STROWBRIDGE, William.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Nov. 1554

Family and Education

Offices Held

Biography

Younger sons in the family of Strowbridge were frequently christened William and it has not proved possible to determine which of them was the Member for Plympton, but he is likely to have been the man of that name who was receiver-general to Bishop Veysey of Exeter until Veysey’s resignation in 1551 and who may also have served the Duke of Somerset, lord of the borough of Plympton from 1547 until his overthrow. That in spite of Queen Mary’s request for townsmen Strowbridge was a nominee appears from the insertion of his name on the indenture, but it is doubtful whether Veysey, who had been restored by Mary, was involved because he was to die, aged almost 90, on the day after the indenture was sealed. Strowbridge may have owed the nomination to the joint support of Richard Calmady, his fellow-Member, and John Evelegh, elected one of the knights for Devon; Calmady was perhaps already Evelegh’s son-in-law and he was to settle at Colyton, the home of Strowbridge’s family. As Members of this Parliament neither Calmady nor Strowbridge quitted it early without leave, although Evelegh did. Nothing further has come to light about any contemporary William Strowbridge.

Vis. Devon, ed. Colby, 128, 172; PCC 2 Alenger, 54 Wrastley; CPR, 1550-3, p. 37; Req.2/8/225; Egerton 2815; C219/23/42.

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: A. D.K. Hawkyard

Notes