Edward Cary (died 1618) facts for kids
Edward Cary (who died in 1618) was an important person in the royal court of England. He worked for both Elizabeth I and James VI and I. His special job was called the Master of the Jewel Office, which meant he looked after all the valuable jewels and fancy items belonging to the King and Queen.
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Who Was Edward Cary?
Edward Cary was the son of John Cary and Joyce Denny. Joyce was also the widow of William Walsingham. This means Edward had a half-brother named Francis Walsingham and a half-sister named Mary Walsingham.
Edward had two main homes:
- Berkhamsted Place
- Aldenham, Hertfordshire
Sadly, both of these old houses are no longer standing today.
What Did Edward Cary Do?
Edward Cary had several important jobs during his life. He was a trusted member of the royal court.
His Jobs at Court
Edward held many important positions:
- Groom of the Privy Chamber: This meant he was a personal attendant to the monarch, working closely with the King or Queen.
- Keeper of Marylebone Park: He was in charge of a large park area.
- Master of the Jewel House: This was his most important role, where he managed the royal jewels.
- Teller of the Exchequer: He helped manage the royal money and finances.
He was also made a knight in 1596, which meant he was called "Sir Edward Cary."
Managing Royal Jewels
As the Master of the Jewel House, Edward Cary was responsible for all the precious items owned by the monarch.
Checking the Jewels
In 1600, Edward Cary and another courtier, Thomas Knyvet, looked through many of Queen Elizabeth I's older jewels. They had goldsmiths like Hugh Kayle and Leonard Bush help them figure out how much these items were worth.
Edward also signed a list of all the Queen's clothes and jewels. This shows how carefully he kept track of everything.
New Jewels and Gifts
Edward Cary also managed new jewels. In 1606, he was in charge of gold chains and medallions with the king's picture on them. These were made by a goldsmith named John Williams. Some of these beautiful items, which were given as special gifts to other countries, can still be seen today in the Kremlin Armoury in Russia.
Edward also received important jewels from Lord Cobham, who had fallen out of favor with the King. These included special "garter" and "George" jewels.
Edward Cary's Family Life
Edward Cary was married to Catherine Knyvett (1543–1622). She was the daughter of Sir Henry Knevet and Anne Pickering. Catherine was also the sister of Edward's colleague, Thomas Knyvett.
Edward and Catherine had several children:
- Henry Cary, 1st Viscount Falkland: He also became Master of the Jewel House, working alongside his father. He married Elizabeth Tanfield in 1602.
- Philip Cary: His eldest daughter was Miriall Cary.
- Adolphus Cary: He died in 1609. He was part of an important trip to Spain in 1605.
- Philip Cary: He died in 1631 and married Elizabeth Bland.
- Katherine Cary: She married Henry Longvile in 1597.
- Frances Cary: She married Ralph Baesh and later George Manners, 7th Earl of Rutland.
- Elizabeth Cary: She married John Savile, 1st Baron Savile of Pontefract.
- Meriel Cary: She died in 1600. Queen Elizabeth I even wrote a letter to Meriel's mother, Catherine, when Meriel passed away.
- Anne Cary: Born in 1585, she married Francis Leke, 1st Earl of Scarsdale in 1607.
- Jane Cary: She married Edward Barrett, 1st Lord Barrett of Newburgh.
Edward Cary passed away on July 18, 1618, and was buried in Aldenham.
Images for kids
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Berkhamsted Place (demolished)
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Jane Cary, by Cornelius Johnson
