William Paget, 4th Baron Paget facts for kids

William Paget, the 4th Baron Paget, was an important English nobleman and early colonist. He was born in 1572 in Beaudesert House, Staffordshire, England. He passed away in 1629. His father was Thomas Paget, 3rd Baron Paget, and his grandfather was William Paget, 1st Baron Paget.

William's father and uncle were strong Catholics. They did not follow the Protestant religion of Queen Elizabeth I. Because of this, William's father, Thomas Paget, had to leave England in 1583. He was linked to a plan called the Throckmorton Plot. This plan involved an invasion of England to remove Queen Elizabeth I. As a result, Thomas Paget lost his title and lands. He died in 1590 while still away from England.

William Paget's Life and Work

William Paget was a Protestant and very loyal to England. In 1596, he helped capture the city of Cadiz in Spain. Even though he served England, Queen Elizabeth I did not fully support him.

Restoring the Family Name

When King James I became king in 1604, things changed. King James I restored William's family title and lands. This was a big deal for William and his family.

Helping Colonize America

In 1612, William became an "adventurer" with the Virginia Company. This company was set up to start colonies in North America. They founded Jamestown in 1607.

The early years of Jamestown were very hard. In 1609, a big storm hit a fleet of ships going to help the colony. The main ship, the Sea Venture, was shipwrecked on the reefs of Bermuda. This event led England to claim and settle Bermuda.

Bermuda's Connection to William Paget

The Virginia Company's land claims were extended to include Bermuda. The first settlers arrived in Bermuda in 1612. Since then, Bermuda has also been known as The Somers Isles.

In 1615, a new company called the Somers Isles Company was formed. This company managed Bermuda. Many parts of Bermuda were named after the company's main investors. In 1617, Paget Parish was named after William Paget. The symbol of the parish is the same as William Paget's family crest.

William Paget passed away in 1629. He was buried in West Drayton, England.

William Paget's Family

William Paget married Lettice Knollys before June 1602. They had several children together:

• Dorothy Paget (born around 1602)
• Margaret Paget (born around 1604)
• Anne Paget (born around 1605)
• Henry Paget (born around 1607)
• William Paget (born 1609)
• Thomas Paget (born around 1611)
• Catherine Paget (born around 1615)