George Fleetwood MP (abt. 1560 - 1620)

Born about 1560 in Buckinghamshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Katherine (Denny) Fleetwood — married 19 Apr 1586 (to 21 Dec 1620) in St Olave, Hart St., London, England

Descendants

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Biography

George Fleetwood was born by 10 Jul 1560, the sixth son of Thomas Fleetwood and his second wife Bridget Spring. In 1560, Thomas Fleetwood acquired the manor in Buckinghamshire known as The Vache, and after his death in 1570 it passed eventually to George Fleetwood, who succeeded his elder brother Thomas in 1578.^{[1] [2]}

On 19 April 1586, George Fleetwood married Katherine, daughter of Henry Denny, Dean of Chester, and Honora, daughter of William, Lord Grey of Wilton, which marriage brought him connections in Elizabeth's Court, notably Sir Francis Walsingham. In 1597, he was named a Gentleman Pensioner.^[2]

The marriage produced eight sons and six daughters, with every son but the firstborn surviving their father. Of these, the only one notable was James, Bishop of Worcester. The dates of their births and deaths can not all be determined with accuracy.

Public Office

In 1586, the year of his marriage, George Fleetwood entered into Buckinghamshire county office, becoming Justice of the Peace and chosen MP for Chipping Wycombe.^[2] In 1590 he was appointed Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.

At the accession of King James I, George Fleetwood was knighted (11 May 1603).^[3] In the following year, he was elected MP for Tavistock.^[2]

This was the beginning of Sir George Fleetwood's real political career. As a devout puritan,^[4] he was of the party in Parliament attempting to reform the church against the inclinations of the king. Thus in this decade he served on several committees involved with religion, e.g. clerical pluralism, the ecclesiastical courts, and recusancy laws (against Catholics).^[2]

Sir George Fleetwood made his Will 20 October 1620, making bequests to his surviving sons and leaving portions to his yet-unmarried daughters. He died in December and was buried in the church of Chalfont St Giles, where his wife Katherine was also laid after her death 9 March 1635. His estate passed in 1628 to his grandson and namesake George Fleetwood, who forfeited it upon conviction for the regicide of King Charles I.^{[1] [2]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Parishes: Chalfont St. Giles." A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 3. Ed. William Page. London: Victoria County History, 1925. 184-193. British History Online. Web. 14 October 2020. Chalfont
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} History of Parliament Online: Fleetwood, Sir George (by 1560-1620) George Fleetwood
3. ↑ Shaw, William Arthur. The Knights of England vol 2. London: Sherratt & Hughes, 1906. p. 106. George Fleetwood
4. ↑ See his 1620 Will, in which he laments his "most sinful and ungodly life." National Archives UK. The Will of Sir George Fleetwood of Vache, Buckinghamshire. PROB 11/137/257 Will

See Also:

• Wikipedia: Fleetwood (noble house) for pedigree chart showing the branches of the family. pedigree

• Marriage record st Olave Hart St (19 Apr 1585 George Fledtwoode married Mrs Katherine Denny)

• Visitation of Hertfordshire Page 102: Denny

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p41229.htm#i412281

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 24 July 2019, 19:06), entry for Sir George Fleetwood(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:GSNY-X6G); contributed by various users.