Constituency Dates
Poole 1593, 1597
Family and Education
2nd s. of William Orenge of Mells by his w., the da. of one Cleeve. educ. M. Temple 1567. m. Joan Somerfield of Shaftesbury, wid. of William Hunton of Wilts., at least 1s.
Offices Held

Sec. to the ld. chancellor Thomas Bromley (1580s) and the ld. keeper John Puckering (1590s).

Address
Main residence: Marston Bigott, Som.
biography text

Orenge probably came to be returned for Poole through the influence of his uncle Thomas Hannam. His job close to the fountain head of patronage brought him a vast correspondence from people asking for their suits to be favoured. Even the Middle Temple thought it wise ‘in consequence of his kindness’ to excuse him from ‘all pensions and vacations’.

Only one mention of Orenge in Somerset has been found during the Elizabethan period: his witnessing of a document in 1595. He had a house at Marston Bigott, and bought the manor of Forscote from (Sir) Henry Berkeley II in 1601. He had a nephew who wrote from Salisbury to thank him for obtaining him a post as schoolmaster, and a cousin who was a clothier of Mells. Orenge died 7 Aug. 1626, leaving a son Edward aged over 30.1Vis. Som. (Harl. Soc. xi), 81; J. Collinson, Som. iii. 350; M.T. Mins. i. 163, 235, 268, 293, 367; Cal. Proc. Chanc. Q. Eliz. iii. 90; Harl. 286, ff. 230, 234, 236, 241; Dorset Nat. Hist. and Arch. Soc. Procs. lxix. 78; Som. Wills, i. 32, 94-5; C142/422/7.

Author
P.W.H.
Volume
Commons 1558-1603
Notes

This biography is based upon the Roberts thesis.

Notes
  • 1. Vis. Som. (Harl. Soc. xi), 81; J. Collinson, Som. iii. 350; M.T. Mins. i. 163, 235, 268, 293, 367; Cal. Proc. Chanc. Q. Eliz. iii. 90; Harl. 286, ff. 230, 234, 236, 241; Dorset Nat. Hist. and Arch. Soc. Procs. lxix. 78; Som. Wills, i. 32, 94-5; C142/422/7.