Christofer Erle MP (abt. 1590 - abt. 1634)

Born about 1590 in Charborough, Dorset, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Denny) Erle — married 26 Apr 1623 in Birchanger, Essex, England

Descendants

Died about 1634 at about age 44 in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset, England

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Biography

This profile is part of the Erleigh Name Study.

Christofer Erle MP is Notable.

Christopher Earle was born in about 1590. He was the second son of Thomas Earle and Dorothy Pole. He passed away in 1634.

We know his birth date of abt 1590 from University records at Christ Church College Oxford. We also know that he was born in Sturminster Marshall in east Dorset.

His grandfather Walter Earle (abt.1520-1581) became possessed of the estate of Charborough about the year 1540 by his marriage to Mary [Margaret], the daughter and co-heir of Richard Wikes (or Wykes) of Bindon who according to the History of Commoners had, in turn, inherited it from the family of CAMEL of Shakwycke [now Shapwick] in Dorset. When his grandfather Walter Erle died in 1581, probate being granted on 25th November that year, he left the estate to Christopher's father Thomas Earle (abt.1550-1597) who married Dorothy the daughter of William Pole of Cullompton in Devon.

The Charborough estate is situated in the parish of East Morden in Dorset, which is just over 5 miles north by east from Wareham and 8 miles south by west from Wimborne. It rests in a small valley served by the East Morden church of St Mary's, which was more or less completely rebuilt on the site of the old church in 1873.

Why Christopher would have been born in Sturminster Marshall as opposed to Charborough, we do not know, but this birthplace is repeated in the 'History of Commoners', so we have to assume it is correct. Unfortunately, the parish registers and Bishops Transcripts for Sturminster Marshall have not survived for that period, although a family of this stature may have had their children privately baptized anyway.

Education and Career

Christopher was educated at Christ Church College Oxford, where he matriculated on 10 January 1608 at the age of 18. From university, he entered the Middle Temple in 1617 to become a barrister at law.

Marriage & Children

He married Elizabeth (Denny) Erle (abt.1600-), daughter of Edward Denny (abt.1547-abt.1600) of Stortford, County Hertford on April 26, 1623, at Birchanger, County Essex.

Edward Denny seems to have been frequently employed by Queen Elizabeth as her private messenger, and it was at court, in 1582, that he met Lady Margaret Edgecumbe. She came from the ancient family of Edgecumbes of Mount Edgecumbe in Cornwall, her parents being Pierce Edgecumbe MP and Margaret Luttrell, whose own mother was a descendant of Edward I and second cousin to both Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn. At the age of 18, Lady Margaret became a Maid of Honour to the Queen and, within five years, was one of her majesty’s favorites.

Lady Margaret's acquaintance at court with Edward Denny led to marriage in 1583, or early the following year, and as a wedding present, the Queen obtained from Richard, Bishop of London, a 21-year lease on Rectory Manor House in Bishop’s Stortford to be assigned to Sir Edward Denny.

Christopher and Elizabeth had one son that we know of:

1. Christopher Erle MP (abt.1624-) This known son had a son named Chirstopher who was baptised in Topsfield, Essex, England in 1654.

Prior to 1875, registrations of births were not compulsory in England in Wales. Families of position in particular tended to have Private Baptisms, which were not recorded. It is possible that they had additional children.

Possible additional son or cousin:

Edward Earle (abt.1620-) who had a daughter named Elizabeth who was baptised in Topsfield, Essex, England in 1645.

Member of Parliament (MP)

Christopher Erle of Sturminster Marshall in County Dorset, second son of Thomas(I), went on to hold many civic posts in Dorset, which included being:

1. MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in 1621-2,
2. MP for Lyme Regis in 1623/4,
3. MP for Poole in 1626, and
4. MP for Lyme Regis again in 1628-9.

An entry in William Whiteway's diary for 5 Feb 1628/9 suggests that he was promised the post of recorder of the borough, but at the instigation of Mayor David Giar, a Mr King was chosen instead.

Investor in the New World

The interest in the New World was deep-rooted as both Christopher and his brother Walter had shares in the Virginia Company as far back as 11 May 1620, and it is known that he attended the meeting of that company on 21st May 1621, that is after the establishment of the Council for New England. He is also listed among the friends and associates of Walter Yonge (1608-1667), another investor in the Dorchester Company, in the account of his diary.

Christopher Erle and his older brother Walter Erle MP (1586-bef.1665) were friends and shared the puritan ideals of the Reverand John White MA (bef.1575-1648) rector of Holy Trinity, Dorchester, England. John White was an investor in and prime mover behind the Dorchester Company, for which he became Governor and secured an indenture for colonization in New England. The Dorchester Company was comprised of English merchants, having ships sailing from Weymouth to fish off the banks of Newfoundland, who decided in 1622 that a settlement on the coast of New England would be to their advantage. The merchants, represented by Richard Bushrod and his associates, obtained a fishing license from the Council for New England on 20 February 1622, which entitled them to search for a colony site. A year later, on 18 February 1623, the council granted a patent to Sir Walter Earle. The Dorchester Company established a short-lived settlement on Cape Ann in 1623. The company folded in 1626, sinking into debt and bankruptcy.

The husband of their sister Elizabeth, Sir Richard Strode MP (1584-1670) in Devon, also invested in the Dorchester Company.

Management of the Cape Ann settlement came under a second joint-stock company called the New England Company led by Roger Conant (1592-1679), and the New England Company took over the Dorchester Company’s assets on Cape Ann after debts were paid. This enabled John (Endicott) Endecott (abt.1588-1665) and about forty other colonists to move to Nahum Keike (modern-day Salem, MA) on 20 June 1628. It was then merged into the Massachusetts Bay Company, which was financed by merchants, including some former Dorchester Company investors. The Massachusetts Bay Company then negotiated a royal charter with Charles I in 1629, giving them sweeping rights and abrogating all previous claims.

For a list of investors in the Dorchester Company see: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~fordingtondorset/genealogy/Files/FordingtonDorchesterCo2.html

Death & Burial

According to the diary of William Whiteway (1599-1636), Christopher Earle died at the relatively young age of 44 on 29 March 1634. He was buried in the middle aisle of the Temple church in London on 4 Mar 1634. Probate of his will was granted on 30 May 1634.

His Wife Elizabeth died in 1655.

Research Notes

There seems to be a connection between this Earle family in Devon and Ralph Earle (abt.1580-1657) who married Margaret Browne on 25 August 1605 at St. Michael's Church, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. We don't where Ralph was born and we don't know who Ralph's father is, but his son, also named Ralph Earle (1606-bef.1678), emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in either 1634. We know that Walter Erle MP (1586-bef.1665) and his brother Christofer Erle MP (abt.1590-1634) were early investors in both Virginia and Massachusetts.

Connections

1. 1 Christopher Earle (Devon Family) married Elizabeth Denny in 1623 at Birchanger, County Essex, which is less than 3 miles from Bishop's Stortford. Ralph Earle (b. 1606) married Joan Savage in 1631 at St. Michael's Church in Bishop's Stortford. These two families would have known each other.

1. 2 Ralph Earle (b. 1606) and Joan Savage emigrated to America in 1634. Joan's Father was Richard Savage, who was one of the original investors of the Dorchester Company (Cape Ann settlement), which was absorbed into the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629. See: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~fordingtondorset/genealogy/Files/FordingtonDorchesterCo2.html

1. 3 Ralph Earle b. abt. 1580 (the father) married Margaret Ann Brown in 1605 in Bishop's Stortford. Margaret's father was George Brown of Bishop's Stortford, who may be related to another investor in the Dorchester Company (Cape Ann settlement) named John Browne. See: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~fordingtondorset/genealogy/Files/JohnBrowneJP1582.html

Sources

• Wikipedia: Christopher Erle
• History of Parliament online: EARLE (ERLE), Christopher (c.1590-1634), of Sturminster Marshall, Dorset and the Middle Temple, London
• Freepages Rootsweb Sir Christopher Earle (Erle) (1590-1634) Compiled by Michael Russell OPC for Fordington March 2009

• EARLS FAMILY CHRONICLES © Christopher Earls Brennen. CHAPTER ONE. ANCIENT TRACES. http://brennen.caltech.edu/earls/chap1.htm (Bio Info)

• A Genealogy of Heraldic History of Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland by John Burke Esq Volume IV. International Genealogical Index: National Archives Bloxworth Estate Archives