Peter Fretchville facts for kids

Staveley Hall, built by Sir Peter Fretchville in 1604

This shield from 1604 shows the family symbols of Sir Peter Fretchville's father and his second wife.

Sir Peter Fretchville (born around 1571 – died 9 April 1634) was an important English politician from Staveley, Derbyshire. He served in the House of Commons, which is like today's Parliament, in 1601 and again from 1621 to 1622. In 1604, he built the impressive Staveley Hall, which you can still see today.

Sir Peter's Family History

Sir Peter Fretchville was the son of Peter Fretchvile and his second wife, Margaret Kaye. His family had lived in Staveley for a long time. His grandfather, also named Peter Fretchville, was a brave soldier who fought in the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. Sir Peter's father passed away in 1582.

Sir Peter's Public Service

Sir Peter Fretchville began his education at St John's College, Cambridge in 1587. He later studied law at the Middle Temple in London.

• Member of Parliament: In 1601, Sir Peter was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire. This meant he helped make laws for the country.
• High Sheriff: While he was an MP, he also became the High Sheriff of Derbyshire for 1601-1602. The Sheriff was a very important local official, like a chief law enforcer for the county.
• Knighted by the King: In 1603, King James I knighted him, giving him the title "Sir."
• Justice of the Peace: By 1604, he was a Justice of the Peace, helping to keep order and fairness in his local area.
• More Public Roles: He continued to serve in many ways, including collecting loans for the government and helping to organize military forces. He was elected as an MP for Derbyshire again in 1621. By 1624, he was a Deputy Lieutenant, helping the King's main representative in the county.

Sir Peter's Marriages and Children

Sir Peter Fretchville was married two times.

• First Marriage: In 1604, he married Joyce Fleetwood. She was the daughter of Thomas Fleetwood, who was also a Member of Parliament. Sir Peter and Joyce had one son and two daughters.
  • Their son, John Frescheville, 1st Baron Frescheville (1607-1682), became a very important person later in life. He was given the special title of "Baron" in 1665.
• Second Marriage: After Joyce passed away in 1619, Sir Peter married Isabel Neville in 1620. Isabel was the daughter of Henry Neville. They did not have any children together.

Death and Burial

Sir Peter Fretchville passed away around the age of 62. In his will, he asked to be buried in the church at Staveley, the place he called home.