Family and Education

b. c.1542, 2nd s. of Thomas Churcher of Guildford, Surr. and Chiddingly. educ. I. Temple 1574. m. Patience, wid. of Robert Saye of Icklesham, and of James Ede of Warnham, s.p.

Offices Held

Servant of Anthony Browne^†, 1st Visct. Montagu from c.1580; j.p. Suss. from 1600.

Biography

Churcher (whose father may have bought land near Guildford in Mary’s reign) was an attorney, probably practising as such before his belated admission to the Inner Temple, when he was described as of Chiddingly. In October 1570 he had been granted arms as of Chiddingly, Sussex, the manor being quitclaimed to him in 1573. By the early 1580s he was Lord Montagu’s steward or attorney, frequently witnessing his master’s land transactions, being party to his final concords, and holding land to his use. No doubt if was through Montagu’s influence that he was returned for Midhurst, though the 1593 Parliament was summoned after the peer’s death. Churcher was an executor of Lord Montagu’s will.

In James I’s reign Churcher moved to West Sussex, having acquired a house in Slinfold, where he made his will on 6 Dec. 1614. He died 28 Nov. 1616.

W. Berry, Co. Genealogies, Suss. (Comber’s copy at Chichester), 48; PCC 20 Sainberbe, 131 Sadler, 14 Weldon, 22 Nevell; Manning and Bray, Surr. i. 31-2; Grantees of Arms (Harl. Soc. lxvi), 52; Suss. Rec. Soc. xix. 8; Suss. Arch. Soc., Barbican House, Lewes, cal., Montagu pprs. nos. 44, 46, 48, 50, 51-4, 63-7; Suss. Arch. Colls. xl. 51 seq.; C142/375/55.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: J.E.M.

Notes