Nicholas Woodroffe facts for kids

Sir Nicholas Woodroffe (1530–1598) was a very important London merchant. He was part of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, which was a group for people who sold clothes and other goods. During a time of big religious changes in England called the English Reformation, he became a powerful leader in London. He was a Master Haberdasher, the Lord Mayor of London, and even a Member of Parliament for London. Thanks to his family's strong connections, he helped his family become well-known and respected in Surrey during the time of Elizabeth I.

Early Life and Family Roots

Nicholas Woodroffe was born around 1530. His father, David Woodroffe (who lived from about 1503 to 1563), came from a family of merchants in Uffculme, Devon. David became a member of the Haberdashers' Company in 1526. He married Elizabeth Hill, whose father was also a Haberdasher. Both David and his father-in-law, John Hill, were "Merchants of the Staple at Calais." This meant they were important traders who dealt with wool in Calais, France.

The big trade groups in London, called Livery companies, faced many challenges during this time. The King, Henry VIII, asked them for a lot of money and soldiers. There were also big changes happening with church properties, which affected these companies. The leaders of London, like the Lord Mayor and aldermen, had to guide the city through these difficult religious and political changes to protect business and the city's interests.

Important Family Connections

David Woodroffe was a successful merchant who shipped goods. He became an Alderman (a city council member) for the Bishopsgate area in 1548. In the same year, his son Nicholas also became a freeman of the Haberdashers' Company. From the 1530s, David often shipped wool with other important merchants like Stephen Kirton and Thomas Offley. These men were also powerful leaders in their own trade companies.

Nicholas's sister, Elizabeth Woodroffe, married Walter Leveson. His family were also important wool traders in Calais. In 1553, Nicholas Woodroffe married Grizell Kirton, who was Stephen Kirton's oldest daughter. Stephen Kirton gave them a beautiful house in Lime Street and a lot of money. This marriage connected Nicholas deeply with these powerful families, especially during the difficult time of Queen Mary's rule.

Challenges During Queen Mary's Reign

When Queen Mary came to the throne, England's religion changed back to Catholic. During this time, Thomas Offley served as a Sheriff of London (a high-ranking city official). The next year, David Woodroffe, Nicholas's father, also became a Sheriff. David was known for being very strict during the "Marian persecutions," which were a time when Protestants were punished. He was involved in the executions of John Rogers and John Bradford, which was a very harsh duty for the Sheriffs.

Soon after his term as Sheriff, David Woodroffe became ill. He remained an Alderman until 1560. Thomas Offley later became Lord Mayor in 1556–57 and was made a knight. Nicholas Woodroffe continued to work in the Haberdashers' Company during Queen Mary's reign, but he moved forward slowly, perhaps because of his father's strong actions.

Success in Elizabeth's Time

When Elizabeth I became Queen, things got better for Nicholas Woodroffe and his family. Nicholas's brother, Stephen Woodroffe, also joined the Haberdashers' Company in 1560. He married Bridget, whose father, Christopher Draper, later became Lord Mayor. Nicholas's sister Elizabeth, after her first husband died, married George Stonehouse, who worked for the Queen's household.

In 1563, Nicholas Woodroffe was the main mourner at his father's funeral. Many important city leaders attended. Nicholas continued to rise in importance. After working as a treasurer for St Thomas's Hospital, he was elected Alderman for the Bridge ward Without area in 1571. He then quickly became a Sheriff of London in 1572–73. His youngest child, Jane, was born in 1572.

The family's connections grew across England. Nicholas Woodroffe became the main leader of the Woodroffe family. He continued to do well in London and trained new apprentices.

Lord Mayor and Member of Parliament

In 1574, Woodroffe moved to become Alderman for the Dowgate area. Then, in 1579–80, he became the Lord Mayor of London. This was a very important job.

During his time as Lord Mayor, there was a big event involving a pamphlet (a small book) written by John Stubbs. The pamphlet was against the Queen possibly marrying a French duke and was seen as dangerous. The Lord Mayor before Woodroffe was told to collect and destroy all copies of the pamphlet. The author and publisher even had their right hands cut off as punishment. While this happened at the start of Woodroffe's time as Mayor, he was not directly involved in the decision.

In 1580, there was an earthquake in London. Woodroffe also wrote an important letter to Lord Burghley, a key advisor to the Queen. He complained that there were too many playhouses (theaters) in the city. He believed they attracted large crowds, helped spread the plague, and distracted people from church. He suggested rules to control them. He was made a knight in February of that year.

In 1581, Sir Nicholas bought a large estate called Poyle in Tongham, Surrey. This became his family's main home in the countryside. The estate had a special connection to his wife, Grizell, through her ancestors.

He stayed active in London. In 1584–85, he was elected a Member of Parliament for London. He worked on different committees, including one about stopping pirates. He was also the head of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of London, which was a group of English merchants trading overseas. In 1585, he became the Master of the Haberdashers' Company again and was also President of St Thomas's Hospital. He continued as an Alderman until 1588, when he retired due to poor health.

A Respected Country Gentleman

In his final years, Sir Nicholas focused on his life as a respected gentleman in Surrey. He wrote letters about military duties and gathering soldiers, showing his involvement in local affairs. He sometimes worried about the high costs for local people.

Sir Nicholas had acquired several estates over the years. He made sure these lands would pass to his children. He had three sons and three daughters. Sir Nicholas Woodroffe passed away in May 1598. He made sure his youngest daughter had money for her marriage and that his eldest son's wife was provided for. His wife, Dame Grizell, lived until 1607. It is said they kept their London houses in good condition for their tenants, charging low rents. They were buried in the church at Seale.

Two large, fancy silver bowls with Sir Nicholas's name and the year 1579 were sold in America in 1911. They had a special family symbol and the motto "God be our Friend," which was used by the Staple Merchants. Sir Nicholas might have given these bowls as gifts.

Sir Nicholas Woodroffe's Children

Sir Nicholas Woodroffe and Dame Grizell had six children:

• Sir David Woodroffe (died 1603): He lived at Poyle. Around 1594, he married Katherine, who had children from a previous marriage. David and Katherine had a son named Robert and four daughters.
• Sir Robert Woodroffe (died 1609): He lived in Alvington, Gloucestershire. He married Mary Fox, but they did not have any children.
• Stephen Woodroffe of Tongham: He was still alive in 1639.
• Mary Woodroffe: She married Richard Cotton in 1591. After he died, she married Sir Thomas White of Farnham.
• Elizabeth Woodroffe: She married William March. They had two sons and six daughters.
• Jane Woodroffe (born 1572): In 1599, she married John Machell. They had four sons and at least three daughters.