KNOLLYS, Sir Francis I (1553-1648), of Abbey House, Reading, Berks.

Family and Education

b. 14 Aug. 1553, 6th s. of Sir Francis Knollys† (d. 1596) of Rotherfield Greys, Oxon. and Catherine, da. of William Carey of Aldenham, Herts.S. Varlow, ‘Sir Francis Knollys’s Latin dictionary’, HR lxxx. 323; Vis. Berks. (Harl. Soc. lvi-lvii), i. 103. educ. ?Eton 1561-3;W. Sterry, The Eton College Reg. 1441-1698 (Eton, 1943), 202. Magdalen, Oxf. c.1564, MA 1598;Al. Ox. G. Inn 1565;G. Inn Admiss. 34. travelled abroad (France) 1572.HMC Bath, v. 233. m. 26 Dec. 1588, Lettice, da. of John Barrett of St Clement Danes, Westminster and Hanham, Glos. 2s. d.v.p. 4da. (1 d.v.p.).All Hallows London Wall, London par. reg.; London Mar. Lics. ed. Foster, 806; Vis. Berks. i. 103; PROB11/204/208. Kntd. 7 Dec. 1587.Shaw, Knights of Eng. ii. 86. d. bef. 5 May 1648.PROB11/204/208.

Offices Held

Military: r.-adm. ?to Sir Humphrey Gilbert†, 1578–9;CSP Span. 1568–79, pp. 583, 654; 1580–86, pp. 75, 306. to Sir Francis Drake†, 1585–6.R. Hakluyt, Principal Navigations (Glasgow, 1903–5), x. 98, 133. Capt. of ft. Low Countries c.1586–7.Leicester Household Accts. ed. S. Adams (Cam. Soc. 5th ser. vi), 440. Master of ordnance, Tilbury, Essex 1588.HMC Foljambe, 52.

Local: col. militia ft. Herts. and Cambs. 1588; Oxon. 1599. 1592 – 10 June 1642HMC Foljambe, 46, 165; CSP Dom. 1581–90, p. 519; CSP Span. 1587–1603, p. 298; E351/264, unfol. J.p. Berks.; Oxon. 1614–10 June 1642.CSP Dom. 1591–4, p. 186; C66/1988; C231/5, pp. 527–8. Dep. lt. Berks. 1596-at least 1640.APC 1595–6, p. 396; 1626, p. 365; CSP Dom. 1640, p. 489. Kpr. Wallingford Castle by 1601.CSP Dom. 1598–1601, p. 545. Commr. oyer and terminer, Oxf. circ. by 1602-aft. Jan. 1642;C181/1, f. 17; C181/5, f. 219. Berks. 24 June 1640;C181/5, f. 177. recusants, 1602.C181/1, f. 34. Collector, privy seal loan, 1604–6.E401/2585, f. 100. Commr. sewers, Berks. and Oxon. 1604, 1612, 1626, 1634; Bucks. 1626; sewers, River Kennet, Berks. and Hants. 1633, 1638.C181/1, f. 85; C181/2, f. 168v; C181/3, ff. 200, 202v; C181/4, ff. 147v, 179; C181/5, f. 99v. Kpr. Bear Wood walk, Windsor Forest, Berks. (sole) 1607; (jt.) 1613.Harl. 3749, f. 11; CSP Dom. 1611–18, p. 209. Commr. charitable uses, Berks. 1608-at least 1629;C93/3/13; C93/11/13. subsidy, 1608, 1621 – 22, 1624, 1629;SP14/31/1; C212/22/20–1; C212/22/23; E115/63/71. aid, 1609.SP14/43/107. Trustee for municipal lands, Hungerford 1613–17.VCH Berks. iv. 186, 199. Commr. brewhouse survey, Berks. 1620;APC 1619–21, p. 203. martial law, 1626–7;APC 1626, p. 365; Coventry Docquets, 29; C66/2422. Forced Loan, Berks., Oxon. 1627;Rymer, Foedera, viii. pt. 2, pp. 144, 145; C193/12/2, f. 45. to investigate Kendrick’s charity, Reading 1631;Coventry Docquets, 36; CSP Dom. 1631–3, pp. 44–5, 62, 171, 280. repair of St Paul’s Cathedral, Berks. 1637;GL, 25475/1, f. 90. further subsidy, 1641; poll tax, 1641;SR. perambulation, Windsor Forest 10 Sept. 1641;C181/5, f. 211. assessment, Berks. 1642, 18 Oct. 1644, 23 June 1647, 16 Feb. 1648;SR; A. and O. levying of money, 7 May, 3 Aug. 1643; Reading 3 Aug. 1643; commr. for Berks. 25 June 1644.A. and O.

Civic: freeman, Southampton 1603.HMC 11th Rep. iii. 23.

Religious: vestryman, St Mary, Reading by 1618.The Churchwardens’ Accts. of the Par. of St Mary’s, Reading, Berks. 1550–1662, ed. F.N.A. Garry and A.G. Garry (Reading, 1893), 126.

: Berks., Reading.

Likenesses

Likenesses: oil on panel, aft. C. Johnson, c.1630.NT, Greys Court.

Volume

Commons 1640-1660

Web Title

KNOLLYS, Sir Francis I (1553-1648), of Abbey House, Reading, Berks.

Will

6 Sept. 1646, pr. 5 May 1648.PROB11/204/208.

Estates

leased manor of Battle, Reading from the crown.VCH Berks. iii. 367.

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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