Nicholas Carew (politician, around 1567)

Sir Nicholas Carew (birth name: Nicholas Throckmorton ) (* around 1567, † before February 25, 1644 ) was an English nobleman and politician.

Origin and youth

Nicholas Carew was born Nicholas Throckmorton, the fifth son of the diplomat Sir Nicholas Throckmorton and his wife Anne, a daughter of Sir Nicholas Carew . His siblings included Arthur Throckmorton and his sister Elizabeth , who secretly married Walter Raleigh . His father had died in 1571, leaving him £ 500. He likely grew up on the family estate in Paulerspury , Northamptonshire , until his mother died in 1587.

Early years as a penniless younger son

As a younger son, Nicholas had no particular career path. He was given an annual pension of £ 40 by his brother, and Carew began a trip to Italy before 1588. He is mentioned in Padua in 1590 , and in 1596 at the latest he returned to England, where he apparently lived in Surrey . In 1597 his wealthy, unmarried uncle Sir Francis Carew made him his heir. In 1599 he married Mary More, whose father Sir George More belonged to the gentry of Surrey and was a friend of his uncle. In 1601 he was elected as a member of Parliament for Lyme Regis through the mediation of his brother-in-law Walter Raleigh . From 1603 he served as a justice of the peace for Surrey and in June 1603 he was in Beddington , his uncle Sir Francis Carew, the residence of the defeated knight . At the time, he was heavily in debt and, given his low income, had to seek financial support from his father-in-law.

Promotion to a well-to-do member of the gentry

After the death of his uncle on May 16, 1611, Nicholas Throckmorton inherited Beddington Place and most of his uncle's estates, despite the protests of his cousin Sir Francis Darcy and other relatives , making him a wealthy landowner. He also took his uncle's surname Carew as the main heir . In 1613 he acquired the lucrative office of Chamberlain of the Exchequer from his father-in-law . Shortly afterwards he was able to buy the estate of Walton-on-the-Hill in Staffordshire from his cousin Darcy , which he had received as an inheritance from his uncle. Darcy also offered his daughter's hand to Carew, who was now widowed, but instead married a wealthy merchant widow from London in 1618 who brought a dowry of £ 6,000 with her. In December 1620, Carew and George More were elected to Parliament as Knights of the Shire for Surrey. In the House of Commons Carew was only slightly active. In the 1624 election, Carew no longer stood as a candidate, instead, with More's support, his eldest son Francis Carew was elected as a member of Parliament for Haslemere .

Last years and death

Carew himself took on a few local offices, but apparently no longer played a role politically. Although his annual income from his possessions was estimated at £ 1,000, he left £ 4,000 in debt on his death. His son Francis had to flee abroad from his creditors in 1630 because of his own debts. Carew was buried in Beddington Church on February 25, 1644.

Marriages and offspring

From his first marriage to Mary More of Loseley , Carew had five sons and daughters. In his second marriage, Carew married on August 14, 1616 Susan Bright († 1633), the widow of the London merchant Henry Butcher. With her he had a son and a daughter. Carew apparently left no will and his eldest son Francis became his main heir.

Web links

• Alan Davidson, Ben Coates: CAREW, aka THROCKMORTON, Sir Nicholas (c.1567-1644), of Beddington, Surr. (History of Parliament Online, Ref Volumes: 1604–1629)
• MRP: THROCKMORTON (afterwards CAREW), Nicholas (d.1644), of? Paulerspury, Northants. and Beddington, Surr. (History of Parliament Online, Ref Volumes: 1558–1603)