 1595 and commissioner for goods from Cadiz in 1596. In 1597 he was elected MP for the prestigious county seat, Cornwall.

Under King James I

He was knighted in 1603 on the succession of King James I. In 1604 he became MP for Liskeard. From 1605 to 1608 he was Chamberlain of the Exchequer. In 1614 he was elected MP for Penryn again.^[5]

Marriage & progeny

At some time about 1576 Killigrew married Margaret Saunders, daughter of Thomas Saunders of Uxbridge, Middlesex, and widow of Robert Woolman and of John Leigh. By his wife he had the following progeny:^[6]

Catherine Killigrew (born 1579) (Lady Jermyn), at age 35, daughter of Sir William Killigrew and wife of Sir Thomas Jermyn (d.1645). 1614 Portrait by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (1561–1636), Yale Center for British Art, Connecticut

• Sir Robert Killigrew (1580-1633) of Hanworth, Middlesex, MP and Vice-Chamberlain to Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I.
• Elizabeth Killigrew, eldest daughter, wife of Sir Maurice Berkeley (c.1577-1617), MP,^[7] of Bruton Abbey, Somerset.
• Catherine Killigrew (born 1579), wife of Sir Thomas Jermyn (d.1645) of Suffolk, MP, and mother of Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of Saint Albans, KG, (1605-1684). Her portrait by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (1561–1636) survives in the collection of the Yale Center for British Art, Connecticut, USA.

Landholdings

In 1594 he obtained an 80-year lease of the two adjoining royal manors of Kempton and Hanworth in Middlesex. In 1631 his son Sir Robert Killigrew (1580-1633) secured the reversion and in 1651 the latter's son Sir William Killigrew (1606-1695), "of Kempton Park", conveyed Kempton to John Warburton.^[8]

Death & burial

Killigrew died in 1622 and was buried in St. Margaret’s Church, Lothbury, in the City of London, near his brother Henry Killigrew.

References