Nicholas Wadham
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Wadham was the benefactor of Wadham College, Oxford
.
, Somerset
. He was the only son of John Wadham and his wife, Joan, daughter of John Tregarthin and widow of John Kellaway. A biography written before 1637 notes Wadham as attending Corpus Christi College, Oxford
as a commoner, but not taking a degree. He may have lodged with civil lawyer John Kennall
, later canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
. Wadham was briefly at court, vitam Aulicam aliquantisper ingressus est. A 'Nicholas Wadham of Brimpton, Somerset', was admitted to the Inner Temple
on March 9, 1553 on the pledge of Richard Baker, who was married to Catherine Tyrell, a stepdaughter of Sir William Petre
, principal secretary to King Henry VIII
, it is likely that the record refers to the same Nicholas Wadham. Nicholas Wadham married Petre's eldest daughter, Dorothy
, at St Botolph, Aldersgate
on September 3, 1555. Wadham and Dorothy lived with his parents until his father's death in 1578, when his mother moved in to the dower house at Edge.
Wadham was appointed to the commission of the peace and other minor commissions in Somerset, appearing as executor and overseer in the wills of other Somerset gentlemen. Two personal letters of his exist, one from Sir Amias Paulet
, Ambassador to Paris, advising that Wadham was unlikely ‘to be envious of our French news’, thanking him for his efforts in the leasing of Paulet's park, the other to John Talbot of Grafton, who had married Dorothy's sister Katherine, regarding Wadham's work in negotiating a lease. Wadham was known for his hospitality and he maintained a fine household at Merrifield. Following his father's example, his will allowed for a full heraldic funeral, and alms to be distributed throughout county. In 1608 the privy council
ordered a stay of proceedings
against both Wadhams on a charge of recusancy. John Carpenter, the incumbent of Branscombe, dedicated his Contemplations, for the Institution of Children in the Christian Religion (1601) to him, noting his "gentle affability with all persons" and his generosity.
On October 20, 1609, aged seventy-seven, Wadham died at Merrifield and was buried in the family chapel at St Mary's Church, Ilminster on November 21. Thomas Moore
described him as "an ancient schismatic", referring to his attendance at Church of England
services, and claimed Wadham as ‘dying a Catholic’. Wadham was childless, and his inheritance was to pass to the children of his three sisters, one of whom was Sir John Wyndham
. Instead he determined to use his wealth to perpetuate his name, and in 1606 he founded an almshouse for eight poor people at Ilton. Wadham had also been saving money to found a college in Oxford
, but nothing was written down and Wadham's instructions on his deathbed were contradictory. Despite this, Dorothy attended to his wishes.
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
.
Life
Wadham was probably born at Merrifield, near IltonIlton
Ilton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated south-east of Taunton, and north of Ilminster in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 849...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. He was the only son of John Wadham and his wife, Joan, daughter of John Tregarthin and widow of John Kellaway. A biography written before 1637 notes Wadham as attending Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
as a commoner, but not taking a degree. He may have lodged with civil lawyer John Kennall
John Kennall
Dr John Kennall, LL.D. was Archdeacon of Oxford and a noted pluralist.Canon of 8th preb., Christ Church, Oxford, from 1559–1592, Archdeacon of Oxford, Oxford, from 1561-1592, Canon of 6th preb., Rochester, from 1556–1559, and Archdeacon of Rochester, 1554–1560...
, later canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford.-History:...
. Wadham was briefly at court, vitam Aulicam aliquantisper ingressus est. A 'Nicholas Wadham of Brimpton, Somerset', was admitted to the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
on March 9, 1553 on the pledge of Richard Baker, who was married to Catherine Tyrell, a stepdaughter of Sir William Petre
William Petre
Sir William Petre was a secretary of state to Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.Educated as a lawyer at Oxford, he became a public servant, probably through the influence of the Boleyns, one of whom, George, he had tutored at Oxford and another of whom, Anne, was married to the king...
, principal secretary to King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, it is likely that the record refers to the same Nicholas Wadham. Nicholas Wadham married Petre's eldest daughter, Dorothy
Dorothy Wadham
Dorothy Wadham was the wife of Nicholas Wadham and, as his widow, the founder of Wadham College, Oxford.Wadham was the second and eldest surviving child of Sir William Petre, a civil and canon lawyer serving King Henry VIII, and his wife, Gertrude, daughter of Sir John Tyrrell. Her portrait in...
, at St Botolph, Aldersgate
Aldersgate
Aldersgate was a gate in the London Wall in the City of London, which has given its name to a ward and Aldersgate Street, a road leading north from the site of the gate, towards Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington.-History:...
on September 3, 1555. Wadham and Dorothy lived with his parents until his father's death in 1578, when his mother moved in to the dower house at Edge.
Wadham was appointed to the commission of the peace and other minor commissions in Somerset, appearing as executor and overseer in the wills of other Somerset gentlemen. Two personal letters of his exist, one from Sir Amias Paulet
Amias Paulet
Sir Amias Paulet was an English diplomat, Governor of Jersey, and the gaoler for a period of Mary, Queen of Scots.-Life:...
, Ambassador to Paris, advising that Wadham was unlikely ‘to be envious of our French news’, thanking him for his efforts in the leasing of Paulet's park, the other to John Talbot of Grafton, who had married Dorothy's sister Katherine, regarding Wadham's work in negotiating a lease. Wadham was known for his hospitality and he maintained a fine household at Merrifield. Following his father's example, his will allowed for a full heraldic funeral, and alms to be distributed throughout county. In 1608 the privy council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
ordered a stay of proceedings
Stay of proceedings
A stay of proceedings is a ruling by the court in civil and criminal procedure, halting further legal process in a trial. The court can subsequently lift the stay and resume proceedings. However, a stay is sometimes used as a device to postpone proceedings indefinitely.-United Kingdom:In United...
against both Wadhams on a charge of recusancy. John Carpenter, the incumbent of Branscombe, dedicated his Contemplations, for the Institution of Children in the Christian Religion (1601) to him, noting his "gentle affability with all persons" and his generosity.
On October 20, 1609, aged seventy-seven, Wadham died at Merrifield and was buried in the family chapel at St Mary's Church, Ilminster on November 21. Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
described him as "an ancient schismatic", referring to his attendance at Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
services, and claimed Wadham as ‘dying a Catholic’. Wadham was childless, and his inheritance was to pass to the children of his three sisters, one of whom was Sir John Wyndham
John Wyndham (1558-1645)
Sir John Wyndham JP was an aristocratic English landowner who played an important role in the establishment of defence organisation in the West Country against the threat of Spanish invasion....
. Instead he determined to use his wealth to perpetuate his name, and in 1606 he founded an almshouse for eight poor people at Ilton. Wadham had also been saving money to found a college in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, but nothing was written down and Wadham's instructions on his deathbed were contradictory. Despite this, Dorothy attended to his wishes.