GLEMHAM, Charles (aft.1535-1601), of Toddington, Beds.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. aft. 1535, 2nd s. of Christopher Glemham of Glemham, Suff. by Margery, da. of Sir Richard Wentworth of Nettlestead, Suff., sis. of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Lord Wentworth. educ. ?G. Inn 1565. unm.

Offices Held

Biography

Glemham’s father left him the manors of Leddon, Norfolk and Kettleburgh, Suffolk, and his brother Thomas, whose will he proved in 1571, sold him lands in Lincolnshire, including the manor of Langton near Horncastle. He also owned a ‘little parcel of land near Glemham Hall’, Suffolk, and some Cambridgeshire property. Glemham spent most of his adult life as a servant of his cousin Jane, daughter of Thomas, 1st Lord Wentworth and wife of Henry Cheyney, Baron Cheyney. He was related also to Lord Morley (through the marriage of his brother Thomas Glemham to Amy Parker), and later to Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, whose daughter Ann Sackville married Thomas Glemham’s son and heir Sir Henry. Glemham’s patron at St. Germans in 1571 was probably another kinsman, the 2nd Earl of Bedford.

Glemham’s will, dated 8 Apr. 1601, is that of a wealthy man. He wished to be buried ‘in that side angle of Toddington church where the honourable Lord Cheyney now lieth’. He left generous bequests to the poor of a number of Bedfordshire parishes, but nothing was to be distributed on the day of his burial, ‘for the avoiding of an ancient, irreligious and superstitious custom’. Glemham made detailed arrangements for the disposal of his library. Lady Cheyney, ‘whom I have of long time found my most approved good lady and best friend’, was sole executrix and residuary legatee. Glemham was buried at Toddington on 21 Aug. 1601; his will was proved early that November.

E150/648/18; Vis. Suff. ed. Metcalfe, 35; C142/94/55; CPR, 1560-3, pp. 393, 420-1; HMC Ancaster, 14; Beds. Par. Regs. ed. Emmison, xxiii. 64; PCC 5 Daper, 79 Woodhall, 38 Lawe.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: N. M. Fuidge

Notes