Dorothy Wadham
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Wadham (1534/1535 – 1618) 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 Wadham College gives her age as sixty in 1595. When Wadham's mother died on May 28, 1541, she was brought up by Petre's second wife, Anne, who was also a Tyrrell by her first marriage. Later in life her writing skill and knowledge of Latin was evident and it is likely she was educated at her home, Ingatestone Hall
, Essex. On September 3, 1555 she married Nicholas Wadham at St Botolph, Aldersgate
, London.
The couple lived at Nicholas' family home in Merrifield, near Ilton
, Somerset
and produced no children. Nicholas died on October 20, 1609, and between 1612–13 Wadham had her armoury confiscated and was suspected of recusancy
. In 1615 she was granted a formal pardon under the 1593 act against Popish recusants.
Dorothy was the sole executor of Nicholas' will, which stated the money was "for such uses and purposes" he had "requested her and she hath assented to". His wishes included founding a college in Oxford
, which she did, noting "it would greatly offend my conscience to violate any jot of my husband's will". On his deathbed, Nicholas had summoned Sir John Davis to discuss his plans with Dorothy and their two men of business. Nicholas was persuaded by Davis to sign an instrument naming him jointly responsible with Dorothy for pursuing his plans for a college. Davis had been convicted as a traitor because of his part in the Essex conspiracy, and a recusant. His inclusion in the designs put the plan in jeopardy, in 1610 it was shown in parliament that he still refused the Church of England
sacraments and may have wanted Wadham's foundation to be governed by his former college, Gloucester Hall
. Dorothy wrote to the Lord High Treasurer
, Robert Cecil
a month after Nicholas' death, denying Davis's accusation that she did not intend to proceed with Nicholas's plans. An offer was made to Gloucester Hall, which was refused by the principal unless he was made head of the new foundation. Nicholas had intended an offer be made to Jesus College
, but no evidence of such exists.
A site was acquired in February 1610 and the architect William Arnold
was commissioned for its construction. A letter from King James I
to Oxford City Council
persuaded them to lower the asking price. Wadham managed to loosen Davis' ties with a collusive suit
in chancery in July 1610, which established a trust excluding him, her brother John Petre was key in raising the support at Westminster but Wadham refused his offer of taking over the responsibility "which my dear husband so solely and absolutely trusted me with". On December 20, 1610 Wadham College received its royal letters patent
, and statutes were drafted and approved by Wadham in 1612. The college was formally instituted in April 1613. The appointment of the warden, fellows, and scholars, and even on occasion the college cook, rested with Wadham, as outlined in a series of letters written by her man of business, John Arnold, and signed by her, as were the drafts of the statutes. Wadham never visited the college and relied in large on Arnold. Wadham died on May 16, 1618, at the Wadham dower house, Edge Barton Manor, in Branscombe
, Devon
, her body was taken to Merrifield and buried on June 16 with her husband in St Mary's Church, Ilminster
.
Nicholas Wadham
Nicholas Wadham was the benefactor of Wadham College, Oxford.-Life:Wadham was probably born at Merrifield, near Ilton, 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...
and, as his widow, the founder of Wadham College, Oxford
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...
.
Wadham was the second and eldest surviving child 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...
, a civil and canon lawyer serving 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...
, and his wife, Gertrude, daughter of Sir John Tyrrell. Her portrait in Wadham College gives her age as sixty in 1595. When Wadham's mother died on May 28, 1541, she was brought up by Petre's second wife, Anne, who was also a Tyrrell by her first marriage. Later in life her writing skill and knowledge of Latin was evident and it is likely she was educated at her home, Ingatestone Hall
Ingatestone Hall
Ingatestone Hall is a sixteenth century manor house in Essex, England. It was built by Sir William Petre, and his descendants live in the House to this day.Queen Elizabeth I of England spent several nights at the hall on her royal progress of 1561....
, Essex. On September 3, 1555 she married Nicholas Wadham 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:...
, London.
The couple lived at Nicholas' family home in Merrifield, near Ilton
Ilton
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...
and produced no children. Nicholas died on October 20, 1609, and between 1612–13 Wadham had her armoury confiscated and was suspected of recusancy
Recusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
. In 1615 she was granted a formal pardon under the 1593 act against Popish recusants.
Dorothy was the sole executor of Nicholas' will, which stated the money was "for such uses and purposes" he had "requested her and she hath assented to". His wishes included founding 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...
, which she did, noting "it would greatly offend my conscience to violate any jot of my husband's will". On his deathbed, Nicholas had summoned Sir John Davis to discuss his plans with Dorothy and their two men of business. Nicholas was persuaded by Davis to sign an instrument naming him jointly responsible with Dorothy for pursuing his plans for a college. Davis had been convicted as a traitor because of his part in the Essex conspiracy, and a recusant. His inclusion in the designs put the plan in jeopardy, in 1610 it was shown in parliament that he still refused the 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...
sacraments and may have wanted Wadham's foundation to be governed by his former college, Gloucester Hall
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
. Dorothy wrote to the Lord High Treasurer
Lord High Treasurer
The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Act of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third highest ranked Great Officer of State, below the Lord High Chancellor and above the Lord President...
, Robert Cecil
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
a month after Nicholas' death, denying Davis's accusation that she did not intend to proceed with Nicholas's plans. An offer was made to Gloucester Hall, which was refused by the principal unless he was made head of the new foundation. Nicholas had intended an offer be made to Jesus College
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, but no evidence of such exists.
A site was acquired in February 1610 and the architect William Arnold
William Arnold (architect)
William Arnold was an important master mason in Somerset, England.Little is known about him, but he is known to have been living in Charlton Musgrove near Wincanton in 1595 where he was church warden. His first known commission was for the design of Montacute House in c1598...
was commissioned for its construction. A letter from King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
to Oxford City Council
Oxford City Council
The Oxford City Council provides local government for the city of Oxford in England.- Overview :Between the 2004 local elections, and 2010 the council was in minority administration, first by councillors from the Labour Party, with the Liberal Democrats being the official opposition...
persuaded them to lower the asking price. Wadham managed to loosen Davis' ties with a collusive suit
Collusive lawsuit
A collusive lawsuit is a lawsuit in which the parties to the suit have no actual quarrel with one another, but one sues the other to achieve some result desired by both.-Constitutional law:...
in chancery in July 1610, which established a trust excluding him, her brother John Petre was key in raising the support at Westminster but Wadham refused his offer of taking over the responsibility "which my dear husband so solely and absolutely trusted me with". On December 20, 1610 Wadham College received its royal letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
, and statutes were drafted and approved by Wadham in 1612. The college was formally instituted in April 1613. The appointment of the warden, fellows, and scholars, and even on occasion the college cook, rested with Wadham, as outlined in a series of letters written by her man of business, John Arnold, and signed by her, as were the drafts of the statutes. Wadham never visited the college and relied in large on Arnold. Wadham died on May 16, 1618, at the Wadham dower house, Edge Barton Manor, in Branscombe
Branscombe
The Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge is a collection of buildings in Branscombe, Seaton, Devon, England. The property has been in the ownership of the National Trust since 1965.The property consists of three buildings: a bakery, a watermill and a forge....
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, her body was taken to Merrifield and buried on June 16 with her husband in St Mary's Church, Ilminster
Ilminster
Ilminster is a country town and civil parish in the countryside of south west Somerset, England, with a population of 4,781. Bypassed a few years ago, the town now lies just east of the intersection of the A303 and the A358...
.