John Jones (Parliamentarian)
Encyclopedia
John Jones was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1656 and 1679. He fought for the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War
.
Jones was born in the parish of St Chad, Shrewsbury and was educated at the Shrewsbury grammar school. He went to London in 1629 and was a member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers
by 1633. In 1640 he was ranked in the third class of "able inhabitants". In 1641 he was a member, Honourable Artillery Company. He was a militant Presbyterian and served as captain of militia for London during the Civil War. He was a common councilman from 1645 to 1647, elder of 7th class in 1646 and commissioner for militia 1647. In 1647, he was in favour of a negotiated settlement with the King, and was put under arrest.
In 1656, in spite of holding no company nor municipal office, Jones was elected Member of Parliament
for City of London
for the Second Protectorate Parliament
. He was re-elected MP for London in 1659 for the Third Protectorate Parliament
. In January 1660, he was commissioner for assessment for Middlesex. He became assistant of the Grocers' Company in May 1660 and was a member of the Honourable Artillery Company in July 1660. He was commissioner for assessment for London and Middlesex from 1661 to 1680 and commissioner for assessment for Surrey from 1661 to 1673. In 1661 he was re-elected MP for London for the Cavalier Parliament
. He was very active in parliament. mainly conerning matters relating to trade and particularly the City of London. He opposed for example the building of Putney Bridge
which he saw as a threat to London's trade. He was commissioner for recusants for London in 1675. In 1679 after the Cavalier Parliament was dissolved he retired to his country estate at Hampton
, Middlesex
. He remained an assistant of the Grocers' Company under the new charter of 1684. He was commissioner for assessment for Middlesex from 1689 to 1690.
Jones died on 21 May 1692 and was buried at St Bartholomew by the Exchange. He left a personal estate of around £20,000, most of which went to charity. He endowed five parishes in Shropshire and his endowment for Hampton School
, prescribed that the Anglican catechism should be taught there.
Jones married Elizabeth Smith of London on 15 April 1632 and had a daughter.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
at various times between 1656 and 1679. He fought for the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Jones was born in the parish of St Chad, Shrewsbury and was educated at the Shrewsbury grammar school. He went to London in 1629 and was a member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers
Worshipful Company of Grocers
The Worshipful Company of Grocers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London. It is ranked second in the order of precedence of the Companies and, having been established in 1345, is one of the original Great Twelve City Livery Companies....
by 1633. In 1640 he was ranked in the third class of "able inhabitants". In 1641 he was a member, Honourable Artillery Company. He was a militant Presbyterian and served as captain of militia for London during the Civil War. He was a common councilman from 1645 to 1647, elder of 7th class in 1646 and commissioner for militia 1647. In 1647, he was in favour of a negotiated settlement with the King, and was put under arrest.
In 1656, in spite of holding no company nor municipal office, Jones was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for City of London
City of London (UK Parliament constituency)
The City of London was a United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950.-Boundaries and boundary...
for the Second Protectorate Parliament
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
. He was re-elected MP for London in 1659 for the Third Protectorate Parliament
Third Protectorate Parliament
The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons...
. In January 1660, he was commissioner for assessment for Middlesex. He became assistant of the Grocers' Company in May 1660 and was a member of the Honourable Artillery Company in July 1660. He was commissioner for assessment for London and Middlesex from 1661 to 1680 and commissioner for assessment for Surrey from 1661 to 1673. In 1661 he was re-elected MP for London for the Cavalier Parliament
Cavalier Parliament
The Cavalier Parliament of England lasted from 8 May 1661 until 24 January 1679. It was the longest English Parliament, enduring for nearly 18 years of the quarter century reign of Charles II of England...
. He was very active in parliament. mainly conerning matters relating to trade and particularly the City of London. He opposed for example the building of Putney Bridge
Putney Bridge
Putney Bridge is a bridge crossing of the River Thames in west London, linking Putney on the south side with Fulham to the north. Putney Bridge tube station is located near the north side of the bridge.-History:...
which he saw as a threat to London's trade. He was commissioner for recusants for London in 1675. In 1679 after the Cavalier Parliament was dissolved he retired to his country estate at Hampton
Hampton, London
Hampton is a suburban area, centred on an old village on the north bank of the River Thames, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in England. Formerly it was in the county of Middlesex, which was formerly also its postal county. The population is about 9,500...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. He remained an assistant of the Grocers' Company under the new charter of 1684. He was commissioner for assessment for Middlesex from 1689 to 1690.
Jones died on 21 May 1692 and was buried at St Bartholomew by the Exchange. He left a personal estate of around £20,000, most of which went to charity. He endowed five parishes in Shropshire and his endowment for Hampton School
Hampton School
Hampton School is an independent boys' day school in Hampton, London, England.-History:In 1556, Robert Hammond, a wealthy brewer who had acquired property in Hampton, left in his will provision for the maintenance of a 'free scole' and to build a small schoolhouse 'with seates in yt' in the...
, prescribed that the Anglican catechism should be taught there.
Jones married Elizabeth Smith of London on 15 April 1632 and had a daughter.