Christopher Tye and the Tye family of Colchester in the 16th century

Abstract Musical reference works contain very little information about the relatives of the composer Christopher Tye. Ever since the 19th century we have known that his wife’s name was Katherine and that he had children named Peter, Susan, Mary and Ellen, the last of whom married the composer Robert White. The existence of a fourth daughter is also implied. For over one hundred years that is where our knowledge rested, but the recent discovery of the will of Tye’s mother has added further information. It reveals that Tye had a brother and a sister and that the three siblings had between them at least eleven children, who are also named. Tye’s mother died in Colchester, Essex, where the family had been living for many years previously. The early history of this Tye family is obscure, but such information as is recoverable raises the possibility that the composer was born in the town. The present article discusses this evidence and reassesses the composer’s relationship with the Chapel Royal.