Thomas Chamberlayne
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Chamberlayne, SL
(died 27 September 1625) was an English
judge who served as Chief Justice of Chester during the reign of James I of England
.
Chamberlayne, the son of an English settler in Ireland, entered Gray's Inn
in 1578 and became a barrister
in 1585. As steward to Lord Ellesmere
, and from 1591 solicitor
to Lord Berkeley
, he seems to have been reasonably well off, and was able to contribute to building projects at Gray's Inn and invest in lands in Oxfordshire
. In 1608, he became recorder
of Banbury
, a post he would hold until his death.
In 1612, Chamberlayne married Elizabeth Fermor, widow of Sir William Stafford of Blatherwick, and in 1614 was made a serjeant-at-law
. His judicial career began in 1615 with an appointment as justice of the Anglesey
circuit, and the following year he was made Chief Justice of Chester and knighted. In 1620 he became a Justice of the Court of King's Bench
, and was apparently considered, but passed over, for the post of Master of the Rolls
in 1621. Friction between his successor as Chief Justice of Chester, Sir James Whitelocke
, and the Earl of Northampton
, Lord President of Wales, led to his return to that position in 1624. His first wife having died in 1620, in 1622 Chamberlayne had married Elizabeth Carey, daughter of Lord Hunsdon
and widow of Sir Thomas Berkeley. Chamberlayne died on 27 September 1625. His eldest son, Thomas, was later created a baronet.
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
(died 27 September 1625) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
judge who served as Chief Justice of Chester during the reign of James I of England
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...
.
Chamberlayne, the son of an English settler in Ireland, entered Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, 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...
in 1578 and became a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in 1585. As steward to Lord Ellesmere
Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley
Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley PC was an English Nobleman, Judge and Statesman who served as Lord Keeper and Lord Chancellor for twenty-one years.-Early life, education and legal career:...
, and from 1591 solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
to Lord Berkeley
Henry Berkeley, 7th Baron Berkeley
Henry Berkeley, 7th Baron Berkeley was an English peer and politician. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire and Vice-Admiral of Gloucestershire as well as Baron Berkeley....
, he seems to have been reasonably well off, and was able to contribute to building projects at Gray's Inn and invest in lands in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. In 1608, he became recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, a post he would hold until his death.
In 1612, Chamberlayne married Elizabeth Fermor, widow of Sir William Stafford of Blatherwick, and in 1614 was made a serjeant-at-law
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
. His judicial career began in 1615 with an appointment as justice of the Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
circuit, and the following year he was made Chief Justice of Chester and knighted. In 1620 he became a Justice of the Court of King's Bench
King's Bench
The Queen's Bench is the superior court in a number of jurisdictions within some of the Commonwealth realms...
, and was apparently considered, but passed over, for the post of Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
in 1621. Friction between his successor as Chief Justice of Chester, Sir James Whitelocke
James Whitelocke
Sir James Whitelocke SL was an English judge.-Early life:He was the younger of posthumous twin sons of Richard Whitelocke, merchant, of London, by Joan Brockhurst, widow, daughter of John Colte of Little Munden, Hertfordshire. His twin-brother, William, served under Francis Drake, and fell at sea...
, and the Earl of Northampton
William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton
William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton, KG , known as 2nd Baron Compton from 1589 to 1618, was an English peer.Northampton was the son of Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton, and Frances Hastings. His maternal grandparents were Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon and Catherine Pole...
, Lord President of Wales, led to his return to that position in 1624. His first wife having died in 1620, in 1622 Chamberlayne had married Elizabeth Carey, daughter of Lord Hunsdon
George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon
George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon KG was the eldest son of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon and Anne Morgan. His father was first cousin to Elizabeth I of England....
and widow of Sir Thomas Berkeley. Chamberlayne died on 27 September 1625. His eldest son, Thomas, was later created a baronet.