Family and Education

b. c.1613, 1st s. of Sir Thomas Springet of Broyle Place by Mary, da. of John Bellingham of Erringham, Shoreham. educ. Hawkhurst g.s. (Mr Godwin); Christ’s, Camb., adm. 3 July 1628, aged 15; M. Temple 1630; travelled abroad (France) 1635. m. 10 July 1634, Barbara, da. of Sir William Campion of Combwell, Goudhurst, Kent, 1s. d.v.p. 4da. suc. fa. 1639; cr. Bt. 8 Jan. 1661.2

Offices Held

Commr. for assessment, Suss. 1643-7, 1657, Aug. 1660-d., sequestration 1643, levying of money 1643, defence 1643, execution of ordinances 1644, j.p. 1644-8, Mar. 1660-d., commr. for new model ordinance 1645, militia 1648, Mar. 1660; sewers, rapes of Lewes and Pevensey 1659, Sept. 1660; col. of militia ft. Suss. Apr.-c. Aug. 1660, dep. lt. c. Aug. 1660-d.3

Biography

Springet’s grandfather, of Kentish origins, acquired Broyle Place early in the century. The whole family were Presbyterian and parliamentary in sympathy. Springet, an active committeeman, inherited an interest in Shoreham through his mother and became the first of the family to sit, representing the borough as a recruiter until Pride’s Purge. A knight of the shire in the first Protectorate Parliament, he made contact with the Royalists before the Restoration. At the general election of 1660 he was returned for Shoreham. In the Convention he was appointed only to the committee for the attainder bill, but presumably he voted with the Court, as he was created a baronet shortly after the dissolution. He was re-elected by the borough to the Cavalier Parliament, but died on 5 Jan. 1662, aged 49, without being appointed to any committees. His memorial inscription proclaimed him ‘a true son of the Church of England’, and alleged that ‘for his love and loyalty to his King and country, his death was lamented by all that knew him’. His eldest daughter brought Broyle Place to her husband (Sir) John Stapley, and another daughter married Sir William Thomas.4

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: M. W. Helms / B. M. Crook

Notes

• 1. Did not sit after Pride’s Purge, 6 Dec. 1648.
• 2. J. Comber, Suss. Genealogies Lewes, 279-81; CSP Dom. 1635-6, p. 353.
• 3. Suss. Arch. Colls. iv. 98; xix. 92; C181/6/367, 7/55; Cal. Sl. SP, iv. 606; Parl. Intell. 23 Apr. 1660; A. Fletcher, County Community in Peace and War, 353.
• 4. Suss. Arch. Colls. xx. 34; xxii. 222; PCC 131 Laud; The Topographer, iv. 294.