Francis Wolley facts for kids

Sir Francis Wolley (born 1583 – died November 1609) was an important person in England during the time of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He was the son of Sir John Wolley, who was Queen Elizabeth's Latin secretary. His mother was Elizabeth More. Francis Wolley became a Member of Parliament. He was also one of the people King James chose to help start the Virginia colony in America. From 1601 to 1609, he gave a home to the famous poet John Donne and his wife, Anne More, after they secretly got married.

Francis Wolley's Family and Early Life

Francis Wolley was born in 1583. His father, Sir John Wolley, worked for Queen Elizabeth I as her Latin secretary. His mother, Elizabeth More, was one of the Queen's ladies. Both of Francis's parents had been married before, but they did not have children from those marriages.

Francis was christened, or baptized, on April 4, 1583. Queen Elizabeth herself was his godmother. Important people like the Countess of Lincoln, Edward Clinton, and Robert Dudley were also present at the ceremony.

Francis Wolley's Career and Public Service

The Charterhouse, a historic building in London. Francis Wolley was made a knight here.

In 1595, when Francis was only twelve, his father tried to get him a job working with him. This job was called the Clerk of the Pipe Rolls. Sadly, his father, Sir John Wolley, died in 1596. In the same year, Francis started studying at Merton College, Oxford.

In 1597, Francis's mother, Elizabeth, married again. Her new husband was Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley, who was Queen Elizabeth's top legal advisor, known as the Lord Chancellor. Francis earned his degree in 1598. In 1600, he began studying law at Lincoln's Inn, which is a famous place for lawyers in London.

In 1601, when he was eighteen, Francis was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Haslemere. His uncle, Sir George More, helped him get this position. In the same year, the poet John Donne secretly married Francis's cousin, Anne More. Anne was the daughter of Francis's uncle, Sir George More. Sir George was very angry about the secret marriage. He had John Donne fired from his job and even put in prison for a short time.

After John Donne was released, Sir George More still refused to forgive him or his daughter. So, Francis Wolley offered the young couple a place to live in his house at Pyrford. He also helped them with money and supplies until he died in 1609.

On May 11, 1603, King James made Francis Wolley a knight at the Charterhouse. This was a great honor. Later that year, on August 10, Francis hosted King James and his wife, Queen Anne, at his home in Pyrford. In 1605, Francis finally got the promise of the job his father wanted for him, Clerk of the Pipe Rolls. He officially started this job in 1607.

Francis Wolley was also known for gambling. In 1608, he played cards with King James and other important people. He reportedly won a lot of money, more than £800, which was a huge amount back then!

On May 23, 1609, Francis Wolley became one of the members of the Virginia Company of London. This company was given permission by King James to set up a new colony in America.

Francis Wolley wrote his will on August 11, 1609, and added a small change on November 1. He died just six days later at his home in Pyrford. In his will, he asked for a large tomb to be built for himself and his parents in Old St Paul's Cathedral. He also left a lot of money to his servants. He left his estate, called Burgham, to his daughter, Mary Wolley.

Francis Wolley's Marriage and Children

On September 11, 1594, when Francis was only eleven years old, he married Mary Hawtrey. Mary was the daughter of Sir William Hawtrey. Her family lived at Chequers in Buckinghamshire. Mary's grandfather left her £500 in his will.

Sir Francis Wolley and Mary Hawtrey did not have any children together. However, Francis did have a daughter named Mary Wolley with another woman. This daughter later married Sir John Wyrley. The famous writer John Ford dedicated one of his plays, The Lady's Trial, to Mary and John Wyrley.