Family and Education

b. 1563, 1st s. of William Fleetwood I. educ. M. Temple sp. adm. 1584. m. Anne (d.1621), da. of Ralph Barton of Smithhills or Smithers, Lancs., 7s. 7da. suc. fa. 1594. Kntd. 1603.

Offices Held

J.p. Berks. by 1597, Bucks. by 1597, sheriff 1622-3; ?surveyor of lands in north parts, duchy of Lancaster 1603.

Biography

Fleetwood was no doubt returned for Preston through the influence of his father who was recorder there. Two years later Fleetwood was returned for Poole after the borough’s original choice, John Savile II, had chosen to represent Lincoln. Savile had been returned at the instance of the Earl of Warwick, who had taken over the parliamentary patronage of his late father-in-law, the 2nd Earl of Bedford, and it is likely that Fleetwood also owed his return to Warwick. Living at Great Missenden he was a neighbour of the Russells and he carried a bannerol at the funeral of Lord Grey, another relative of Bedford. His association with the Russells must have been strengthened by the marriage of George Fleetwood with Grey’s granddaughter.

In 1592 Fleetwood got into some sort of trouble at the Middle Temple, in the course of which he fell out with John Agmondesham II. He was re-admitted after Burghley had written to Lord Buckhurst on his behalf. Two years later his father died, and Fleetwood inherited considerable estates in the home counties including the site of the abbey of Great Missenden. He died at Great Missenden 13 Dec. 1630, leaving as heir his son John, aged 21. Fleetwood had made his will five days before his death, believing in ‘the passage unto eternal life’ which he hoped to enjoy with the ‘elect children of God’. He wished to be buried ‘without any funeral pomp at all’ in Great Missenden parish church ‘where my dear wife Dame Anne Fleetwood lyeth buried together with my father and mother and five of my children’. The executrix, who proved the will 9 Feb. 1631, was his eldest daughter Marian.

C142/238/69; Vis. Bucks. (Harl. Soc. lviii), 55; G. Lipscomb, Bucks. ii. 377, 386; Bucks. Recs. vi. 106; Fleetwood Fam. Recs. ed. Buss 11; W. R. Williams, Duchy Lancaster Official Lists, 60; Roberts thesis; Lansd. 71, f. 30; VCH Bucks. ii. 351; PCC 16 St. John.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: W.J.J.

Notes

• 1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament.