Southern Roots
Ancestors from the Courts of Kings to the American Presidency !
The LANIER Family - Pg. 1
Descendants of Nicholas Lanier, The Elder
First Generation
1. Nicholas LANIER, The Elder [1332] was born before 1544 in France and died
after 1611 in England.
General Notes: Compiled by Wayne D. Lanier:
Nicholas Lanier
1544 - 1611
In 1561 the Earl of Hertford was visiting in Paris, and met there,
young Nicholas Laniere, who had been in the Court of the late King
Henry II; he was recommended as a good flute player and also the
cornet. He was considered to be sober, honest, and born at Rouen. He
was engaged to serve as messenger and a replacement for Peter
Guillaume, one of the Queen's flute players lately dead. Confirmation
of his services under Henry II is to be found in the lists of
"chantres et autres Jouers d'instruments" of the French King's
Chambers, which include Nicholas Lasnier for the years of 1559 and
1560. (Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Supplement 1962, p.
255),
Nicholas Lanier moved to East Greenwich, County Kent, where he was
one of the musicians to the Court until his death about 1612. He was
a very wealthy man, having extensive holdings in Blackheath, and the
surrounding country; this section was south of the Thames and about
five miles east of the London Bridge. One of the many palaces was
here, the Royal Hospital, and many other buildings of early
importance. In early 1700 an old house was taken down; it was
described as being fitted up for a theater, probably by the Laniers
who were musicians and dramatists.
Nicholas Lanier, who was in the Court of King Henry II of France, and
also the Court of Queen Elizabeth and King James of England, was the
founder of the Lanier family of musicians and the ancestor of the
American Laniers. He married before 1566, Lucreece Bassano, perhaps
the daughter of one of the Italian musicians in the Royal Orchestra.
They had six sons, all of whom were musicians to the Queen and Kings;
there were also four daughters and eight or more grandsons who became
members of the Royal Orchestra, making three generations serving the
Royal family.
In 1604 Nicholas Lanier, Sr. was named "Musician of the Flutes" and
after his death his son Andrea succeeded him "for life".
The will of Nicholas Lanier Gent. was dated January 28, 1611/12, and
proved July 1612, Rochester XIX, folia 514. "To Lucreece my wife, all
my lands, and goods; to sons John, Alphonse, Innocent, Jerome,
Clement, 12 shillings; to Andrea 20 pounds if he does not have my
place; my four daughters, three of whom are unmarried, I leave to the
discretion of my wife Lucreece, my sole executrix." (LANIER by Louise
Ingersoll)
Research Notes: Nicholas Lanier [Lanière, Lasnier], the Elder
(ca. 1530 - 1618)
French musician, played the flute and the cornet. He was born in
Rouen, France, and died in England. Nicholas Lanier the Elder served
as a court musician to King Henry II in France (listed as the royal
flutist on the Chantres et autres Jouers d'instruments for 1559-60).
During the Protestant persecutions in France, the Lanier family fled
as Huguenots to England. It is said that safe passage was arranged by
Queen Catherine de Medici. Nicholas arrived in 1561 and settled in
St. Olave Parish, Hart Street, London. After arrival in England he
served in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, reported first in 1561. The
name of Lanier's first wife is unknown (he married her some time
before 1565), but following the custom that at court, marriages were
arranged or at least approved by the Queen. Nicholas Lanier was
paired with Lucreece Bassano, daughter of Anthony Bassano . The
couple prospered, acquiring a great deal of property in East
Greenwich, Blackheath, and nearby. Their home was reportedly fitted
up with a theatre. Nicholas Lanier was apponted Musician of the
Flutes in 1604. He served Henry II of France and Elizabeth I and
James I of England. Three generations of this remarkable family
served British royalty as court musicians, poets and artists; their
efforts are well-documented and their efforts were well-rewarded.
As noted, Nicholas Lanier's first wife's name is unknown, however,
they did have two, or possibly three children, of whom one was John
Lanier , father of the artist-musician Nicholas Lanier , the most
famous of the Laniers. With Lucreece Bassano, he had nine children,
including the musicians Alphonso , Innocent , Jerome , Clement and
Andrea , and Ellen Lanier, who married Alphonse Ferrabosco II . After
his death, Andrea succeeded him as Musician of the Flutes for life.
Source: http://www.hoasm.org/IVM/LanierN1.html
Noted events in his life were:
* He worked as a Court Musician to King Henry II of France from
1559 to 1560.
* He immigrated Arrived in London in 1561.
* He worked as a Musician of the Flutes to Elizabeth I of England
in 1604.
Nicholas married Lucreece BASSANO [1333] [MRIN: 487], daughter of Anthony
BASSANO [1707] and Elena DE NAZZI [1708], on 13 Feb 1569 in All Hallows
Barking, England. Lucreece was born in 1556 in London, England, died on 4
Jan 1632 in Rochester, East Greenwich, England at age 76, and was buried
on 9 Jan 1632 in St Alphage, East Greenwich, England.
Marriage Notes: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
about Nicholas Lanier
Name:Nicholas Lanier Gender:male Spouse Name:Lucreece ??? Number Pages:1
Children from this marriage were:
+ 2 M i. John LANIER, I [403] was born before 1565 in England and died
about 1616 in England.
+ 3 M ii. Alphonse LANIER [1489] was born about 1572 in England and died
about 1613 in England about age 41.
4 M iii. Innocent LANIER [1490] was born about 1573 in England and died
about 1625 in England about age 52.
General Notes: Innocent Lanier never married.
Research Notes: Innocent Lanier
(ca. 1573 - 1625)
English musician, son of Nicholas Lanier , the Elder, hence uncle of Nicholas
Lanier , the artist-musician. Innocent Lanier was appointed in 1592 a musician
to court of Elizabeth I. Served James I as Gentleman of the King' s Chamber.
Musician in Ordinary on flutes 1603-25. Never married.
Source: http://www.hoasm.org/IVM/LanierInn.html
Name: Lanier, Innocent Birth - Death: d1625 Source Citation:
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 20 volumes. Edited by Stanley
Sadie. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1980. (NewGrDM)
Noted events in his life were:
* He worked as an Appointed Musician of Court to Elizabeth I of England
in 1592.
* He was honored for Gentleman of the King' s Chamber to James I of
England in 1592.
* He worked as a Musician in Ordinary on flutes from 1603 to 1625.
+ 5 M iv. Clement LANIER [1330] was born about 1575 in England and died in
1661 in England about age 86.
6 M v. Jerome LANIER [1492] was born about 1575 in England and died in
1657 in England about age 82.
Research Notes: Jerome Lanier
(ca. 1575 - 1659)
English musician, sackbut player, son of Nicholas Lanier , the Elder, hence
uncle of Nicholas Lanier , the artist-musician. Jerome Lanier was appointed in
1599 musician to court of Elizabeth I as Musician in Ordinary on woodwinds and
sackbut replacing Mark Anthony Bassano , a post he held until 1643. Lived in
Greenwich. He was married twice--first to Phrisdewith Grafton, daughter of
William Grafton, who died in 1625. Their children included William Lanier (born
1618; a musician); second to Elizabeth Willeford in 1627. Jerome Lanier
purchased several paintings acquired for the King (Charles I) by his nephew
Nicholas Lanier , in order to save them-- Clement Lanier also bought several;
John Evelyn, in his diary, noted seeing at "Old Jerome Laniere's, Greenwich,
some pictures which surely had been the King's." Jerome Lanier died in 1659,
mentioning in his will his "poor little estate," most of which had been lost in
the Civil War. John Evelyn, in his "Memoires," noted him in the household of
Elizabeth I, as a man "skilled in painting and carving."
Source: http://www.hoasm.org/IVM/LanierJerome.html
Name: Lanier, Jerome Birth - Death: d1657 Source Citation:
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 20 volumes. Edited by Stanley
Sadie. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1980. (NewGrDM)
Noted events in his life were:
* He worked as a Musician in Ordinary to Elizabeth I of England from
1599 to 1643.
+ 7 M vi. Andrea LANIER [1563] was born about 1577 in England and died in
1660 in England about age 83.
8 F vii. Ellen LANIER [1564] was born about 1579 in England and died after
1626 in England.
Ellen married Alfonso FERRABOSCO, II [1572] [MRIN: 569] before 1610 in
England. Alfonso was born about 1572 and died in 1628 in England
about age 56.
Second Generation (Children)
2. John LANIER, I [403] was born before 1565 in England and died about 1616 in
England.
Research Notes: John Lanier 1
(before 1565 - 1616)
English musician, flute player. John Lanier was a son of Nicholas Lanier , the
Elder, by his first wife, and father of Nicholas Lanier , the artist-musician.
He was appointed in 1582 a musician to court of Elizabeth I. Served James I as
Gentleman of the King' s Chamber. He married Frances Galliardello, who was from
a family of Italian musicians who came to the court of Henry VIII; her father,
Mark Anthony Galliardello, was a Venetian and had been sent for by Henry VIII.
She had a brother Caesar Galliardello.
Source: http://www.hoasm.org/IVM/LanierJohn.html
Noted events in his life were:
* He worked as a Court Musician to Elizabeth I in 1582.
* He worked as a Gentleman of the King's Chamber to James I.
John married Frances GALLIARDELLO [1486] [MRIN: 554]. Frances was born in
Venice, Italy and died in England.
The child from this marriage was:
9 M i. Nicholas LANIER, The Younger [1487] was born about 1588 in England
and died about 1666 in England about age 78.
Research Notes: Nicholas Lanier (Lanière)
(1588-1666)
Nicholas Lanier c. 1625 by Van Dyck
English composer, lutenist, singer and painter. He was a descendant
of a French family of musicians that settled in England in the
mid-16th century. He served the Earl of Salisbury to 1607, and the
Cecil family between 1605 and 1613 as a domestic musician. Lanier
joined the King's Musick as Musician in Ordinary for the lutes and
voices in 1616; in addition to his position as lutenist, Lanier was a
singer, and performer on the viol. He was named Master of the Musick
of Prince Charles in 1618, and in 1626 he became the first holder of
the title 'Master of the King's Musick.' He was Singer in the King's
Consorte 1625-42, and Groom in Ordinary for the Queen's Privy
Chamber1639. It was Lanier who convinced the King to bring Van Dyck
to England. His own portrait was painted by VanDyck and the work
hangs in Vienna at the Kunsthistoiches Museum. Nicholas was sent
abroad to acquire artworks for the King (see Gordon Callon's bio of
Nicholas Lanier II) and he assembled a vast collection for the king--
all of which were later dispersed when Charles I was executed--
indeed, some of the paintings were purchased by Laniers, in order to
save them-- his uncles Clement Lanier and Jerome Lanier bought
several. John Evelyn, in his diary, noted seeing at "Old Jerome
Laniere's, Greenwich, some pictures which surely had been the
King's." Nicholas the Younger bought four of the paintings. Nicholas
lost his position during the Civil War, but was restored by Charles
II, serving as Musician in Ordinary 1660-66. He served as first
Marshall (for life) of the Corporation for Regulating the Art and
Science of Music.
Lanier performed in a masque in 1613, and provided music for court
entertainments, including the 1617 masque Lovers Made Men, the first
appearance in England of the Italianate stile recitativo. This is
lost, but some songs and occasional pieces survive in MS. As a
composer, Lanier was recognized in his own day, and is chiefly
remembered now as one of the composers who introduced this new style
of Italian monody to seventeenth-century English music. He was
unquestionably an important composer of music for court masques,
especially those of Ben Jonson. Indeed, if we are to take Jonson's
remarks at face value, he was the first English composer to write
music for a masque that was sung throughout, and thus may be
considered the beginning of a sort of opera in England--Jonson, in
his introductory stage directions to Lovers Made Men, states, "the
whole Masque was sung (after the Italian manner) Stylo recitativo, by
Master Nicholas Lanier; who ordered and made both the Scene, and the
Musicke." Jonson also mentions Lanier (along with Lanier's uncle,
Alfonso Ferrabosco) as composer of music for his Masque of Augurs.
Lanier's character as revealed in his songs is somewhat aloof;
elevated in serious vein, yet he can be charming in a rather
old-fashioned way, especially in lighter songs. He show a penchant
for lyrics that, for all their 'lily whites' and'blushing reds', are
quite colorless.
Source: http://www.hoasm.org/IVM/Lanier.html
Noted events in his life were:
* He worked as a Domestic Musician to the Earl of Salisbury in
1607.
* He worked as a Musician in Ordinary in 1616.
* He was honored for named Master of the Musick of Prince Charles
in 1618.
* He was honored for became the first holder of the title 'Master
of the King's Musick.' in 1626.
* He worked as a Singer in the King's Consorte from 1625 to 1642.
* He was honored for Groom in Ordinary for the Queen's Privy
Chamber in 1639.
Name: Lanier, Nicholas Birth - Death: 1588-1666 Source Citation: Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Sixth edition. Revised by Nicolas Slonimsky. London: Collier Macmillan Publishers, . (BakBD 6) Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Seventh edition. Revised by Nicolas Slonimsky. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Schirmer Books, 1984. (BakBD 7) Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Eighth edition. Revised by Nicolas Slonimsky. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992. (BakBD 8) Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Ninth edition. Edited by Laura Kuhn. New York: Schirmer Books, 2001. (BakBD 9) A Biographical Dictionary of Renaissance Poets and Dramatists, 1520- 1650. By J.W. Saunders. Sussex, England: The Harvester Press, 1983. (BiDRP&D) Biography Index. A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines. Volume 5: September, 1958-August, 1961. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1962. (BioIn 5) Biography Index. A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines. Volume 20: September, 1994-August, 1995. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1995. (BioIn 20) Britannica Book of Music. Edited by Benjamin Hadley. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co., 1980. (BriBkM) The Dictionary of National Biography. The Concise Dictionary. Part 1, From the beginnings to 1900. London: Oxford University Press, 1953. Contains abstracts of the biographies found in The Dictionary of National Biography (21 volumes, New York: Macmillan Co.; London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1908). (DcNaB) Music Makers. By Clive Unger-Hamilton. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1979. Use the 'Alphabetical List of Entries' at the front of the book to locate biographies. (MusMk) The New American Dictionary of Music. By Philip D. Morehead with Anne MacNeil. New York: Dutton, 1991. (NewAmDM) The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 20 volumes. Edited by Stanley Sadie. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1980. (NewGrDM) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Four volumes. Edited by Stanley Sadie. New York: Grove's Dictionaries of Music, . (NewGrDO) The New Oxford Companion to Music. Two volumes. Edited by Denis Arnold. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1983. (NewOxM)Name: Lanier, Nicholas Birth - Death: d1666 Source Citation: The Oxford Companion to Music. 2002 edition. Edited by Alison Latham. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. (OxCMus 2002) 3. Alphonse LANIER [1489] was born about 1572 in England and died about 1613 Research Notes: Alphonse Lanier Source: http://www.hoasm.org/IVM/LanierAlph1.html Name: Lanier, Alfonso Birth - Death: d1613 Source Citation: Noted events in his life were: * He worked as a Musician in Ordinary for the Recorder to Elizabeth I and Alphonse married Emelia BASSANO [1565] [MRIN: 566], daughter of Baptista Noted events in her life were: * She worked as a feminist poet. Children from this marriage were: 10 M i. Henry LANIER [1568] died on an unknown date. Noted events in his life were: * He worked as a Flute player. 5. Clement LANIER [1330] was born about 1575 in England and died in 1661 in Research Notes: Clement Lanier Source: http://www.hoasm.org/IVM/LanierClement.html Name: Lanier, Clement Birth - Death: d1661 Source Citation: Noted events in his life were: * He was honored for Gentleman of the King' s Chamber to James I and Clement married Hannah COLLETT [1331] [MRIN: 486] in 1628. Marriage Notes: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Children from this marriage were: + 12 M i. John LANIER, Sr. [1271] was born about 1631 in Kent, England 7. Andrea LANIER [1563] was born about 1577 in England and died in 1660 in Research Notes: Andrea Lanier Source: http://www.hoasm.org/IVM/LanierAndrea.html Name: Lanier, Andrea Birth - Death: d1660 Source Citation: Noted events in his life were: * He was honored for appointed musician to court of Elizabeth I in 1612. Andrea married Joyce PERRY [1570] [MRIN: 568] in 1628 in England. Joyce was The child from this marriage was: 14 M i. Thomas LANIER, II [1571] was born in 1633 in England and died Third Generation (Grandchildren) 12. John LANIER, Sr. [1271] was born about 1631 in Kent, England and died Noted events in his life were: * He immigrated in 1657 to Virginia. Passenger and Immigration Lists John married Lucretia "Lucreese" [1272] [MRIN: 471]. Lucretia was born on an Children from this marriage were: + 15 M i. John LANIER, Jr. [1269] was born about 1655 in England and died 13. Robert LANIER [1573] was born in England and died after 1680 in Barbados. Noted events in his life were: * He immigrated To Virginia about 1656. Robert married Rebecca [1576] [MRIN: 570]. Rebecca died on an unknown date. Children from this marriage were: 17 M i. Lemuel LANIER [1574] died on an unknown date.
in England about age 41.
(ca. 1572 - 1613)
English musician, son of Nicholas Lanier , the Elder, hence uncle of Nicholas
Lanier , the artist-musician. Alphonse Lanier was appointed in 1591 Musician in
Ordinary for the Recorder to Elizabeth I (he is noted as playing at her
funeral) and later James I. He was a Captain in Irish Service. Married 1592 in
England to the feminist poet Emelia Bassano, illegitimate daughter of Italian
musician Baptista Bassano and Margaret Johnson. There was a son Henry Lanier
(a flute player) and a daughter Odilla Lanier who died as an infant.
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 20 volumes. Edited by Stanley
Sadie. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1980. (NewGrDM)
later James I. in 1591.
* He worked as a Captain in Irish Service.
BASSANO [1566] and Margaret JOHNSON [1567], about 1592 in England. Emelia
died on an unknown date.
11 F ii. Odilla LANIER [1569] died on an unknown date.
England about age 86.
(ca. 1575 - 1659)
English musician, recorder player, son of Nicholas Lanier , the Elder, hence
uncle of Nicholas Lanier , the artist-musician. Clement Lanier was Gentleman of
the King' s Chamber to James I and Charles I--that title was often afforded
musicians and actors--of the day. Musician in Ordinary on recorders 1625;
King's musician of wind instruments 1633-42. Clement Lanier and Hannah Collett
married in March of 1628 at St. Margaret's, Lee. When Charles I was executed,
the Laniers suffered financial setbacks and hardships while they supported the
Prince of Wales (later Charles II) and his struggles to regain the throne.
Clement' s cousin Nicholas Lanier (son of John and Frances) had assembled a
great art collection for their sovereign Charles I. During the Protectorate,
the collection was dispersed at auction. Clement and his brother Jerome were
able to purchase some of the paintings.After the Restoration, the Laniers were
able to regain some of their fortunes. He was Musician for the flute 1660-62.
Clement and Hannah are the progenitors of both the American line of Laniers and
the Barbados line.
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 20 volumes. Edited by Stanley
Sadie. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1980. (NewGrDM)
Charles I.
* He was honored for Musician in Ordinary in 1625.
* He was honored for King's musician of wind instruments from 1633 to
1642.
* He worked as a Musician for the flute from 1660 to 1662.
about Clement Lanier
Name:Clement Lanier Gender:male Spouse Name:Hannah Collet Marriage
Year:1628 Number Pages:1
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
about Clement Lanier
Name:Clement Lanier Gender:male Spouse Name:Lee Hannah Collet Number
Pages:1
and died after 1683 in Charles City, Virginia.
+ 13 M ii. Robert LANIER [1573] was born in England and died after 1680 in
Barbados.
England about age 83.
(ca. 1577 - 1660)
English musician, flute player and music teacher, son of Nicholas Lanier , the
Elder, hence uncle of Nicholas Lanier , the artist-musician. Andrea Lanier was
appointed in 1612 musician to court of Elizabeth I. Succeeded his father
Nicholas as Master of the Flutes for Life; in 1655, he petitioned Charles II to
be restored to his third post, which had been lost in the Civil War, but which
had been guaranteed), During the Civil War, He had been imprisoned in 1643.
Andrea Lanier married Joyce Perry in June 1628. Amongst their children was
Thomas Lanier II (born 1633; still living by 1692), a flutist married in Feb
1658-9 to Joan Pettiward
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 20 volumes. Edited by Stanley
Sadie. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1980. (NewGrDM)
* He was honored for Master of the Flutes for Life in 1612.
born in England and died on an unknown date in England.
after 1692 in England.
after 1683 in Charles City, Virginia.
Index, 1500s-1900s
about John Lanier
Name:John Lanier Year:1657 Place:Virginia Source Publication
Code:1262 Primary Immigrant:Lanier, John Annotation:Date and place of
settlement or date and place of arrival. Names not restricted to the
Order of Founders and Patriots of America. Source Bibliography:COLKET,
MEREDITH B., JR. Founders of Early American Families: Emigrants from
Europe, 1607-1657. Cleveland: General Court of the Order of Founders
and Patriots of America, 1975. 366p. Page:172
unknown date and died in Charles City, Virginia.
after Jan 1717 in Prince George, Virginia.
16 F ii. Katherine LANIER [1328] was born in England and died about 1665
in Charles City, Virginia.
* He immigrated To Barbados in 1680. Passenger and Immigration Lists
Index, 1500s-1900s
about Robtt Lanier
Name:Robtt Lanier Year:1680 Place:Barbados Family Members:Wife &
servants Source Publication Code:3283 Primary Immigrant:Lanier, Robtt
Annotation:Standard work. Includes lists of ships to Bermuda, Barbados,
and continental North America. Indexes family names. Names of Jews are
excerpted in Adler, no. 61. Care should be taken when using Hotten.
There are two versions, one with accurate text and inde Source
Bibliography:HOTTEN, JOHN CAMDEN, editor. The Original Lists of Persons
of Quality; Emigrants; Religious Exiles; Political Rebels; Serving Men
Sold for a Term of Years; Apprentices; Children Stolen; Maidens
Pressed; and Others Who Went from Great Britain to the American
Plantations, 1600-1700. With Their Ages, the Localities Where They
Formerly Lived in the Mother Country, the Names of the Ships in Which
They Embarked, and Other Interesting Particulars. From MSS. Preserved
in the State Page:443
Source Citation: Place: Barbados; Year: 1680; Page Number: 443.
Source Information:
Gale Research. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s
[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc.,
2006. Original data: Filby, P. William, ed.. Passenger and Immigration
Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research,
2006.
Description:
Updated annually, this database is an index to passengers who arrived
in United States and Canadian ports from the 1500s through the 1900s.
It contains listings of approximately 4,588,000 individuals and
references thousands of different records compiled from everything from
original passenger lists to personal diaries. For each individual
listed, you may find the following information: name, age, year and
place of arrival, and the source of the record. Learn more...
18 M ii. Robert LANIER [1575] died on an unknown date.
19 M iii. Clement LANIER [1577] died on an unknown date.
Updates
The Henson Family pages have been updated recently.