Baron Petre (), of Writtle, in the County of Essex, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1603 for Sir John Petre. His family has since been associated with the county of Essex. He represented

Essex Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...

in parliament and served as

Lord Lieutenant of Essex This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Essex. Since 1688, all the Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Essex. *John Petre, 1st Baron Petre * John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford 1558–? * Robert Dudley, 1st E ...

. Lord Petre was the son of

Sir William Petre Sir William Petre (c. 1505 – 1572) (pronounced ''Peter'') was Secretary of State to three successive Tudor monarchs, namely Kings Henry VIII, Edward VI and Queen Mary I. He also deputised for the Secretary of State to Elizabeth I. Educate ...

, Secretary of State to Henry VIII,

Mary I Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, and as "Bloody Mary" by her Protestant opponents, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain from January 1556 until her death in 1558. She ...

Edward VI Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. Edward was the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour and the first E ...

and

Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is ...

. Sir William acquired

Ingatestone Hall Ingatestone Hall is a Grade I listed 16th-century manor house in Essex, England. It is located outside the village of Ingatestone, approximately south west of Chelmsford and north east of London. The house was built by Sir William Petre, a ...

and the surrounding manor from Henry for the full market value after it had been surrendered to the King by

Barking Abbey Barking Abbey is a former royal monastery located in Barking, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. It has been described as having been "one of the most important nunneries in the country". Originally established in the 7th century, f ...

during the Suppression of the Monasteries.

History

The first Baron was succeeded by his son, William Petre, 2nd Baron Petre. He sat as

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...

for Essex. His grandson,

William Petre, 4th Baron Petre William Petre, 4th Baron Petre (1626 – 5 January 1684) was an English peer and victim of the Popish Plot. Petre was the eldest son of Robert Petre, third Baron Petre (1599–1638), and Mary (1603–1685), daughter of Anthony-Maria Browne, ...

, was one of the accused in the

Titus Oates Titus Oates (15 September 1649 – 12/13 July 1705) was an English priest who fabricated the "Popish Plot", a supposed Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles II. Early life Titus Oates was born at Oakham in Rutland. His father Samuel (1610� ...

plot and died in the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...

in 1684. His younger brother, Thomas Petre, 6th Baron Petre, was Lord Lieutenant of Essex. His great-grandson,

Robert Petre, 9th Baron Petre Robert Edward Petre, 9th Baron Petre (March 1742 – July 1801) was a British peer and prominent member of the English Roman Catholic nobility. Born into exceptional wealthy family, Lord Petre became a philanthropist and was responsible for ...

, who succeeded his father the year of his birth, married Anne Howard, daughter of Philip Howard, younger brother of

Edward Howard, 9th Duke of Norfolk Edward Howard, 9th Duke of Norfolk (5 June 1686 – 20 September 1777), of Worksop Manor in Nottinghamshire and of Norfolk House in London, was a British peer, politician and hereditary Earl Marshal. Origins He was the third of the five sons o ...

. On her uncle's death in 1777 Anne became co-heiress to the baronies of Howard, Furnivall, Strange of Blackmere, Talbot, Braose of Gower, Dacre of Gillesland, Greystock, Ferrers of Wemme, Giffard of Brimsfield and Verdon. Their great-great-grandson, Bernard Petre, 14th Baron Petre, married Etheldreda, daughter of

William Robinson Clark William Robinson Clark (26 March 1829 – 12 November 1912) was a Scottish-Canadian theologian. Biography Clark was born in Daviot, Aberdeenshire, son of Rev. James Clark. Originally educated for the Congregationalist ministry at New Co ...

. In 1913 (five years after the death of Lord Petre) the abeyance of the ancient barony of Furnivall was terminated by the King in favour of their daughter Mary Frances Katherine Petre, who became the nineteenth Baroness Furnivall (see the

Baron Furnivall Baron Furnivall is an ancient title in the Peerage of England. It was originally created (by writ) when Thomas de Furnivall was summoned to the Model Parliament on 24 June 1295 as Lord Furnivall. The barony eventually passed to Thomas Nevill, wh ...

for more information). Petre was succeeded by his younger brother, Philip Petre, 15th Baron Petre. the title is held by the latter's great-grandson, John Petre, 18th Baron Petre, who succeeded his father in 1989. Lord Petre has been Lord Lieutenant of Essex since 2002. Another member of the Petre family was Father Sir Edward Petre, 3rd Baronet, the unpopular chaplain and advisor to James II. James made him

Clerk of the Closet The College of Chaplains of the Ecclesiastical Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is under the Clerk of the Closet, an office dating from 1437. It is normally held by a diocesan bishop, who may, however, remain in office after leav ...

and asked the

Pope The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...

to make him a bishop and later a Cardinal but was refused both requests. The Petre family have been staunchly loyal to

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

ism. It was the first Baron who publicly acknowledged his Catholicism. At least twelve members of the family have been Jesuits. The family has also produced two

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...

s, Francis (1692–1775) and Benjamin (1672–1758). These two were coadjutor bishops of, respectively, Bishop Dicconson and

Bishop Challoner Richard Challoner (29 September 1691 – 12 January 1781) was an English Roman Catholic bishop, a leading figure of English Catholicism during the greater part of the 18th century. The titular Bishop of Doberus, he is perhaps most famous for h ...

. The feudal Lordship of

Writtle The village and civil parish of Writtle lies west of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It has a traditional village green complete with duck pond and a Norman church, and was once described as "one of the loveliest villages in England, with a ravis ...

had for centuries been the possession of the

de Brus family Clan Bruce ( gd, Brùs) is a Lowlands Scottish clan. It was a Royal House in the 14th century, producing two kings of Scotland (Robert the Bruce and David II of Scotland), and a disputed High King of Ireland, Edward Bruce. Origins The surname ...

and early chroniclers give the manor there as the birthplace of

Robert the Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventual ...

Properties

The family seats are

(principal), at

Ingatestone Ingatestone is a village and former civil parish in Essex, England, with a population of 5,365 inhabitants according to the 2011 census. Just north lies the village of Fryerning, the two forming now the parish of Ingatestone and Fryerning. In ...

, and Writtle Park,

. The family-owned

Thorndon Hall Thorndon Hall is a Georgian Palladian country house within Thorndon Park, Ingrave, Essex, England, approximately two miles south of Brentwood and from central London. Formerly the country seat of the Petre family who now reside at nearby In ...

, near Brentwood, is set in an extensive deer park.Joseph Whitake. ''A descriptive list of the deer-parks and paddocks of England.'' London : Ballantyne, Hanson, 1892, , p. 56. Formerly called "Thorndon ''Old'' Hall", it burned down in the early 18th century; after which "New"

was built about a mile north, in Ingrave. This too suffered from a fire in the 1880s and has since been rebuilt as flats within the repaired walls, and the family mortuary chapel nearby is now owned by Historic Chapels Trust. Thorndon Park is mostly now run by

Essex County Council Essex County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Essex in England. It has 75 councillors, elected from 70 divisions, and is currently controlled by the Conservative Party. The council meets at County Hall ...

as a Country Park with the Petre family retaining limited ownerships.

Barons Petre (1603)

John Petre, 1st Baron Petre John Petre, 1st Baron Petre (20 December 1549 – 11 October 1613) was an English peer who lived during the Tudor period and early Stuart period. He and his family were recusants — people who adhered to the Roman Catholic faith after the Eng ...

(1549–1613) * William Petre, 2nd Baron Petre (1575–1637) * Robert Petre, 3rd Baron Petre (1599–1638) *

(1626–1684) *John Petre, 5th Baron Petre (1629–1684) * Thomas Petre, 6th Baron Petre (1633–1706) *

Robert Petre, 7th Baron Petre Robert Petre, 7th Baron Petre (1689 – 22 March 1713) was a British peer, the son of Thomas Petre, 6th Baron Petre (1633–1706) and his wife Mary Clifton, daughter of Sir Thomas Clifton. He succeeded to his title, at the age of 17, upon the death ...

(1689–1713) *

Robert James Petre, 8th Baron Petre Robert James Petre, 8th Baron Petre (3 June 1713 – 2 July 1742) was a renowned horticulturist and a British peer. Petre was responsible in the late 1730s for the layout of the gardens at Worksop Manor in Nottinghamshire. He was also responsib ...

(1713–1742); born posthumously 2 months and 10 days after the death of his father, the 7th Baron; succeeded to the title immediately upon his birth. *

Robert Edward Petre, 9th Baron Petre Robert Edward Petre, 9th Baron Petre (March 1742 – July 1801) was a British peer and prominent member of the English Roman Catholic nobility. Born into exceptional wealthy family, Lord Petre became a philanthropist and was responsible for em ...

(1742–1801), succeeded to the title about four months after his birth upon the death of his father, the 8th Baron. *

Robert Edward Petre, 10th Baron Petre Robert Edward Petre, 10th Baron Petre (3 September 1763 – 29 March 1809) was a British peer, the son of Robert Edward Petre, 9th Baron Petre (1742–1801) and his first wife, Anne Howard (1742–1787). On 14 February 1786, in London, Lord Pe ...

(1763–1809) *

William Henry Francis Petre, 11th Baron Petre William Henry Francis, 11th Baron Petre (22 January 1793 – 3 July 1850) was an English nobleman, based in Essex. He was the first Baron Petre to take his seat in the House of Lords after the passing of the Catholic Relief Act 1829. Family H ...

(1793–1850) * William Bernard Petre, 12th Baron Petre (1817–1884) *

William Joseph Petre, 13th Baron Petre William Joseph Petre, 13th Baron Petre (26 February 1847 – 8 May 1893) was an English nobleman and priest (Monsignor) of the Roman Catholic Church. Family Petre was the eldest son of William Bernard Petre, 12th Baron Petre and Mary Theresa Cl ...

(1847–1893) *Bernard Henry Philip Petre, 14th Baron Petre (1858–1908) *Philip Benedict Joseph Petre, 15th Baron Petre (1864–1908) * Lionel George Carroll Petre, 16th Baron Petre (1890–1915) * Joseph William Lionel Petre, 17th Baron Petre (1914–1989), succeeded to the title about fifteen months after his birth upon the death, in battle, of his father, the 16th Baron. * John Patrick Lionel Petre, 18th Baron Petre (b. 1942) The

heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...

is the present holder's son Hon. Dominic William Petre (b. 1966)
The

's heir apparent is his son William John Jude Petre (b. 2001)

Line of succession

* ''

(1549–1613)'' ** '' William Petre, 2nd Baron Petre (1575–1637)'' *** '' Robert Petre, 3rd Baron Petre (1599–1638)'' **** ''

(1626–1684)'' **** ''John Petre, 5th Baron Petre (1629–1684)'' **** '' Thomas Petre, 6th Baron Petre (1633–1706)'' ***** ''

(1689–1713)'' ****** ''

Robert Petre, 8th Baron Petre Robert James Petre, 8th Baron Petre (3 June 1713 – 2 July 1742) was a renowned horticulturist and a British peer. Petre was responsible in the late 1730s for the layout of the gardens at Worksop Manor in Nottinghamshire. He was also responsib ...

(1713–1742)'' ******* ''

(1742–1801)'' ******** '' Robert Petre, 10th Baron Petre (1763–1809)'' ********* ''

William Petre, 11th Baron Petre William Henry Francis, 11th Baron Petre (22 January 1793 – 3 July 1850) was an English nobleman, based in Essex. He was the first Baron Petre to take his seat in the House of Lords after the passing of the Catholic Relief Act 1829. Family ...

(1793–1850)'' ********** '' William Petre, 12th Baron Petre (1817–1884)'' *********** '' William Petre, 13th Baron Petre (1847–1893)'' *********** ''Bernard Petre, 14th Baron Petre (1858–1908)'' *********** ''Philip Petre, 15th Baron Petre (1864–1908)'' ************ ''

Lionel Petre, 16th Baron Petre Captain Lionel George Carroll, 16th Baron Petre (3 November 1890 – 30 September 1915) was an English peer. Born in Wadhurst, Sussex in 1890, he was educated at the Oratory, Edgbaston & Sandhurst. There is a story that he originally intended ...

(1890–1915)'' ************* '' Joseph Petre, 17th Baron Petre (1914–1989)'' ************** John Petre, 18th Baron Petre (b. 1942) *************** (1) Dominic Petre (b. 1966) **************** (2) William Petre (b. 2001)

Notes

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990. *

External links

*
Portrait of Sir William Petre
{{DEFAULTSORT:Petre 1603 establishments in England Baronies in the Peerage of England Noble titles created in 1603