Rowland Berkeley (died 1611) facts for kids
Rowland Berkeley (born around 1548 – died 1 June 1611) was an important English person from Worcester and Spetchley. He was a successful clothier, which means he made and sold cloth. He was also a politician who served in the English Parliament, called the House of Commons, many times between 1593 and 1611.
Rowland Berkeley was the eighth son of William Berkeley. His father, William, was also a mayor and a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hereford. Rowland was also the great-nephew of William, 1st Marquess of Berkeley, a very important noble.
Life in Worcester and Spetchley
Rowland Berkeley became a very successful clothier in the city of Worcester. He bought a large estate called Spetchley Park from Philip Sheldon. This shows how well he was doing in his business.
He held important local jobs in Worcester. He was the bailiff of Worcester in both 1585 and 1587. A bailiff was like a chief officer who helped manage the town. In 1590, he was chosen as the first leader, or "master," of the Clothiers Company of Worcester. This was a special group for cloth makers, set up by a new rule called the Clothiers Charter. After Rowland Berkeley passed away, his oldest son gained even more land and property in an area called Cotheridge.
Serving in Parliament
Rowland Berkeley was elected to the House of Commons several times. This meant he was a Member of Parliament, helping to make laws for England.
- In 1593, he was first elected as an MP for Worcester.
- He was re-elected for Worcester in 1597 and again in 1601.
- In 1605, he was elected MP for Worcester once more in a special election called a by-election. He continued to serve in Parliament until he died in 1611.
Rowland Berkeley's Family
Rowland Berkeley married Catherine Hayward on 15 April 1574. Catherine was the daughter of Thomas Hayward.
They had several children, including:
- William Berkeley (1582–1658): He lived at Cotheridge.
- Robert Berkeley (1584–1656): He became a judge and lived at Spetchley.
- Dorothy: She was their oldest daughter. In 1593, she married Thomas Wylde (1558–1610). Thomas was the grandson of another famous clothier, Thomas Wylde (clothier), who lived at The Commandery. Dorothy and Thomas had a daughter named Margaret, who later married Samuel Fell.
- Joan: She was their sixth daughter. She married two times. Her first husband was Henry Bright, a schoolmaster. Her second husband was Edward Annesley.
