JESSON, William (c.1617-61), of Little Park Street, Coventry, Warws.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

14 Aug. 1660

Family and Education

b. c.1617, 1st s. of William Jesson of Coventry by Elizabeth, da. of John Barker, draper, of Coventry. educ. I. Temple 1635. m. (1) Anne, da. of Sir Edward Pinchon of Writtle, Essex, 2s. 1da.; (2) aft. 1651, Frances, da. and coh. of Richard Cresheld, serjeant-at-law, of Mattishall, Norf., s.p. suc. fa. 1651.1

Offices Held

Commr. for assessment, Warws. and Coventry 1657, Coventry Sept. 1660-d., militia 1659, Mar. 1660.

Biography

Jesson’s ancestors had lived in Coventry for three generations. His father, a dyer by trade, was mayor in 1631, and distinguished himself in opposition to Charles I both in church and state. A Presbyterian, he represented the borough in the Short and Long Parliaments until Pride’s Purge, and served on the county committee. Jesson inherited an estate of £600 p.a. and does not seem to have engaged in trade. At the general election of 1660 he probably stood jointly with his brother-in-law Richard Hopkins I, but he was defeated by Robert Beake. The election was declared void on 31 July, and Jesson was successful at the by-election. He took no known part in the Convention, but probably voted with the Presbyterian Opposition. He stood for re-election with Hopkins in 1661, but they were defeated by the royalist candidates. He died soon afterwards; his will, proved on 1 Aug., mentions losses sustained through bad debts. His son completed the ascent into the ranks of the gentry with removal to a country seat in Leicestershire, a knighthood and a second marriage to a Villiers; but no later member of the family entered Parliament.2

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: A. M. Mimardière / John. P. Ferris

Notes

  • 1. Vis. London (Harl. Soc. xvii), 11; Vis. Essex (Harl Soc. xiii), 470; PCC 215 Grey; C8/320/61.
  • 2. VCH Warws. viii. 249; Keeler, Long Parl. 238; D. Underdown, Pride’s Purge, 114; PCC 132 May; Nichols, Lincs. ii. 197; iii. 909.