Sir Peter Proby

 

 

Son of Randolph Proby and Mary Bernard, father of Emmanuel Proby and husband of Elizabeth Thorogood

 

Peter was born in Brampton, Huntingdonshire in 1582

 

Peter married Mrs Elizabeth Hanson, widow, c.1600 in Welbourn, Lincolnshire. Elizabeth was the daughter of John Thorogood and Margaret Smith. John was born about 1533 in Chivers, Essex, and Margaret was born about 1540 also in Chivers, Essex. Elizabeth had one son from her first marriage:

 

Edward Hanson, a Gentleman.

 

See Thorogood Family History.

 

Peter in 1593 was MP for Hull and for Liverpool in 1587/98. He succeeded to his father’s Brampton Estate on the death of his elder brother, Ralph, in 1605.

 

Peter and Elizabeth had at least 6 children:

 

Sir Heneage Proby born c.1595. He attended Jesus College, Cambridge He entered Easter 1614. In 1622 he was of Elton, Huntingdonshire. Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 1636 and knighted, on 24th December 1640. He was Sheriff of Cambridgeshire in 1651. He was then living in Agmondesham, (Amersham), Buckinghamshire. He married Ellen Allen, daughter of Alderman Edward Allen, of Finchley, Middlesex. Ellen died on 19th February 1662/63 and Heneage was buried on 10th February 1662 at St Martin, Ludgate, London. See note below about Sir Thomas Heneage, after whom Heneage Proby is probably named.

 

Rev Edmund Proby born in 1603. He entered Jesus College, Cambridge Michaelmas 1617. He graduated BA in 1620, MA in 1624 and Doctor of Divinity in 1637. He was the Rector in Broughton Gifford, Wiltshire. He was a benefactor of Jesus College and died before 1684.

 

Charles Proby born in 1604.

 

Henry Proby born in 1606. He entered Jesus College, Cambridge in Easter 1614. He was admitted at the Middle Temple  on 19th  January 1616/17 and called to the Bar in 1625. He was a Serjeant-at-law. Bencher in 1649 and Common Serjeant of the City of London in 1654. He Married Ellen Bonham daughter of William Bonham, London Vintner.  Henry died on 10th February 1662/6 and was buried in Agmondisham..

 

Emmanuel Proby born in 1698. He married Mary Bland in 1626

 

Nathaniel Proby no details

 

Walsingham Proby born in 1610. She married William Downhall.

 

There are two letters to Peter from William Cotgreve, Mayor of Chester, dated 31 July 1590 and David Lloyd, Mayor of Chester, dated 28 May 1594

 

Elton Hall, Brampton, Huntingdonshire has been in the Proby family since the land was granted to Sir Peter Proby, Comptroller of the Royal Household, by Queen Elizabeth I in 1596.

 

Peter was an investor in the Royal Africa Company.

 

In 1614 Peter, in a letter to Alice Carleton, says he had been  'Secretary Walsingham's barber- surgeon.' ( Walsingham was Queen Elizabeth’s Spymaster).

 

He owed his rise to the patronage of Sir Thomas Heneage, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

 

In 1616 Peter, then Alderman of Queenhithe, London and Governor of the colony of Ulster, was sent over by a special commission from the king and City of London “to regulate the English plantation there. Londonderry, and Colerain, two good towns, had been raised; the former of which the king had erected into a city, and the latter into a corporate town under a mayor. Sir Peter carried over two rich swords of state, as presents from the city of London, for the use of their chief magistrates”.

 

Prior to 1618, Peter additionally purchased the Estate of Raines, Agmondisham, Buckinghamshire.

 

Peter was Lord Mayor of London 1622/23. He was knighted during office on 8th June 1623 at Greenwich.

 

Peter was buried on 1st March 1624/25 at St Swithen’s, London. In his will is mentioned another son George Proby, who is not referred to in the Visitation.

 

Lady Elizabeth Proby was also buried at St Swithen’s on 18th November 1644.

 

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