Family and Education

b. 21 Nov. 1588, o.s. of Sir Godfrey Foljambe^† of Walton and Riby by Troth, da. of Sir William Tyrwhitt of Scotter. educ. Jesus, Camb. matric. fellow comm. 1572. m. Isabel, da. of Christopher Wray, s.p. suc.fa. 23 Dec. 1585.

Offices Held

?Commr. musters, Derbys. by 1576, j.p. from c.1580, sheriff 1589-90.

Biography

Of a family which prospered from the dissolution of the monasteries, Foljambe owned land in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. Although his father had enjoyed the inheritance both of his own family and of the Fitzwilliams of Aldwark, Yorkshire, Foljambe himself suffered from the longevity of his female relatives. His grandmother enjoyed her dower until her death in 1600 and his mother was in possession of the Aldwark estate until 1617. Like his father, Foljambe conformed in religion, but his relatives, including two namesakes and his grandmother Lady Constance, did not. Sometimes, notably after the discovery of the Babington plot, there was confusion over the loyalty of various members of the family, but on the whole Foljambe retained his reputation. It is not known how he came to be returned for Dunwich at a by-election. Perhaps there was a connexion with Francis Beaumont, Member for Aldeburgh in this Parliament.

Seriously ill at the beginning of 1594, Foljambe died in the summer of the following year, when he was buried among his family at Chesterfield. His will was drawn up in February 1595, bearing in mind that he would die without an heir. It was unsuccessfully contested by a relative. Hercules Foljambe, and proved on 23 July 1596. Foljambe’s widow, who retained possession of Walton until 1622, married first Sir William Bowes then John, Baron Darcy of Aston.

Burke, Landed Gentry, 424-5; Lincs. Peds.(Harl. Soc. l), 362-3; (lv), 1322; Lansd. 33, f. 145; 49, f. 168; PCC 22 Windsor, 54 Scott, 58 Drake; C142/210/119; Yeatman, Derbys. vi. 216, 264, 266-8; CSP Dom. 1581-90 passim; HMC Rutland, i. passim; Cox, Three Cents. Derbys. Annals, i. 256, 269; SP12/183/254; Lodge, Illus. ii. 299; Coll. of Arms, Talbot mss transcribed by G. R. Batho, H, f. 77; N, f. 121; O, f. 36; CP.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: W.J.J.

Notes

• 1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament.