William Wriothesley facts for kids
William Wriothesley was an important person in England a long time ago. He worked as an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. This means he helped keep track of family histories, coats of arms, and noble titles.
William was the second son of John Writhe, who was a very high-ranking officer of arms called the Garter King of Arms. William was also the younger brother of Thomas Wriothesley. Later, William became the father of Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton, who was a famous earl.
William's Life Story
William Wriothesley was probably born in London, a big city in England, or perhaps in a place called Colatford in Wiltshire. His birth name was William Writhe. His parents were John Writhe and his first wife, Barbara, whose father was John Castlecombe.
William lived in an area of London called the Barbican. He was also a citizen and worked as a draper, which means he sold cloth and fabrics.
He married a woman named Agnes Drayton, who was also from London. They had one son, Thomas, who was born in 1505. This son later became the Earl of Southampton. William Wriothesley passed away when he was still quite young, sometime before April 26, 1513.
His Work as a Herald
William Wriothesley had an interesting job in the world of heraldry. Heralds were like official record-keepers for noble families and their symbols.
Around the year 1505, William was given the title of Rouge Croix. This was one of the first steps in becoming a senior officer of arms. Then, in 1509, he was promoted to York Herald. This was a more important role, showing his skill and knowledge in heraldry.
