Jerome Hawley (1590-1638)
MSA SC 3520-626
Council Member
Down to MPT - Founding of Maryland Biography
BORN: in 1590 in Middlesex, England; younger son.
IMMIGRATED: in 1633 as a free adult with his wife and
family.
RESIDED: in St. Mary's County; moved to Virginia, 1637/38.
FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: James Hawley (1558-1622), of Brentford,
Middlesex, England. MOTHER: Susann, daughter of Robert Tuthill, of
Amersham, England. BROTHERS: William Hawley, Esq., of Grossment, Monmouth,
England; James Hawley, Esq. (?-by 1667), of New Brandford, Middlesex, England;
Henry (?-1679), governor of Barbados; and Gabriel (1609-by 1636/37). MARRIED
first, (first name unknown) Hawkins. MARRIED second, Eleanor, widow
of Thomas Courtney. CHILDREN. STEPSON: Sir William Courtney, of Newhouse,
Wiltshire, England.
PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION:
Catholic. SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: his family was very active in colonizing
both Virginia and Barbados; he was a one-eighth partner in the Ark, 1633;
returned to England in 1635-37, where he successfully lobbied for high
appointments in Virginia; coauthored with John Lewger (1602-1665), A Relation
of Maryland, 1635; "gentlemen server" to Queen Henrietta Maria, 1637.
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: colonial investor; merchant; placeman.
PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Assembly, 1637/38.
OTHER PROVINCIAL OFFICES: commissioner, 1633-1637; Council, 1637-1638.
OUT OF COLONY SERVICE: councilor and treasurer of Virginia, 1636/37-1638.
STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES: accused of weakly defending
Lord Baltimore's claims to Kent Island and of being excessively avaricious,
1638.
WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: prior to August 2, 1638. PERSONAL PROPERTY:
TEV, ?944.13.0 sterling; most of his estate went to satisfy his creditors.
LAND: rights to 6,000 acres.
Source: Edward C. Papenfuse, et al., A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789. Vol. I, A-H. (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979), page 426.
Founding of Maryland - Educational Project for Elementary
and Middle School Students
Maryland Public Television and Maryland State Archives (January-February
2003)
written by Maria A. Day, MSA Archival Intern
Jerome Hawley voyaged to Maryland aboard the Ark in 1633. He was a merchant from a wealthy English family. Some of his family had already settled in Virginia. His older brother was the Governor of the English colony on Barbados. As an investor in the Maryland colony, Jerome gave Lord Calvert some money to support the voyage of the Ark and the Dove. Jerome was a Roman Catholic like Lord Baltimore. He and his wife, Eleanor hoped their regious beliefs would be tolerated in the new colony of Maryland. Jerome returned to England in 1635. There he and John Lewger published a booklet called A Relation of Maryland. They wrote this booklet to encourage other English families to come and settle in Maryland. The book describes how the colonists lived. It also tells about the friendship between the English and Native Americans in Maryland. While Jerome was in England, he asked the King if he could work in the government of the Virginia colony. The King made him a councilor and treasurer of Virginia. Jerome also served in Queen Henrietta Maria's household. He died in 1638 with many debts from his investments in English colonies.Up to Biographical Profile
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