Samuel Sandys (died 1623) facts for kids

Sir Samuel Sandys (born December 28, 1560 – died August 18, 1623) was an English landowner and politician. He served as a member of the House of Commons, which is like a part of the government, at different times between 1586 and 1622.

Who Was Samuel Sandys?

Samuel Sandys was the oldest son of Edwin Sandys, who was the Archbishop of York. An Archbishop is a very important religious leader. Samuel's mother was Cecily Wilford.

Early Life and Education

Samuel went to Merchant Taylors' School in April 1571. His younger brothers, Edwin and Miles, also went there. All three brothers later became Members of Parliament (MPs), meaning they served in the government. In 1579, Samuel joined the Middle Temple, which was a place where people studied law.

Land and Home

In 1582, Samuel got the right to use the royal manor of Ombersley, in Worcestershire. A manor was a large estate with a big house. When his father passed away in 1588, Samuel inherited his property.

At first, he lived in Essex, where his mother owned land. His oldest son was born there in 1591. But later, Samuel moved to Ombersley. He bought another manor called Wickhamford in Worcestershire in 1594. In 1614, he bought the Ombersley manor from the King for £2,000.

Public Service and Knighthood

From 1597, Samuel was a Justice of the Peace for Worcestershire. This meant he helped keep law and order in the area. On July 23, 1603, King James I made him a knight at Whitehall. After this, he was known as Sir Samuel Sandys.

Samuel Sandys in Parliament

Sir Samuel Sandys was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Worcestershire in 1609. He was elected again in 1614 and 1621. By 1621, people like John Chamberlain thought Sir Samuel was one of the four most important speakers in the House of Commons. He often spoke about disagreements over elections and how Parliament should work.

Working with His Brother

In the House of Commons, Sir Samuel often worked closely with his brother, Sir Edwin Sandys. They were especially interested in new colonies and international trade. Sir Samuel was an important member of the Virginia Company, which helped set up the first English colonies in North America. His brother, Sir Edwin, was in charge of the company's money. Sir Samuel was also part of the Somers Isles Company, which was connected to the Virginia Company.

From 1612, Sir Samuel was on the Virginia committee. He was very interested in the tobacco trade, which was the main way the Virginia colony made money.

Other Roles

Sir Samuel was the High Sheriff of Worcestershire from 1618 to 1619. This was another important local role. In 1623, he also became a member of the council in the marches of Wales.

Later Life and Family

Sir Samuel Sandys passed away on August 18, 1623, when he was 62 years old. He was buried at Wickhamford, in Worcestershire. Sadly, his oldest son and heir, Sir Edwin Sandys, died just three weeks later. There is a special monument in Wickhamford church that shows statues of Sir Samuel, his son, and their wives.

His Family

Sir Samuel Sandys married Mercy Culpepper in 1586. They had four sons and seven daughters:

• Sir Edwin Sandys
• Martin Sandys
• John Sandys
• William Sandys
• Cecily Sandys, who married John Brace
• Margaret Sandys, who married Sir Francis Wyatt, who was a Governor of Virginia
• Anne Sandys, who married Sir Francis Wenman
• Mary Sandys, who married Richard Humphrey
• Mercy Sandys, who married Mr. Ewbank
• Joyce Sandys, who married Edward Dyneley, who owned Charlton Manor
• Elizabeth Sandys, who married Edward Pytts