Sir William Wrey, 1st Baronet (died 1636) of Trebeigh, St Ive, Cornwall and North Russell, Sourton, Devon, was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1598regnal year 41 Elizabeth, per Betham, p.301 and was created a baronet by King Charles I in 1628.Betham, William, Baronetage of England, Vol.1, 1801, pp.320-323, Betham incorrectly gives his son as the 1st baronet
Origins He was the second son of John Wrey (d.1597) by his wife Blanch Killigrew (d.1595), heiress of Trebeigh, daughter and heiress of Henry Killigrew, Esquire, of Woolstone, in the parish of Poundstock, near St Ive, in Cornwall.Betham, p.301
Inheritance William succeeded his childless elder brother John II Wrey, who had married (as her 3rd husband) Eleanor Smith, daughter and heiress of Bernard Smith (c.1522-1591), Esquire, of Totnes in Devon, MP for Totnes in 1558 and mayor of Totnes 1549-50 and c.1565-6 also was escheator of Devon and Cornwall 1567-8.
Career William was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1598.regnal year 41 Elizabeth, per Betham, p.301 and was knighted at Whitehall on 27 July 1603 before the Coronation of King James I. He played a leading figure in the local government of Cornwall. He served as a Deputy Lieutenant and a Commissioner of Oyer and Terminer.Hunneyball He served in the honorary post of Recorder of Liskeard from about 1615 to his death.Hunneyball He was created a baronet by King Charles I in 1628.Betham incorrectly gives his son as the 1st baronet He was described by Carew (1602)Carew, Richard (1555-1620), Survey of Cornwall, 1602 as a man of hospitality, and a general welcomer of his friends and neighbours.
Lands held He added to his patrimony inherited from his brother, much of which formed his mother's Killigrew inheritance, and at his death he owned over 6,000 acres including four manors in Cornwall and a share in four others.
Marriage and children
He married (as his 2nd wifeVivian & Drake, 1874, p.268)Elizabeth Courtenay,Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.247, pedigree of Courtenay a daughter of Sir William V Courtenay (1553–1630) of Powderham in Devon (by his wife Elizabeth Manners, daughter of Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland (1526-1563)) by whom he had an only son and heir: Sir William Wrey, 2nd Baronet (1600-1645) who in about 1624 married Elizabeth Chichester, daughter of Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester (1568-1648) of Eggesford in Devon.Stated incorrectly by Betham as daughter of "Sir Edward (sic) Chichester, Earl of Donnegall" (Arthur Chichester, 1st Earl of Donegall (1606–1674) was in fact her brother He served as MP for Liskeard in 1624. The 2nd Baronet left an only son and heir Sir Chichester Wrey, 3rd Baronet (1628-1668) of Trebitch, MP for Lostwithiel.
See also Wrey Baronets
Sources Betham, William, Baronetage of England, Vol.1, 1771, pp.300-303, Wrey Baronets Wotton, Thomas, Baronetage of England, 1771 Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791 Hunneyball, Paul, biography of Wrey, William (c.1601-1645), of Trebigh, St. Ive, Cornwall, published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010 Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L. & Drake, H.H., (Eds.) The Visitation of the County of Cornwall in the year 1620, Harleian Society, 1st series, Volume 9, London, 1874, p. 268, pedigree of Wrey Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., The Visitations of Cornwall: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1530, 1573 & 1620; with Additions by J.L. Vivian, Exeter, 1887, pp.564-566, pedigree of "Wrey of Trebeigh"
References