Biography

William Penn was born in England.

William Penn is Notable.

William Penn married Margaret Van der Shuren, a widow,^[1] [maiden name believed to be Jasper] on 6 June 1643 at St Martin, Ludgate, City of London, and they had three children: Margaret, Richard and William. He served his apprenticeship at sea with his father. In the first Civil War he fought on the side of the parliament, and was in command of a ship in the squadron maintained against the king in the Irish seas. In 1648 he was assigned as rear admiral in the Assurance. After 1650 he was employed as commander in chief of the southern fleet in the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean. In the First Anglo-Dutch War, he commanded squadrons in the navy of the Commonwealth of England. As admiral and General at Sea for Parliament, he helped in 1653 to draft the first code of tactics provided for the navy. In October 1654 he accepted the naval command in the expedition to the West Indies. He was knighted by Henry Cromwell at Dublin Castle on 20 December 1658. In 1660 Penn was appointed a Commissioner of the Navy Board where he worked with Samuel Pepys.

Sir William Penn was buried in the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe in Bristol on 3 Oct 1670 with the Church Register burial entry appearing to read: "Sr William Penn In Led".^[2] There is an elaborate Memorial to him in the Church^[3] which reads:

“To Ye Just Memory of Sr. William Penn, Kt & Sometimes Generall; borne at Bristol In 1621 son of Captain Giles. Penn severall years consul for ye English in ye Mediterranean of the Penns of Penn Lodge in the County of Wilts & those Penns of Penn in ye County of Bucks & by his Mother from ye Gilberts in ye County of Somerset, Originally of Yorkshire. Addicted from his youth to maritime affairs he was made Captain at ye years of 21. Rear-Admirall of Ireland at 23, Vice Admirall of Ireland at 24. Admirall to ye. Straightes at 29. Vice Admirall of England at 31 a Generall in ye First Dutch Warres at 32 whence retiring in Ano.1665. He was chosen a Parliament man for ye Towne of Weymouth 1660 made Commissioner of ye Admiralty & Navy Govoner of ye Towns and Ports of King Sail Vice Admirall of Munster & a member of that Provinciall Councell and in Ano. 1664, Was Chozen Great Captain Commander Under his Royall Highness: In ye signall & most Evidently Successful fight against the Dutch Fleet. Thus he took his Leave of the Sea his old element, But Continued still His other Employs till 1669: at which Time: Through Bodily Infirmitys. (Contracted by ye Care & Fatigue of Public Affairs) He Withdrew Prepared & Made for his end, & with a Gentle & Even Gale in much peace arrived & anchored in his Last and Best Port, at Wanstead In ye County of Essex ye 16 Sept 1670 being then but 49 & 4 months old To whose Name and Merit his surviving Lady Hath Erected this Remembrance”

The Will of Sir William Penn of London was made on 20 Jan 1669/70 and probated on 6 Oct 1670:^[4]

In his Will he asks to be buried in Parish Church of Redcliffe (i.e. St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol,) " as nere unto the body of my dear mother deceased as the same conveniently may be" and to have a monument for self & mother. He names his wife Dame Margaret Pen; son William Penn; younger son Richard Penn ￡120 per ann. until 21 years of age & then ￡4000; daughter Margaret wife of Anthony Lowther; nephews James & John Bradshaw & William & George Markham; cozen William Penn son of George Penn late of the Forest of Brayden, co. Wilts, Gentlemen, deceased. The Will was proved on 6 Oct 1670 by son William Exor.

Research Notes

He was Samuel Pepys' neighbour and is mentioned in his famous diary.

Bradshaw-537, Bradshaw-1858,

Sources

1. ↑ Image of Church Register marriage entry, on Ancestry.co.uk
2. ↑ Image of Church Register burial entry, on Ancestry.co.uk
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #27927359
4. ↑ Will of Sir William Penne or Penn of London Ref PROB 11/334/51 at the National Archives with an image on Ancestry.co.uk (mistrancribed as Perme).

• PENN, William (1621-70), of the Navy Office, London and Wanstead, Essex. The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
• THE PEERAGE 21999
• Wikipedia: William Penn (Royal Navy officer)