Family and Education

b. c.1617, o.s. of Henry Probert of Pant Glas by Anne, da. of Giles Morgan of Pencraig. educ. G. Inn 1634. m. Magdalen, da. of Sir Charles Williams^† of Llangibby., 2s. 3da. Kntd. 28 Sept. 1643, suc. fa. by 1669.1

Offices Held

Commr. of array, Mon. 1642, j.p. July 1660-d., commr. for oyer and terminer, Oxford circuit July 1660, assessment Mon. Aug. 1660-d., dep. lt. c. Aug. 1660-d., commr. for loyal and indigent officers 1662, inquiry, Kingswood chase 1671, Forest of Dean 1673, recusants, Mon. 1675.2

Biography

Probert came of a minor gentry family of 15th century origin, none of whom had previously sat in Parliament. He was a Royalist in both wars and with his father was fined £679. Although he did not inherit the estate until 1663 at the earliest, he was returned for the borough seat in 1661, presumably on the interest of Lord Herbert of Raglan (Henry Somerset). A moderately active Member of the Cavalier Parliament, he was appointed to 57 committees in 14 sessions, including those to consider the working of the Corporations Act and the petition from loyal and indigent officers in 1663. His only tellership was to retain the name of one applicant in a naturalization bill. In 1667 he was named to the inquiry into the sale of Dunkirk. A grant of lands in Monmouthshire, allegedly forfeited by the Cromwellian governor of Chepstow, led to a breach of privilege case in the following year. Probert received the government whip in 1675, and appears to have attended, for he was appointed to three committees in the autumn session. His name appears on the working lists as to be influenced by Lord Gerard, under whom he had served in the Civil War. Sir Richard Wiseman was confident of Probert’s good affection to the King and Lord Danby, but he did not live to attend another session. He died on 6 Jan. 1677 and was buried at Northolt, Middlesex. He was succeeded by his son Henry, an ardent anti-Papist, who was removed from the commission of the peace with John Arnold a few months later, and sat for Monmouth from 1698 to 1700.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: John. P. Ferris

Notes

• 1. Misc. Gen. et Her. (ser. 5), v. 181, 190-2; Court of Chivalry Reps. (Harl. Soc. cvii), 131; Bradney, Mon. ii. 142-3; PCC 88 Coke.
• 2. Cal. Treas. Bks. ii. 205; iii. 911; iv. 150.
• 3. Cal. Comm. Comp. 2034; CJ, viii. 462; ix. 64, 470.