English School, circa 1600

Portrait of Sir Samuel Sandys (1560-1623), Son of Archbishop Edwin Sandys

bust-length, wearing a ruff

in a feigned oval

oil on panel

69cm x 58cm

Ombersley Court, Worcestershire

A similar joint portrait of Samuel and Mercy Sandys is recorded hanging in the saloon at Ombersley Court. Samuel Sandys married, in 1568, Mercy Culpepper, who was a daughter of Sir Martin Culpepper (1580-1604), of Deane, Oxfordshire. Samuel was Sheriff of the County of Worcestershire (1612) and an M.P. in 1616 and 1622. He was also a member of the Council of the Virginia Company. Their daughter, Margaret Sandys (circa 1593-1644) married Sir Francis Wyatt, who became Governor of Virginia in 1621-1626 and again in 1639-1642. He appears on a muster role taken in Virginia on 24th January 1645/25. Margaret’s name was not recorded and, although she accompanied him to the Americas, she had by then returned to England. Sir Samuel and Lady Mercy Sandys are buried in the chancel of the Church of St John the Baptist, Wickhamford.