Nicholas Ferrar

Nicholas Ferrar

Nicholas Ferrar

Nicholas Ferrar was assumed to be born in 1592. I have found that his most
probable birth date was in February of 1593. This is due to the usual calendar
confusion: England was not at that time using the new calendar adopted in
October 1582. It was 1593 according to our modern calendar, but at the time the
new year in England began on the following March 25th.

Nicholas Ferrar was one of the more interesting figures in English history. His
family was quite wealthy and were heavily involved in the Virginia Company,
which had a Royal Charter for the plantation of Virginia. People like Sir Walter
Raleigh were often visitors to the family home in London. Ferrarsÿ niece was
named Virginia, the first known use of this name. Ferrar studied at Cambridge
and would have gone further with his studies but the damp air of the fens was
bad for his health and he traveled to Europe, spending time in the warmer
climate of Italy.

On his return to England he found his family had fared badly. His brother John
had become over extended financially and the Virginia Company was in danger of
loosing its charter. Nicholas dedicated himself to saving the family fortune and
was successful. He served for a short time as Member of Parliament, where he
tried to promote the cause for the Virginia Company. His efforts were in vain
for the company lost their charter anyway. Nicholas is given credit for founding
a Christian community called the English Protestant Nunnery at ...

Nicholas Ferrar

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