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
                Immigrant 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

If you notice any errors in the information contained in the LANIER or SOUTHWELL reports
      please contact WDLanier@mindspring.com.

© 1997, 1998, 1999    wlanier3846@charter.net