Sir William Wrey, 2nd Baronet

Arms of Wrey of Trebeigh, Cornwall and Tawstock, Devon: Sable, a fesse between three pole-axes argent helved gules^[1]

Sir William Wrey, 2nd Baronet (1600-1645) of Trebeigh, St Ive, Cornwall and North Russell, Sourton, Devon, was MP for Liskeard, Cornwall in 1624.

Origins

He was the only son of Sir William Wrey, 1st Baronet (d.1636) of Trebeigh, St Ive, Cornwall and North Russell, Sourton, High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1598,^[2] by his wife Elizabeth Courtenay,^[3] a daughter of Sir William V Courtenay (1553–1630) of Powderham in Devon (by his wife Elizabeth Manners, daughter of Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland (1526-1563)).

Inheritance

He inherited on his father's death an estate of over 6,000 acres including four manors in Cornwall and a share in four others.^[4]

Career

William Wrey was MP for Liskeard, Cornwall, in 1624. He was knighted before March 1634^[5] and in 1636 he succeeded his father as 2nd Baronet. At the start of the Civil War he was a Royalist and in 1642 was appointed a Commissioner of Array in Cornwall,^[6] responsible for raising local militia troops for the King's army. His son Chichester Wrey was also an active Royalist, and fought for the King's cause with much bravery.^[7]

Marriage & progeny

In about 1624 he married Elizabeth Chichester, daughter of Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester (1568-1648) of Eggesford in Devon,^[8] who brought with her a large dowry of £2,000.^[9] He left progeny 3 sons and 3 daughters^[10] including:

• Sir Chichester Wrey, 3rd Baronet (1628-1668), of Trebeigh, eldest son and heir, MP for Lostwithiel in Cornwall.
• Unnamed daughter, married into the Bluett family^[11] of Holcombe Rogus, Devon
• Unnamed daughter, married into the Erisey family of Cornwall^[12]
• Unnamed daughter, married into the family of Nichols^[13]

Death

Wrey died in August 1645.^[14]

See also

• Wrey Baronets

Sources

• Betham, William, Baronetage of England, Vol.1, 1771, pp.300-303, Wrey Baronets
• Hunneyball, Paul, biography of Wrey, William (c.1601-1645), of Trebigh, St. Ive, Cornwall, published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010
• Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L. & Drake, H.H., (Eds.) The Visitation of the County of Cornwall in the year 1620, Harleian Society, 1st series, Volume 9, London, 1874, p.268, pedigree of Wrey
• Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., The Visitations of Cornwall: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1530, 1573 & 1620; with Additions by J.L. Vivian, Exeter, 1887, pp.564-566, pedigree of "Wrey of Trebeigh"

References

1. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.877, Wrey Baronets
2. regnal year 41 Elizabeth, per Betham, p.301
3. Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitation of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.247, pedigree of Courtenay
4. Hunneyball
5. Hunneyball
6. Hunneyball
7. Betham
8. Stated incorrectly by Betham as daughter of "Sir Edward (sic) Chichester, Earl of Donnegall" (Arthur Chichester, 1st Earl of Donegall (1606–1674) was in fact her brother
9. Hunneyball
10. Hunneyball; Betham states 1 son only
11. Betham
12. Betham
13. Betham
14. Hunneyball