Francis Howard, 5th Baron Howard of Effingham
Encyclopedia
Francis Howard, 5th Baron Howard of Effingham (c. 1643 – 30 March 1694 O.S./95 N.S.) was a member of the Howard Family
, descended from noted naval commander Lord High Admiral Howard
, and a Crown Governor of Virginia.
and Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Nottingham
. His maternal grandfather was Sir George Courthope of Whiligh, Sussex
. Francis was baptised on 17 September 1643 in Great Bookham near Effingham in Surrey
. On 8 July 1673, he married Philadelphia Pelham, daughter of Thomas Pelham, 2nd Baronet Pelham of Laughton and half-aunt of Thomas Pelham, eventual 1st Baron Pelham of Laughton
. Francis and Philadelphia were the parents of Thomas Howard, 6th Baron Howard of Effingham and Francis Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham
as well as another son and three daughters.
In 1681, Howard's cousin, the 3rd Earl of Nottingham, died and, just as his two half-brothers, did not leave a male heir. The earldom was declared extinct but the title Baron Howard of Effingham was passed on to Francis.
, had departed suddenly in 1683, and was replaced until Lord Howard's arrival nine months later by acting Governor Nicholas Spencer
, Culpepper's cousin, agent, and President of the Council.)
On 23 June 1684, Lord Howard sailed from Virginia for Albany, New York
with his daughter, Philadelphia, where he and New York Governor Thomas Dongan
brokered a July peace treaty with the Iroquois
. The treaty succeeded in ending a series of raids by the Seneca nation
on the frontier of Virginia. Although the Iroquois admitted to breaking the Covenant Chain
, Howard and Dongan refrained from demanding reparations in hopes that they would continue attacks against their rivals in New France
. While in New York, Howard and his daughter stayed at Dongan's house and spent much of their time socialising. Howard was impressed by the lifestyle of New York, as compared to Virginia, and urged his wife to bring good silver from England. Lady Howard arrived in Virginia but died on 13 August 1685 at age 31. Their daughter, Margaret Frances, also died while accompanying Lady Howard's body, destined for Lingfield
.
In 1687, Howard again travelled to New York to negotiate with the Iroquois, with a stop in Philadelphia on the way. Despite his negotiation efforts, Howard was unpopular among Virginians. He ordered that no one in the colony could use a printing press
for any reason and tried to gain the power to overturn laws and levy taxes. Land grant
s could only be passed if Lord Howard was paid a fee. He created a court of equity
and named himself a petty lord chancellor
. In 1687, he expelled Colonel Philip Ludwell
from the Virginia Council, calling him "an abettor in fomenting disputes over which the Assembly was so obstinate." The expulsion backfired, however, when Ludwell's resultant popularity led to a meeting with King William
. A successful meeting with the king led to Ludwell's council seat being restored on 7 May 1691.
, then Middlesex
. He was allowed to remain governor of Virginia from afar at half the salary. Nathaniel Bacon, Sr., who had administered the colony during Howard's time in New York in 1684, did so again while Howard was in England until Howard's deputy, Francis Nicholson
, arrived on 16 May 1690. Howard remarried on 20 January 1690 to Susan Felton, daughter of Sir Henry Felton, Baronet, and widow of Philip Harbord. His funeral took place at St Giles in the Fields
.
Howard family
The Howard family is an English aristocratic family founded by John Howard who was created Duke of Norfolk by Plantagenet monarch Richard III of England in 1483. However, John was also the eldest grandson of the 1st Duke of 1st creation...
, descended from noted naval commander Lord High Admiral Howard
William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham
William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham , was the eldest son of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk by his second wife, Agnes Tilney...
, and a Crown Governor of Virginia.
Family
He was the son of Sir Charles Howard and Frances Courthope. Francis Howard's paternal grandfather was the first cousin of both Charles Howard, 2nd Earl of NottinghamCharles Howard, 2nd Earl of Nottingham
Charles Howard, 2nd Earl of Nottingham was the son of Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham. His mother was the former Katherine Carey. From 1596 to 1624 he was styled Lord Howard of Effingham....
and Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Nottingham
Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Nottingham
Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Nottingham was the son of Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham by his second wife, the former Margaret Stuart....
. His maternal grandfather was Sir George Courthope of Whiligh, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. Francis was baptised on 17 September 1643 in Great Bookham near Effingham in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. On 8 July 1673, he married Philadelphia Pelham, daughter of Thomas Pelham, 2nd Baronet Pelham of Laughton and half-aunt of Thomas Pelham, eventual 1st Baron Pelham of Laughton
Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham
Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham of Laughton Bt was a moderate English Whig politician and Member of Parliament for several constituencies. He is best remembered as father of two British prime ministers who, between them, served for 18 years as first minister...
. Francis and Philadelphia were the parents of Thomas Howard, 6th Baron Howard of Effingham and Francis Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham
Francis Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham
Brigadier-General Francis Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham was an English peer and army officer....
as well as another son and three daughters.
In 1681, Howard's cousin, the 3rd Earl of Nottingham, died and, just as his two half-brothers, did not leave a male heir. The earldom was declared extinct but the title Baron Howard of Effingham was passed on to Francis.
Virginia
Lord Howard was appointed Governor of Virginia in 1683. His family relocated there in February 1684 and Howard spent much of his time living in Rosegill. Howard commenced his duties as Governor on 16 April 1684. (The previous governor, Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron ColepeperThomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper
Thomas Colpeper, 2nd Baron Culpeper of Thoresway was the colonial governor of Virginia from 1677 to 1683.-Biography:...
, had departed suddenly in 1683, and was replaced until Lord Howard's arrival nine months later by acting Governor Nicholas Spencer
Nicholas Spencer
Col. Nicholas Spencer was a London merchant who emigrated to Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he became a planter and which he represented in the Virginia House of Burgesses...
, Culpepper's cousin, agent, and President of the Council.)
On 23 June 1684, Lord Howard sailed from Virginia for Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
with his daughter, Philadelphia, where he and New York Governor Thomas Dongan
Thomas Dongan, 2nd Earl of Limerick
Thomas Donegan, 2nd Earl of Limerick was a member of Irish Parliament, Royalist military officer during the English Civil War, and governor of the Province of New York...
brokered a July peace treaty with the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
. The treaty succeeded in ending a series of raids by the Seneca nation
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
on the frontier of Virginia. Although the Iroquois admitted to breaking the Covenant Chain
Covenant Chain
The Covenant Chain was a series of alliances and treaties involving the Iroquois Confederacy , the British colonies of North America, and a number of other Indian tribes...
, Howard and Dongan refrained from demanding reparations in hopes that they would continue attacks against their rivals in New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
. While in New York, Howard and his daughter stayed at Dongan's house and spent much of their time socialising. Howard was impressed by the lifestyle of New York, as compared to Virginia, and urged his wife to bring good silver from England. Lady Howard arrived in Virginia but died on 13 August 1685 at age 31. Their daughter, Margaret Frances, also died while accompanying Lady Howard's body, destined for Lingfield
Lingfield
Lingfield can refer to:* Lingfield, County Durham* Lingfield, Surrey** Lingfield Park Racecourse** Lingfield railway station, serving the village and racecourse...
.
In 1687, Howard again travelled to New York to negotiate with the Iroquois, with a stop in Philadelphia on the way. Despite his negotiation efforts, Howard was unpopular among Virginians. He ordered that no one in the colony could use a printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
for any reason and tried to gain the power to overturn laws and levy taxes. Land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
s could only be passed if Lord Howard was paid a fee. He created a court of equity
Court of equity
A chancery court, equity court or court of equity is a court that is authorized to apply principles of equity, as opposed to law, to cases brought before it.These courts began with petitions to the Lord Chancellor of England...
and named himself a petty lord chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
. In 1687, he expelled Colonel Philip Ludwell
Philip Ludwell
Philip Ludwell of Richneck Plantation in James City County, Virginia is best known for being governor of the British Colony of Carolina from 1691–94. From a base in the coastal port city of Charleston, he was governor of the entire Colony of Carolina...
from the Virginia Council, calling him "an abettor in fomenting disputes over which the Assembly was so obstinate." The expulsion backfired, however, when Ludwell's resultant popularity led to a meeting with King William
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
. A successful meeting with the king led to Ludwell's council seat being restored on 7 May 1691.
Late life
Howard left Virginia for England on 20 October 1688 and spent much of his time in Little Chelsea in KensingtonKensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, then Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. He was allowed to remain governor of Virginia from afar at half the salary. Nathaniel Bacon, Sr., who had administered the colony during Howard's time in New York in 1684, did so again while Howard was in England until Howard's deputy, Francis Nicholson
Francis Nicholson
Francis Nicholson was a British military officer and colonial administrator. His military service included time in Africa and Europe, after which he was sent as leader of the troops supporting Sir Edmund Andros in the Dominion of New England. There he distinguished himself, and was appointed...
, arrived on 16 May 1690. Howard remarried on 20 January 1690 to Susan Felton, daughter of Sir Henry Felton, Baronet, and widow of Philip Harbord. His funeral took place at St Giles in the Fields
St Giles in the Fields
St Giles in the Fields, Holborn, is a church in the London Borough of Camden, in the West End. It is close to the Centre Point office tower and the Tottenham Court Road tube station. The church is part of the Diocese of London within the Church of England...
.
External links
- Selected text pertaining to Indian tribes from the Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia, Vol. I, June 11, 1680 - June 22, 1699.