The Lanier Homepage
Compiled by Wayne D. Lanier

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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)

There is the hypothesis that the John Lanier who married Lucreece is the same John Lanier who was the husband of Miss Sampson and Sarah Edmunds. This would have meant that he lived to the age of eighty-eight years in a rather harsh and primitive environment. Additionally, there are no records confirming the existence of the second John as the Court House which may have housed such records was destroyed by fire. For purposes of this report, it will be considered that John the Imigrant had a son, John, who married Miss Sampson and Sarah Edmunds.

                     4 John Lanier, Jr.(II) 1655
                       +Katherine Sampson
                       +Sarah Edmunds

               3 Robert Lanier  abt 1642-
                   + Rebecca ??? abt 1639-

        2 Andrea Lanier

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