CORDELL, Edward (by 1536-90), of Fleet Street, London.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. by 1536, 4th s. of John Cordell of Long Melford, Suff. by Emma, da. of Henry Webbe of Kimbolton, Hunts.; bro. of Sir William. m. (1) Elizabeth Harrison (d.1586) of Norf.; (2) Abigail, da. of Sir Anthony Heveningham of Ketteringham, Norf., wid. of (Sir) George Digby of Coleshill, Warws., s.p. suc. bro. Francis Nov. 1586.

Offices Held

Examiner in Chancery by 1566, six clerk from 1571.

Biography

Cordell probably owed his Chancery post, like his seats in Parliament, to his brother the master of the rolls. At East Looe the 2nd Earl of Bedford must have been the intermediary. Sir William died’ s.p. and, on the death of Francis Cordell, also’ s.p., Edward inherited part of his eldest brother’s estates. Much of the land was held by his sister for life, and it was his second marriage rather than his inheritance that made him a wealthy man. In 1590 he sold his manor of Fakenham to his kinsman Thomas Cordell, a London merchant, for £4,200 and in the same year purchased the parsonage of Colshill.

By his will, made 7 Dec. 1590, proved 20 Jan. 1591, he left to his wife and sole executrix all his freehold and other lands in several counties, together with his house in Fleet Street, and made provision for the almshouse his brother had founded at Long Melford. He died 9 Dec. 1590 and was buried at St. Dunstan-in-the-West, where his wife raised a monument.

C142/229/146; Vis. Suff. ed. Howard, i. 248, 267; Vis. Suff. ed. Metcalfe, 20-1; Vis. Norf. (Harl. Soc. xxxii), 86, 247; Vis. Norf. (Norf. Arch. Soc.), 398-9; Stow, Surv. London, ed. Strype, iii. 257; W. J. Jones, Eliz. Ct. Chancery, 138; T. D. Hardy, Cat. Ld. Chancellors, 107; CSP Dom. 1581-90, p. 682; PCC 4 Sainberbe.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Authors: Roger Virgoe / A. D.K. Hawkyard

Notes