Edmund Thomas (Parliamentarian)
Encyclopedia
Edmund Thomas was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons
in 1654 and 1656 and sat in Cromwell's Upper House. He supported the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War
and the Interregnum.
Thomas was born at Wenvoe
, the only son of William Thomas of Wenvoe and his wife Jane Stradling, eldest daughter of Sir John Stradling
. His father died in 1636 at the age of 25.
In 1654, Thomas was elected Member of Parliament
for Glamorgan in the First Protectorate Parliament
. He was re-elected MP for Glamorgan in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament
. On 10 December 1657, Thomas became one of three Welsh men, who were made members of Oliver Cromwell
's House of Lord, the other two were Philip Jones and John Jones
of Merionethshire
. Thomas had extensive family connection with General Edmund Ludlow
, and the brothers William Strickland
and Walter Strickland
, all three of whom were also members of Cromwell's Upper House. He also attended Cromwell's funeral. In 1659 he was put in command of Militia in Glamorgan, Brecon and Radnor. He purchased lands in Wenvoe, St Andrews, Llandow, Rhiwperra and Michaelston-y Vedw. In 1664 he was High Sheriff of Glamorgan
.
Thomas died in 1677 and was buried at Wenvoe.
Thomas came from family that were for many years seated at Wenvoe. The original name was Harpwaye, of Tresimont, in Herefordshire: they took the name of Thomas, as a result of a marriage with Catherine, daughter and sole heir of Thomas ap Thomas, of Wenvoe Castle. Thomas married firstly Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of Sir Lewis Morgan of Rhiwperra and sister of Thomas Morgan. He married secondly Mary Lewis, daughter of Sir Thomas Lewis of Penmark Place at Wenvoe on 1 August 1671. His son and heir William Thomas married the daughter of Philip, Lord Wharton
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
in 1654 and 1656 and sat in Cromwell's Upper House. He supported the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and the Interregnum.
Thomas was born at Wenvoe
Wenvoe
Wenvoe is a Welsh village between Barry and Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Nearby is the Wenvoe Transmitter near Twyn-yr-Odyn and the HTV Wales Television Centre at Culverhouse Cross in the suburbs of Cardiff.-History:...
, the only son of William Thomas of Wenvoe and his wife Jane Stradling, eldest daughter of Sir John Stradling
Sir John Stradling, 1st Baronet
Sir John Stradling, 1st Baronet , was a British politician.He was born the son of Francis Stradling of St. George, Bristol and adopted by a relative, Sir Edward Stradling. He inherited the family estate at St Donat's on the death of Sir Edward in 1609.Educated at Oxford , he was Sheriff of...
. His father died in 1636 at the age of 25.
In 1654, Thomas was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Glamorgan in the First Protectorate Parliament
First Protectorate Parliament
The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House....
. He was re-elected MP for Glamorgan in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
. On 10 December 1657, Thomas became one of three Welsh men, who were made members of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's House of Lord, the other two were Philip Jones and John Jones
John Jones Maesygarnedd
Colonel John Jones was a Welsh military leader, politician and one of the regicides of King Charles I. A brother-in-law of Oliver Cromwell, Jones was born at Llanbedr in North Wales and is often surnamed Jones Maesygarnedd after the location of his Merionethshire estate. Jones spoke Welsh with his...
of Merionethshire
Merionethshire
Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, a vice county and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...
. Thomas had extensive family connection with General Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow was an English parliamentarian, best known for his involvement in the execution of Charles I, and for his Memoirs, which were published posthumously in a rewritten form and which have become a major source for historians of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. After service in the English...
, and the brothers William Strickland
Sir William Strickland, 1st Baronet
Sir William Strickland, 1st Baronet was an English Member of Parliament who supported the parliamentary cause during the English Civil War....
and Walter Strickland
Walter Strickland
Walter Strickland was an English politician and diplomat who held high office during the Protectorate.-Life:Strickland was the younger son of Walter Strickland of Boynton. His elder brother, William, was knighted in 1630 and created a baronet in 1641, and was a Member of Parliament from 1640 to 1660...
, all three of whom were also members of Cromwell's Upper House. He also attended Cromwell's funeral. In 1659 he was put in command of Militia in Glamorgan, Brecon and Radnor. He purchased lands in Wenvoe, St Andrews, Llandow, Rhiwperra and Michaelston-y Vedw. In 1664 he was High Sheriff of Glamorgan
High Sheriff of Glamorgan
This page is a list of High Sheriffs of Glamorgan. Sheriffs of Glamorgan served under and were answerable to the independent Lords of Glamorgan until that lordship was merged into the crown. This is in contrast to sheriffs of the English shires who were from the earliest times officers of the crown...
.
Thomas died in 1677 and was buried at Wenvoe.
Thomas came from family that were for many years seated at Wenvoe. The original name was Harpwaye, of Tresimont, in Herefordshire: they took the name of Thomas, as a result of a marriage with Catherine, daughter and sole heir of Thomas ap Thomas, of Wenvoe Castle. Thomas married firstly Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of Sir Lewis Morgan of Rhiwperra and sister of Thomas Morgan. He married secondly Mary Lewis, daughter of Sir Thomas Lewis of Penmark Place at Wenvoe on 1 August 1671. His son and heir William Thomas married the daughter of Philip, Lord Wharton
Philip Wharton, 4th Baron Wharton
Philip Wharton, 4th Baron Wharton was an English peer.A Parliamentarian during the English Civil War, he served in various offices including soldier, politician and diplomat. He was appointed as the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire by Parliament in July 1642...
Further reading
- Collins, Arthur. The English Baronetage: Containing a Genealogical and Historical Account of All the English Baronets, Now Existing: Their Descents, Marriages, and Issues; Memorable Actions, Both in War, and Peace; Religious and Charitable Donations; Deaths, Places of Burial and Monumental Iiscriptions [sic], Volume 4, Tho. Wotton, 1741. p.55 "383 Thomas of Wenvoe, Glamorganshire, (John, esq) Created Baronet Decem. 24 1694."
- Betham, WilliamWilliam Betham (antiquary)William Betham was an English clergyman and antiquary, known for his work on the baronetage.-Life:He was born at Little Strickland, near Morland, Westmoreland, on 17 May 1749. He was educated at the public school of Bampton, was ordained in 1773, apparently without graduating at a university, and...
. The Baronetage of England: Or The History of the English Baronets, and Such Baronets of Scotland, as are of English Families; with Genealogical Tables, and Engravings of Their Coats of Arms, Burrell and Bransby, 1803 p . 110 "Thomas of Wenvoe, Glamorganshire, Created Baronet Dec. 4 1694." - Huygens , Lodewijck , et all. The English journal, 1651-1652, Issue 1 of Publications of the Sir Thomas Browne Institute. Archive, 1982. ISBN 9004068589, 9789004068582. p. 126 A description of Wenvoe Castle as it appeared in 1652.