Family and Education

b. 26 Nov. 1626, 2nd s. of Sir John Strode^† of Chantmarle, Dorset by Anne, da. of Sir John Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham, Som.; bro. of John Strode I. educ. L. Inn 1646, called 1653. m. (1) lic. 8 July 1668, Margaret, da. of Sir William Hewett^† of Pishiobury, Sawbridgeworth, Herts., wid. of Sir William Paston, 1st Bt., of Oxnead, Norf., s.p.; (2) lic. 1 Feb. 1675, Grace, da. and coh. of John Fitzjames of Leweston, 1da. Kntd. 17 May 1676.1

Offices Held

Recorder, Lyme June 1660-97; bencher, L. Inn 1669, reader 1673; freeman, Portsmouth 1674; commr. for assessment, Dorset 1677-80, 1689-90, Serjeants’ Inn 1690; j.p. Dorset 1680-June 1688, Nov. 1688-d.2

Serjeant-at-law 1677-d., King’s serjeant 1682-7; gent. of the privy chamber 1691-d.3

Biography

Strode was in arms for the Royalists at the siege of Lyme in 1644, and his modest estate was sequestrated. An eminent lawyer, he was counsel for the defence in Shaftesbury’s action for scandalum magnatum against Lord Digby (John Digby). From his second marriage, it is clear that he was both wealthy and devout, for Lady Fitzjames believed that her daughters would never marry till they could have religious men, and he bought out the other coheirs to the Leweston estate for £21,000, and an annuity of £100.4

Strode and his brother were actively allied with the Strangways interest in Dorset. However, he does not seem to have required a letter of support from Thomas Strangways for the 1679 election at Lyme Regis. No doubt, as recorder, his own interest was sufficiently powerful to carry one seat; and he may have had the support of his Presbyterian cousin Thomas Moore, whose mother had made Strode one of her trustees. Shaftesbury marked him ‘base’. He was probably on circuit when the first Exclusion Parliament assembled and on 25 Apr. he was ordered to be sent for in custody. A moderately active Member, he was named to his first committee three days later, and afterwards to four others. He was added to the committee for the impeachment of the five Popish lords in circumstances which suggest a design to prevent his assisting in their defence, and took part in a conference on the subject. He addressed the committee of privileges over the Suffolk election case on 15 May 1679, showing that William Williams had no authority to reverse a decision given by the court of Exchequer Chamber on a question of law. As Shaftesbury had expected, he voted against the exclusion bill.5

At the ensuing election, Strode was replaced by Moore, and his parliamentary career came to an end, though he continued to receive marks of royal favour. But he was one of the first Dorset Anglicans to feel the weight of James II’s displeasure. He was replaced as King’s serjeant in 1687 and removed from local office in the following year. He accepted the Revolution, receiving a post at Court under William III. He died on 24 Oct. 1701; his daughter brought the Leweston estate to her husband Henry Thynne^†.6

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: John. P. Ferris

Notes

• 1. Frag. Gen. viii. 104, 130; Berry, Herts. Peds. 216.
• 2. Lyme Regis corp. mss B6/11, f. 23; R. East, Portsmouth Recs. 361.
• 3. CSP Dom. 1676-7, p. 522; Luttrell, i. 400; Carlisle, Privy Chamber, 207.
• 4. Add. 8845, p. 10; Hatton Corresp. (Cam. Soc. n.s. xxii), 126; HMC Portland, iii. 339; Som. and Dorset N. and Q. xvi. 249.
• 5. Dorset RO, 3762; Grey, vii. 188, 291; North, Examen, 525.
• 6. Hutchins, Dorset, iv. 129-30.