William Somerset KG KB (abt. 1527 - 1588)

Born about 1527 in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales

Ancestors

Husband of Christiana North — married before 29 Jan 1550 in England

Husband of Theophila (Newton) Somerset — married after 20 Mar 1564 in England

Descendants

Died 1588 at about age 61 in Saint Johns, London, Middlesex, England

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Biography

William Somerset, K.G., K.B., 3rd Earl of Worcester, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, Principal Esquire to King Henry VIII, Councillor, of Wales^[1][2]

William, son and heir of Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester, by his second wife Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Anthony Browne, Knt., and Lucy, daughter of john Neville, K.G., Earl of Northumberland, was born about 1527.^[1][3]

On 26 November 1549, he succeeded his father and became the 3rd Earl of Worcester. Before 19 May 1550, Worcester married Christian North. She was a daughter of Edward North, 1st Baron North and his wife Alice Squire. They were parents to three children:^[4]

• Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester (d. 3 March 1628).
• Elizabeth Somerset. Married William Windsor. He was a namesake son of William Windsor, 2nd Baron Windsor by his wife Margaret Sambourne.
• Lucy Somerset. Married Henry Herbert, Esquire.

William Somerset also had three illegitimate daughters:^[1]

• Anne, married William Probert, Esq.
• Mary, married William Hughes, Esq.
• ______

Worcester supported Lady Jane Grey in 1553. He was invested as Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) in 1570. William Somerset died at his house Hackney on 21 February 1589 and was buried at Raglan.

He was a patron of the arts, and sponsored - among others - the eminent Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn.^[5]

William's wife Christian was living 20 March 1563/4. Sometime after that date, he married (2) Theophila Newton, daughter of John Newton "(otherwise Cradock)," by Margaret, daughter of Anthony Poyntz, Knt. Theophila survived him and is said to have married (2) William Paratt, of Pantglas.^[1]

Sir William died "at his house at Hackney 21 Feb. 1588/9, and was buried at Raglan Monmoughshire. He left a will proved 7 Nov. 1589."^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham (Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 2013), Vol IV, p 661, SOMERSET #16
2. ↑ Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, Royal Ancestry series, 2nd edition, 4 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham (Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 2011), p 52, SOMERSET #16
3. ↑ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, says "born before 1526" and died 21 February 1589
4. ↑ from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
5. ↑ not sure of source - still Wikipedia?

See Also:

• Marlyn Lewis

Acknowledgements

Magna Carta Project

William Somerset KG KB appears in Magna Carta Ancestry in a Richardson-documented trail from Gateway Ancestor Mary Johanna Somerset to Magna Carta Surety Baron Saher de Quincy (vol. IV, pages 38-55 SOMERSET). This trail, along with a trail to surety barons Hugh le Bigod and Roger le Bigod, needs further development by the Magna Carta Project. These trails are set out in the Magna Carta Trails section of the Gateway's profile.

• Needs Development: This profile was just put under management of the Magna Carta Project and needs development against the project's checklist to bring it up to current project standards. ~ Thiessen-117 16:58, 22 September 2020 (UTC)

See Base Camp for more information about identified Magna Carta trails and their status. See the project's glossary for project-specific terms, such as a "badged trail".