William Spring of Lavenham facts for kids

Sir William Spring (died 3 February 1599) was an important English politician and landowner from Lavenham. He lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.

Who Was Sir William Spring?

Sir William Spring was a well-known figure in England during the 1500s. He was a politician, meaning he helped make decisions for the country. He also owned a lot of land.

Early Life and Family

William Spring was the son of Sir John Spring and Dorothy Waldegrave. Sadly, his father passed away when William was still young. Because of this, he was placed under the care of a man named Edmund Wright.

Sir William Spring was married twice. His first wife was Anne Kitson. After she passed away, he married Susan Jermyn. He had one son and four daughters.

Serving His Country

Sir William Spring was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Suffolk in 1570. An MP is a person chosen to represent an area in the country's government.

He also served as the High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1578 and 1579. A High Sheriff was a very important local official. They were in charge of keeping peace and order in their county.

Queen Elizabeth's Visit

In 1578, Sir William Spring had a special job. He helped organize and oversee Queen Elizabeth I's visit to Suffolk. He met the Queen at the border between Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

He was joined by about 200 other important people, all dressed in white velvet. The Queen then stayed with some of Sir William's relatives. She knighted him, making him "Sir William," when he became High Sheriff.

Supporting New Ideas

Sir William Spring was the patron of Cockfield Church. This meant he supported the church financially and had some influence over it. He allowed the church to be used for Puritan religious meetings.

Puritans were a group of people who wanted to make the Church of England simpler. They believed in strict religious rules. This started the Spring family's connection with Puritanism, which lasted for many years.

In 1579, Sir William invited John Knewstub to be the priest at Cockfield. The village then became a center for Puritan teachings. In 1582, Sir William organized a meeting in Cockfield Church. About 60 religious leaders from different counties came together. They discussed ideas about prayer books and church customs.

His Legacy

Sir William Spring passed away on February 3, 1599. His son, John Spring, took over after him but died shortly after. Later, John's grandson was given the special title of Baronet by King Charles I.