Michael Corselis
Michael Corselis was a prominent Anglo-Dutch merchant active in London during the early 17th century, closely connected to the Corselis family network that helped finance drainage and land reclamation schemes in England. He was part of a wider community of Protestant merchants and investors from the Low Countries.
🧾 Biographical Sketch: Michael Corselis
Origins and Family
- Born c.1550s–1570s, likely in the Low Countries (Flanders or Brabant).
- Member of the Corselis family, a well-established mercantile and refugee lineage of Dutch and Walloon Protestant origin.
- The Corselis name derives from Courcelles in Aisne, France, and was brought to England by Huguenot and Flemish immigrants fleeing persecution under the Duke of Alva.
Migration to England
- The Corselis family settled in London and Southwark in the late 16th century.
- Michael Corselis appears in legal and probate records from the early 1600s, including as executor of Lucas van Peene’s will in 1614 and Edward Lumans’ will in 1639.
- He was part of a network of Anglo-Dutch merchants involved in trade, finance, and land investment.
Probate
- His probate records that he was living at Temple Belwood in the Isle of Axholme when he diedin June 1637
- He left money to the poor of Belton & Epworth in his will. (TNA, PROB 11/175, 1 Nov. 1637)
💼 Role in Anglo-Dutch Mercantile Circles
1. Executor and Legal Agent
- Named as executor in multiple wills, indicating trust and legal standing.
- His appearance in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury suggests he was a resident merchant of London with substantial assets and responsibilities.
2. Investor in Drainage and Land Reclamation
- The Corselis family was directly involved in the Hatfield Chase drainage scheme:
- John Corselis, a Dutch merchant, was one of the Participants in Vermuyden’s 1626 contract.
- The family settled in the Isle of Axholme region and held reclaimed land.
- Michael Corselis likely helped facilitate capital and legal arrangements for these ventures.
3. Protestant Mercantile Network
- The Corselis family was part of a Protestant refugee merchant class that:
- Maintained ties to Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Rotterdam.
- Invested in English infrastructure, especially drainage and fenland improvement.
- Supported Walloon and Huguenot settlement in reclaimed areas like Sandtoft and Belton.
🧭 Legacy and Connections
| Name | Role | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Corselis | Merchant, executor | London-based legal and financial agent |
| John Corselis | Investor | Participant in Hatfield Chase drainage |
| Lucas Corselis | Descendant | Settled in Elmore, Gloucestershire |
| Jossynken Vantexen | Wife of Michael | Dutch origin, part of mercantile family |
The Corselis family’s involvement in early modern Anglo-Dutch enterprise helped shape the commercial and physical landscape of eastern England, especially through their support of Cornelius Vermuyden’s drainage schemes.