Christopher Wormeley

Christopher Wormeley (-died before 20 December 1645 ) was an English military officer who served as governor of Tortuga before becoming the secretary of state for the Virginia Colony (1635–1649) as well as captain of the fort at Old Point Comfort beginning in 1638. He also served on the Virginia Governor's Council (1637–1642), as would his younger brother Ralph Wormeley Sr.

Early life and education He had a younger brother Ralph who had emigrated to the Virginia colony by 1635. The family could trace its descent from Sir John de Wormeley (or De Wormele) of Hadfield, York County, England.

Military and bureaucratic career

On July 6, 1631, the Providence Island Company commissioned Captain Wormeley to succeed Anthony Hilton in governing the island called "Association", better known as Tortuga off mainland Hispaniola. Shortly thereafter, Wormeley was appointed a member of the Virginia Governor's Council, and as such supported the unpopular governor John Harvey. Wormeley also commanded the militia of Charles River and Elizabeth City counties in 1639 and 1640. When the colony's secretary, Mathew Kemp, fled to England in 1640, Wormeley may have accompanied him, both being unpopular, and had difficulty returning to Virginia. Wormeley later confessed to having unjustly adjudicated against a man named Taylor while a commissioner for Elizabeth City county, and the royal council ordered him to make reparation to Taylor, but did not disbar him from the Virginia governor's council when he returned.

Planter Wormeley acquired 1,420 acres on the York River, including the east side of what became known as Wormeley Creek and established a plantation. Wormeley or his son hosted several prominent royalist exiles at his plantation in 1650 (including Sir Thomas Lunsford, Sir Henry Chicheley, Sir Philip Honywood and Col. Manwaring Hammond).

Death and legacy Wormeley last attended governor's council meetings in 1642 and 1643, so one biographer believes he died in that year. However, another biographer believes he died in 1656, possibly because a British sea captain of the same name died in Yorkshire in 1655.