Sir Humphrey Weld (died 29 November 1610) was an English merchant who was

Lord Mayor of London The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the City of London and the leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded precedence over all individuals except the sovereign and retains various traditional pow ...

in 1608.

Career

Weld's family roots were in Eaton and Congleton, Cheshire. He was the fourth son of John Weld of Eaton and his wife Joanna FitzHugh.''Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry'', 2 vols (H. Colburn, London 1847), II
pp. 1545-6
(Google). He settled in Holdwell, Hertfordshire and became a

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...

merchant and a member of the

Worshipful Company of Grocers The Worshipful Company of Grocers is one of the 110 Livery Companies of the City of London and ranks second in order of precedence. The Grocers' Company was established in 1345 for merchants occupied in the trade of grocer and is one of the Gr ...

. On 9 May 1598, he was elected an alderman of the City of London for

Farringdon Within Farringdon Within is one of the 25 wards of the City of London, the historic and financial centre of London. It was formed in the 14th century from the sub-division of the pre-existing Farringdon Ward into ''Farringdon Within'' (inside the line ...

ward. He was

Sheriff of London Two sheriffs are elected annually for the City of London by the Liverymen of the City livery companies. Today's sheriffs have only nominal duties, but the historical officeholders had important judicial responsibilities. They have attended the ju ...

from 1599 to 1600. In 1600 he was among the aldermen led by Mayor Sir

Nicholas Mosley Nicholas Mosley, 3rd Baron Ravensdale, 7th Baronet, MC, FRSL (25 June 1923 – 28 February 2017) was an English novelist. Life Mosley was born in London in 1923. He was the eldest son of Sir Oswald Mosley, 6th Baronet, a British politician, ...

who unsuccessfully appealed to the

Marquess of Winchester Marquess of Winchester is a title in the Peerage of England that was created in 1551 for the prominent statesman William Paulet, 1st Earl of Wiltshire. It is the oldest of six surviving English marquessates; therefore its holder is considered ...

for funds for the repair of the steeple of the church of the Austin Friars. He was knighted on 26 July 1603. He transferred as alderman to

Walbrook Walbrook is a City ward and a minor street in its vicinity. The ward is named after a river of the same name. The ward of Walbrook contains two of the City's most notable landmarks: the Bank of England and the Mansion House. The street runs ...

ward in 1604. In 1608, he was elected Lord Mayor of London. During his mayoralty, the reconstruction of the

Aldgate Aldgate () was a gate in the former defensive wall around the City of London. It gives its name to Aldgate High Street, the first stretch of the A11 road, which included the site of the former gate. The area of Aldgate, the most common use of ...

, one of the four principal gates of the City of London, was completed. Weld's name as Mayor appeared on the gate itself, and in connection with an engraving of the gate produced later. He was president of

Christ's Hospital Christ's Hospital is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 11–18) with a royal charter located to the south of Horsham in West Sussex. The school was founded in 1552 and received its first royal charter in 1553. ...

from 1609. The Latin inscription on his tomb, together with long poetic epitaph, which were in the south aisle of

St Olave, Old Jewry St Olave's Church, Old Jewry, sometimes known as ''Upwell Old Jewry'', was a church in the City of London located between the street called Old Jewry and Ironmonger Lane. Destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, the church was rebuilt by t ...

, are recorded in Anthony Munday's edition of John Stow's ''Survey of London''. The heraldry for Sir Humphrey is shown as a quartering, 1 and 4: Weld, 2: Button als Grant, 3: Fitzhugh, with a

cadency In heraldry, cadency is any systematic way to distinguish arms displayed by descendants of the holder of a coat of arms when those family members have not been granted arms in their own right. Cadency is necessary in heraldic systems in which ...

mark of a

martlet A martlet in English heraldry is a mythical bird without feet that never roosts from the moment of its drop-birth until its death fall; martlets are proposed to be continuously on the wing. It is a compelling allegory for continuous effort, expre ...

(fourth son) at the central crossing of the quarters.

Family

Sir Humphrey married first, Ann Wheler (daughter of Nicolas Wheler), the mother of his children; and secondly Mary, one of the three daughters of Sir Stephen Slaney, Lord Mayor for 1595 to 1596. His children (by Ann) are shown as follows in the ''Visitation of Middlesex'': *

John Weld John Weld (February 24, 1905 – June 14, 2003) was an American newspaper reporter and writer. Weld was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He had an early career in Hollywood in the 1920s as a stunt double for Tom Mix, Buck Jones and other stars. ...

(1585-1622) of Arnolds in Southgate, Middlesex. A merchant, he founded the Weld Chapel in

Edmonton, London Edmonton is a town in north London, England within the London Borough of Enfield, a local government district of Greater London. The northern part of the town is known as Lower Edmonton or Edmonton Green, and the southern part as Upper Edmont ...

. He married Frances daughter of William Whitmore of London (and sister of Sir William Whitmore), was knighted in 1617, died in 1622,Will of Sir John Weld (P.C.C. 1623, Swann quire). and was buried in his private chapel at Arnolds. He was survived by his wife and children. His son was Humphrey Weld (of Lulworth), a

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 ...

, who acquired "Weld House" in London.In her will of 1623 (P.C.C. 1623, Swann quire), Dame Mary Weld describes John as "my son-in-lawe Sir John Weld knight deceased" and Anne as "my daughter-in-lawe the Lady Stonehouse": meaning "stepson" and "stepdaughter".F.C. Cass, ''East Barnet'', London and Middlesex Archaeological and Natural History Society (Westminster 1885)
at pp. 30-39 (see p. 37, note)
(Google). * Humphrey Weld, died without issue * Joan Weld, eldest daughter. In 1597 she became the first wife of Sir Robert Brooke of Cockfield Hall,

Yoxford Yoxford is a village in East Suffolk, England, close to the Heritage Coast, Minsmere Reserve (RSPB), Aldeburgh and Southwold. It is known for its antique shops and (as "Loxford") for providing the setting for a Britten opera. The name 'Yoxfor ...

, Suffolk. She died aged 38 and was buried at Yoxford church in May 1618. * Anne Weld, married first, Richard Corbett of Stoke, Shropshire; after his death, her jointure was arranged in December 1617 in anticipation of her marriage to Sir James Stonehouse (died 1638).Will of Sir James Stonehouse of Islington (P.C.C. 1638/39, Harvey quire). * Mary Weld, died without issue * Elizabeth Weld, died without issue * Sarah Weld, died without issue

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weld, Humphrey Year of birth missing 1610 deaths English merchants Sheriffs of the City of London 17th-century lord mayors of London Place of birth missing 16th-century English businesspeople 17th-century English businesspeople Sir Humphrey Weld