Sir Robert Pye (1585-1662) of Faringdon, Berkshire, England

The second son of Roger and Bridget Pye of the Mynde was Robert. Unlike his older brother, Sir Walter, he apparently did not attend a university. He was a member of the Westminster Assembly and Scottish Commissioners from 1642-1649. He was also listed in the Members of the House of Commons as Sir Robert Pye (bap. 1585, d. 1662). Sir Robert was Auditor of the Exchequer and was a Royalist in service to King James I and King Charles I.

It is important to remember that there were several men by the name of Robert Pye. Over the last few hundred years, they have often been mixed up and sometimes grouped into one person. It is really important to check dates of each one and all locations where they lived. Some Roberts were father and son, some were cousins and some were more distantly related, or not connected at all. For instance, Sir Robert’s brother Walter also had a son and a grandson named Robert. Since they all lived at approximately the same time, it’s easy to see how the confusion could happen.

This Robert is of the Mynde, MuchDewchurch, Herefordshire. He married Mary Croker, daughter of John and Joan (Riddall) Croker of Batsford, Gloucestershire, before 1620. Four children have been found for him, although there may have been others.

         

          1. Robert (b. c. 1622-1662) – Was a Roundhead and supported                    Oliver Cromwell. During the civil Wars, he laid siege to his                          father’s home and eventually captured it. He married Anne                        Hampden, about 1642. After the Restoration, he took little part                  in politics. He was the gt. gt. grandfather of Henry James Pye,                  Poet Laureate of England, in 1790. Four children have been                      found for this couple.

          2. John (1626-1721) of Hone, Derbyshire, married Rebecca                          Rainton. Four children have been found for them. The                                Baronetcy of Pye of Hone was created Jan. 13 1665 for him.

          3. Mary (c1620-c1706) – Mary was a politically active woman who                married George Speke. In earlier years, he became a ward of                    Sir Robert Pye and then, eventually, married Robert’s daughter,                Mary. He was a politician serving as High Sheriff of Somerset                    and later as MP from Somerset. They had nine children, five of                  whom followed their parents’ politics.

          4. Anne (c. 1621-?) married Edward Phelips. No further                                  information.

                              

Members of the Westminster Assembly and Scottish Commissioners

from C. B. Van Dixhoorn, ed. The Minutes and Papers of the Westminster Assembly, 1643-1652 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), vol. 1:170 –175.

Members of the Westminster Assembly

Members of the House of Commons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pye_baronets

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