Stanley, William (1561 - 1642)

Biographical Overview

Parents

Titles - 3
Properties - 31
Total events naming patron - 1
Total events naming patron - 67
Troupes - 1
Troupes - 6
Venues - 4
Bibliographic Sources - 7
Legend

patron legend

Base layers

Data layers

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Born / Died

Birth Date: before 1561-07-20 (baptism date)
Death Date: 1642-09-29

Siblings

Male

Stanley, Edward ( - )
Stanley, Ferdinando (1559 - 1594) (patron)
Stanley, Francis (1562 - )

Marriages/Other Unions

  1. Vere, Elizabeth de (1575 - 1626/7)
    Type: marriage
    Union began: 1595-1-26
    Union ended: n.d.
    Note: Possibly married 24 or 26 June 1594

Offspring

From Vere, Elizabeth de (1575 - 1626/7)

  1. Female offspring: Stanley, Anne (b. 1599)
  2. Male offspring: Stanley, James (1607 - 1651) (patron)
  3. Female offspring: Stanley, Elizabeth (1600 - 1608)
  4. Male offspring: Stanley, Robert (d. 1633)
  5. Male offspring: Stanley, Charles Henry (d. 1629)

Primary Title

15th Earl of Derby

Titles

  • 15th Earl of Derby
    Assumed 1594-04-16
    Vacated 1642-09-29
  • Knight of the Garter
    Assumed 1601-05-26
    Vacated 1642-09-29
  • Lord of the Isle of Man
    Assumed 1609-07-07 (date confirmed)
    Vacated 1642-09-29

Details of Offices

Began Ended Notes
Chamberlain, County Palatine of Chester 1603-10-30 1610
Mayor, Lancashire 1603 n.d.
Privy Councillor, England 1603-3 1603-05
Lord Lieut, Cheshire 1607-12-22 (for life) 1642-09-29 Held solely, then jointly with son James from 12 Dec. 1626
Lord Lieut, Lancashire 1607-12-22 (for life) 1642-09-29 Held solely, then jointly with son James from 12 Dec. 1626
Council Member, Marches of Wales by 1617 n.d.
Vice Admiral, Lancashire 1619 1638
Vice Admiral, Cheshire 1619 1638
Chamberlain, County Palatine of Chester 1626-10-23 (for life) 1642-09-29 Held jointly with son James
Steward, Lancashire 1627-11-30 n.d. Held jointly
High Forester, Cheshire 1640-11-2 n.d.

General Lands Note

Ownership of Stanley lands disputed between William and his brother Ferdinando's wife and daughters; settlement reached 1600--2; confirmed by Act of Parliament 1607

Details of Properties

Residence

  • Derby House, Cannon Row, (city) in Middlesex
    Patrimony (via brother)
    Acquired: by 1607
    Divested: 1642-09-29
  • Greenhalgh Castle, Lancashire
    Patrimony (via brother)
    Acquired: 1594-04-16
    Divested: 1642-09-29
  • Bidston Hall, Cheshire
    (Performance Venue)
    Patrimony (via brother)
    Acquired: 1594-04-16
  • Lathom House, Lancashire
    (Performance Venue)
    Patrimony (via brother)
    Acquired: 1594-04-16
    Divested: 1642-09-29
  • New Park (Halton Castle), Lancashire
    (Performance Venue)
    Patrimony (via brother)
    Acquired: 1594-04-16
    Divested: 1642-09-29
  • Knowsley Hall, Lancashire
    (Performance Venue)
    Patrimony (via brother)
    Acquired: 1594-04-16
    Divested: 1642-09-29

Lands

  • Bedfordshire
    Minor holdings
  • Berkshire
    Divested: 1604
    Minor holdings: Most sold 1596--1604
  • Buckinghamshire
    Minor holdings
  • Cheshire
    Patrimony: Major holdings; sold substantial portion 1597--9
  • Cumberland
    Minor holdings
  • Devon
    Divested: 1604
    Minor holdings: Sold ca. 1596--1604
  • Dorset
    Divested: 1597
    Minor holdings: Sold
  • Flintshire
    Minor holdings: Most sold 1596--1599
  • Hertfordshire
    Minor holdings
  • Huntingdonshire
    Minor holdings
  • Lancashire
    Patrimony: Major holdings; sold substantial portions 1596--1604
  • Isle of Man
  • Middlesex
    Divested: 1604
    Minor holdings: Sold
  • Northamptonshire
    Minor holdings
  • Oxfordshire
    Divested: 1604
    Minor holdings: Sold 1596--1604
  • Rutland
    Minor holdings
  • Shropshire
    Divested: after
    Patrimony: Major holdings. Lordship reverted to th
  • Shropshire
    Patrimony: Major holdings
  • Somerset
    Divested: 1601
    Minor holdings: Sold 1598--1601
  • Surrey
    Divested: 1602
    Minor holdings: Sold 1598 and 1602
  • Warwickshire
    Minor holdings
  • Westmorland
    Minor holdings
  • Wiltshire
    Minor holdings
  • Yorkshire: North Riding
    Minor holdings
  • Yorkshire: West Riding
    Minor holdings

Events Naming Patron

Event Date Location Troupe
Performance 1596-1597 Coventry (Unknown), Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Bearward
Performance 1596-1597 Coventry (Unknown), Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Bearward
Performance 1598-1599 Coventry (Unknown), Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Bearward
Performance 1600-1601 Coventry (Unknown), Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Bearward
Performance 1615-1616 Coventry (Unknown), Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Bearward
Performance 1596-1596 Common Hall, York , York (city-county) in Yorkshire Earl of Derby's Player/s
Performance 1593-1636 Lyme Park, Lyme Park , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1594-1594 Common Hall, Norwich , Norwich (city-county) in Norfolk Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1595-1596 Canterbury (Unknown), Canterbury , Kent Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1595-1596 Boothall, Gloucester , Gloucestershire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1595-1596 Guildhall, Oxford , Oxfordshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1595-1596 Guildhall, Bath , Somerset Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1595-1596 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1596-1596 Guildhall, Bristol , Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1596-1597 Guildhall, Bath , Somerset Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1596-1597 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1597-1597 Guildhall, Bristol , Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1597-1598 Town Hall, Kendal , Westmorland Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1597-1598 Leominster (Unknown), Leominster , Herefordshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1597-1598 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1597-1598 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1601-1602 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance Regulations 1602-1602 Norwich (Unknown), Norwich , Norwich (city-county) in Norfolk Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1602-1602 Guildhall, Faversham , Kent Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1602-1603 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1603-1604 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1606-1607 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1607-1607 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1607-1608 Guildhall (2), Barnstaple , Devon Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1607-1607 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1609-1609 Town Hall, Kendal , Westmorland Earl of Derby's Players
Dismissal 1609-1609 Louth (Unknown), Louth , Lincolnshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1609-1609 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1609-1609 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1609-1610 Shire Hall, Stafford , Staffordshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1609-1609 Gawthorpe Hall, near Padiham , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1611-1612 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1612-1612 Gawthorpe Hall, near Padiham , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1612-1612 Gawthorpe Hall, near Padiham , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1613-1613 Dunkenhalgh Hall, near Blackburn , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1613-1613 Gawthorpe Hall, near Padiham , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1614-1615 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1615-1615 Dunkenhalgh Hall, near Blackburn , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1615-1615 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1616-1616 Gawthorpe Hall, near Padiham , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1616-1616 Dunkenhalgh Hall, near Blackburn , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1616-1616 St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry , Coventry (city-county) in Warwickshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1616-1617 Leominster (Unknown), Leominster , Herefordshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1616-1616 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1617-1617 Dunkenhalgh Hall, near Blackburn , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1619-1619 Dunkenhalgh Hall, near Blackburn , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1619-1620 Leominster (Unknown), Leominster , Herefordshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1620-1620 Dunkenhalgh Hall, near Blackburn , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1621-1622 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1622-1622 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1623-1623 The Swan, Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1624-1624 Dunkenhalgh Hall, near Blackburn , Lancashire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1627-1627 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1628-1628 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1628-1629 Town Hall, Kendal , Westmorland Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1628-1628 Workington Hall, Workington , Cumberland Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1630-1630 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1632-1633 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1635-1635 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1635-1635 Town Hall, Kendal , Westmorland Earl of Derby's Players
Performance 1620-1620 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Servant
Performance 1623-1624 Congleton (Unknown), Congleton , Cheshire Earl of Derby's Trumpeter
Performance 1597-1598 Oxford (Unknown), Oxford , Oxfordshire Earl of Derby's Trumpeters

Patronized Troupes

Troupe Name Patron Troupe Type # of events
Earl of Derby's Bearward Stanley, William (1561 - 1642) Performing Animals 5
Earl of Derby's Player/s Stanley, William (1561 - 1642) Players 1
Earl of Derby's Players Stanley, William (1561 - 1642) Players 59
Earl of Derby's Servant Stanley, William (1561 - 1642) Acrobats/Physical Feats 1
Earl of Derby's Trumpeter Stanley, William (1561 - 1642) Musicians 1
Earl of Derby's Trumpeters Stanley, William (1561 - 1642) Musicians 1

Owned Venues

Venue Name County Venue Type
Bidston Hall Cheshire Private Residence
Knowsley Hall Lancashire Private Residence
Lathom House Lancashire Private Residence
New Park Lancashire Private Residence

Bibliographic Sources

View a list of abbreviations.

The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. 1887–98 (8 vols); 1910–59 (13 vols). 6 vols. Gloucester: Alan Sutton, 1982.
Coward, Barry. Stanleys, Lords Stanley, and Earls of Derby, 1385–1672. Chetham Society, 3rd ser, 30. Manchester: Manchester UP, 1983.
The Dictionary of National Biography. 1882–1901 (66 vols); 1908–9 (28 vols). 2 vols. London: Oxford UP, 1975.
Doyle, James E. The Official Baronage of England Showing the Succession, Dignities, and Offices of Every Peer from 1066 to 1885. 3 vols. London: Longmans, 1886.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 01/05/2005 (http://www.oxforddnb.com)
Sainty, J.C. Lieutenants of Counties, 1585–1642. Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research, special supplement 8. London: Athlone P, 1970.
The Victoria History of the County of Lancaster. The Victoria History of the Counties of England. 8 vols. London: Archibald Constable, 1906–14.