Henry Woodhouse (abt. 1573 - 1637)

Ancestors Descendants

Biography

Captain Henry Woodhouse^[1] was a soldier and unsuccessful Governor of Bermuda in the early 17th century.

Henry Woodhouse was born in 1573 at Winterton, Norfolk, the second son of Sir Henry Woodhouse and his first wife Anne Bacon, daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.^[2] Because his father ran his estate into debt, Henry began to make his living as a soldier, probably following his older brother Sir WiIliam into the war between Spain and the Netherlands, in which England played a major role.^[3] It was likely at that time that he attained the rank of captain, which he brought with him as Governor of Bermuda. At some point, he was appointed muster-master of the Suffolk militia, which was a position usually held by a military veteran.^[4]

He apparently met his wife Judith Haen in the Netherlands, probably at that time a widow with a son named Joost, whom Henry in his 1636 Will called his "son-in-law". Her maiden name might have been Manby. They were married in 1600 at Leiden, Holland.^[5] His earlier children were born at Leiden, and the later children (1607 and later) in Winterton, Norfolk. The children of this marriage were: ^{[6] [5]}

(Sir) Michael - b. 1601, d. bef 1655

(Rev) Horatio - b. 1603, d. 1679

Henry - b. 1607, d. 1655, m. (2?) Maria: Anne

Alice - 1605, d. 1647

Dorothy (Doll) - b. 1612, d. 1647

Elizabeth - b. 1615

Beatrice - b. 1617

Lucy - b. 1620

In 1609, Captain Henrie Woodhouse was listed as a shareholder in the Virginia Company (second charter).^[7] He was one of two Captain Woodhouses (brother Sir William?) listed, but more notably his cousin Sir Francis Bacon was among the shareholders and may have been influential in the acquisition of the shares. Captain Henry Woodhouse was not, however, listed among the shareholders in the Somers Isles Company, which took over ownership of Bermuda from the Virginia Company, suggesting that his shares might have been sold.^[8]

Captain Woodhouse was named Governor of the settlement on Bermuda and served in that post from October 1623 to 13 January 1626/7, when he was replaced by Captain Philip Bell. His term in office was contentious and ended with him being imprisoned after quarreling with the assembly. His successor advised him to leave the colony.^[8]

He must have gone quickly, as sources ^[4] report that he took part in King Charles I's war against France in aid of the Huguenots, including the July 1627 Siege of La Rochelle.

It would seem that Captain Woodhouse might have left his family on Bermuda while he went to the war, as in 1631 his wife was involved in a quarrel over the precedence of seating in church. (In the resolution, she got to sit in the first pew.)^{[8] [4]}

Sources report:^[6] "On 7 Aug 1628 Capt. Henry Woodhouse purchased land in the 'Summer Islands' (Bermuda). . . . By deed dated 27 July 1632 he conveyed the same to his son Henry."

The family shortly afterward returned to England, where in 1634 and 1635 Captain Woodhouse petitioned King Charles, claiming that he had been promised the governorship of Virginia (which, given the failure of his term on Bermuda, might seem unlikely.)

"To the King's most Excellent (Majesty), The humble peticon of Henry Woodhouse, Humbly sheweth that whereas your (majesty) hath been graciously pleased neere four yeares past to promise your Peticoner the Governor's place of Virginia, the settling of wch Plantacon hath bene of suche long continuance that yor peticoner starveth with the ex- pectation, and having lost L600 of his arrears, and L60 of yearly intertainment in Suffolk, never having received one penny for his employment of the Isle of Rey and Rochell." "Hee, therefore, humbly prayeth your Matie will graciously declare your pleasure, and make your peticoner enjoy the happiness of your Maties favour by giveing your warrant for the drawing of his Commission whereby your Peticon shall avoid further troubling of your Matie who is absolutely undone without yor Maties immediate dispatch. And hee shall (as in duty ever bound) daily continue his prayers for your Maties long and most prosperous raigne." ^[4]

His petition failing, Henry Woodhouse died at his family's seat at Waxham Norfolk in 1637.^[6]

Of Henry Woodhouse's three sons, one became a Royalist soldier in the Civil War, one became a clergyman in the Church of England, and the youngest a Virginia planter. It appears that the zealous flame of puritanism had burned itself out in this family of Ann Bacon's grandchildren.

Sources

1. ↑ Woodhouse, Henry I - A9008; died 1637, County Norfolk, England; (Stockholder Virginia Company). accessed 14 November 2021
2. ↑ Visitations of Norfolk, 1563, 1589, and 1613. p. 321. Woodhouse
3. ↑ History of Parliament Online: Woodhouse, Sir William 91570-1639) William
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} "Henry Woodhouse," Edward W. James, The William and Mary Quarterly Vol. 1, No. 4 (Apr., 1893), pp. 227-232, Published by: Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture Henry Woodhouse
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Rootsweb: Selected Families and Individuals. Woodhouse
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Jester, Annie Lash. Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1625, vol. III. Princeton University Press, 4th edition, 2009. pp. 678-9.
7. ↑ "The Second Virginia Charter 1609" Woodhouse
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} LeFroy, Sir J H, Memorials of the discovery and early settlement of the Bermudas or Somers Islands, 1515-1685 [i.e. 1511-1687] vol 1. London, Longmans, Green, and co., 1877-79. Bermuda

• Gov. Henry Woodhouse's Wikipedia page
• http://www.jamestowne.org/qualifying-ancestors.html