Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isell
Encyclopedia
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isel (1610-1688) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
from 1660 to 1679.
his estates including the building and land known as Brayton, passed to his three surviving daughters. On 4 September 1658, Thomas Wyberg Esq., of St Bees
, Joseph Patrickson of Howe
, and William Barwis of Paddigil signed a deed on behalf of their wives the three co-heiresses, transferring the Brayton
Manorial Estates and other property valued at one thousand pounds to Sir Wilfrid Lawson of Isel
. Unaware of future events, Thomas Wyberg could never foresee that a later descendant would return to Brayton some one hundred and fifty years later to begin its illustrious golden age. The Lawson’s can trace their descent to John Lawson, who in the first year of Henry III
(1216) was Lord of Fawkegrave in Yorkshire
. Through a long line of eminent ancestors we arrive at to Sir Wilfrid Lawson (1545-1632), son of Thomas Lawson of Ushworth (d. 1559).
In 1572, Sir Wilfrid took for his second wife Maud (Matilda) Redmain, previously widow of Christopher Irton (died before 1567); and Thomas Leigh of Isel, heiress of his estates. Upon her death in 1624, she conveyed her inheritance upon Lawson, as she had received it from Thomas Leigh. In consequence, Lawson became the sole possessors of the Isel estates.
In 1591 the Earl of Northumberland
made him Lieutenant of the Honour of Cockermouth (Grand Steward of all his estates) and the Conveyor of the Commissioners of the Marches on his behalf. Sir Wilfrid was High Sheriff of Cumberland
in 1583, 1597, 1606 and 1612 and knight of the shire (MP) for Cumberland in 1593, 1604 and 1614. He was made a Knight
in 1604.
In 1632, at the grand old age of 87 years, Sir Wilfrid Lawson died; childless by all his marriages, he bequeathed his estate upon William Lawson son of his brother Gilfrid; much to the great displeasure of Mary Irton (heir general of Maud Redmain). On the pretence that Maud had not made a legal conveyance to her third husband, but had acted upon gross intimidation, Mary Irton contested the rites of William. When settled by composition, Mary received for her title, the tithes of Blindcrake
and the demesne of Threlkald, worth at that time an annual sum of two hundred pounds. William increased the property, marrying Judith Beweley, heiress to the manor of Hesket
near Caldbeck
and had issue by her.
At the beginning of the English Civil War
Lawson became active on Oliver Cromwell
’s behalf, setting up a garrison on St. Herbert’s Island, Derwent Water
then part of his estate. In 1643, he attempted to seize Carlisle Castle for the Parliament; however, the local gentry and the militia
routed the parliamentarians and pursued them to Abbey Holme, only to release then on the understanding that they would discontinue their belligerence. In 1652, he assisted a group of Cromwell’s supporter’s when they laid waste to Rydal Hall. His acts of aggression also included the persecution of the Quaker community. He became High Sheriff of Cumberland
in 1635, 1645-47, 1652-57.
In 1659, Lawson was elected Member of Parliament
(MP) for Cumberland
and again to the Convention Parliament of 1660. In 1661 he was elected MP for Cockermouth
in the second parliament Cavalier Parliament
and sat until 1679. In 1688, shortly before his death he purchased a baronetcy
patent from James II
, at a cost of around £2,000. Lawson purchased Brayton from the Salkeld family. On his death later in 1688 he settled the family estate at Isel on his grandson Wilfrid (son of his first son William), who subsequently became Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet
; and to Wilfrid his second son he conferred the estate of Brayton, so founding the line of ‘Brayton’ Lawson’s upon whom the baronetcy descended on failure of the Isel Lawsons.
Lawson married Jane Musgrave, daughter of Sir Edward Musgrave, 1st Baronet of Hayton Castle and had four sons and four daughters. His eldest son William married Milcah Strickland daughter of Sir William Strickland, 1st Baronet
of Boynton
, Yorkshire and had a son Wilfrid
and two daughters. But William having previously lost his eyesight died within the lifetime of his father. The second son Wilfrid
was also MP for Cockermouth.
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...
from 1660 to 1679.
Lawson Lineage
Following the death of Thomas Salkeld of Whitehall, MealsgateMealsgate
-Location:Mealsgate is situated on the old Roman Road between Carlisle and the Roman fort of Derventio at Papcastle . This road is now known as the A595.-Railway Connection:...
his estates including the building and land known as Brayton, passed to his three surviving daughters. On 4 September 1658, Thomas Wyberg Esq., of St Bees
St Bees
St Bees is a village and civil parish in the Copeland district of Cumbria, in the North of England, about five miles west southwest of Whitehaven. The parish had a population of 1,717 according to the 2001 census. Within the parish is St...
, Joseph Patrickson of Howe
Howe
Howe from the meaning hill, knoll, or mound may refer to:*a tumulus , in particular a Bowl barrow.Places in the United Kingdom:*Howe, North Yorkshire*Howe, Norfolk*Maeshowe, Orkney*Duggleby Howe, East Yorkshire...
, and William Barwis of Paddigil signed a deed on behalf of their wives the three co-heiresses, transferring the Brayton
Brayton
Brayton is a small village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated just south of Selby.The United Kingdom Census 2001 states the population of Brayton to be 5,514...
Manorial Estates and other property valued at one thousand pounds to Sir Wilfrid Lawson of Isel
ISEL
ISEL can refer to:*Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, a Portuguese school of engineering*Industrial Syndicalist Education League, a British syndicalist organisation*Institut supérieur d'études logistiques, a French school of engineering...
. Unaware of future events, Thomas Wyberg could never foresee that a later descendant would return to Brayton some one hundred and fifty years later to begin its illustrious golden age. The Lawson’s can trace their descent to John Lawson, who in the first year of Henry III
Henry III
Henry III may refer to:*Henry III, Duke of Bavaria *Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor *Henry the Lion, Henry III of Saxony, *Henry III of England *Henry III, Count of Champagne, , also King Henry I of Navarre...
(1216) was Lord of Fawkegrave in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. Through a long line of eminent ancestors we arrive at to Sir Wilfrid Lawson (1545-1632), son of Thomas Lawson of Ushworth (d. 1559).
Sir Wilfrid Lawson (1545-1632)
Born the son of Thomas Lawson, Little Usworth, County Durham.In 1572, Sir Wilfrid took for his second wife Maud (Matilda) Redmain, previously widow of Christopher Irton (died before 1567); and Thomas Leigh of Isel, heiress of his estates. Upon her death in 1624, she conveyed her inheritance upon Lawson, as she had received it from Thomas Leigh. In consequence, Lawson became the sole possessors of the Isel estates.
In 1591 the Earl of Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
made him Lieutenant of the Honour of Cockermouth (Grand Steward of all his estates) and the Conveyor of the Commissioners of the Marches on his behalf. Sir Wilfrid was High Sheriff of Cumberland
High Sheriff of Cumberland
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1583, 1597, 1606 and 1612 and knight of the shire (MP) for Cumberland in 1593, 1604 and 1614. He was made a Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
in 1604.
In 1632, at the grand old age of 87 years, Sir Wilfrid Lawson died; childless by all his marriages, he bequeathed his estate upon William Lawson son of his brother Gilfrid; much to the great displeasure of Mary Irton (heir general of Maud Redmain). On the pretence that Maud had not made a legal conveyance to her third husband, but had acted upon gross intimidation, Mary Irton contested the rites of William. When settled by composition, Mary received for her title, the tithes of Blindcrake
Blindcrake
Blindcrake is a village and civil parish within the Isel Valley, in the Lake District National Park and in the Allerdale district of Cumbria, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 287. The village is some four miles north-east of Cockermouth off the old roman road to...
and the demesne of Threlkald, worth at that time an annual sum of two hundred pounds. William increased the property, marrying Judith Beweley, heiress to the manor of Hesket
Hesket
Hesket is the name of several locations:*Hesket, Cumbria, a civil parish in the United Kingdom*Hesket, Victoria, a locality in Australia...
near Caldbeck
Caldbeck
Caldbeck is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Allerdale, Cumbria, England. Historically within Cumberland, the village had 714 inhabitants according to the census of 2001. It lies on the northern edge of the Lake District. The nearest town is Wigton, 6 miles north east of the village...
and had issue by her.
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isel
Lawson was born in 1610, the son of William Lawson, and was knighted by Charles I in 1641.At the beginning of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
Lawson became active on Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
’s behalf, setting up a garrison on St. Herbert’s Island, Derwent Water
Derwent Water
Derwentwater is one of the principal bodies of water in the Lake District National Park in north west England. It lies wholly within the Borough of Allerdale, in the county of Cumbria....
then part of his estate. In 1643, he attempted to seize Carlisle Castle for the Parliament; however, the local gentry and the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
routed the parliamentarians and pursued them to Abbey Holme, only to release then on the understanding that they would discontinue their belligerence. In 1652, he assisted a group of Cromwell’s supporter’s when they laid waste to Rydal Hall. His acts of aggression also included the persecution of the Quaker community. He became High Sheriff of Cumberland
High Sheriff of Cumberland
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1635, 1645-47, 1652-57.
In 1659, Lawson 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,...
(MP) for Cumberland
Cumberland (UK Parliament constituency)
Cumberland is a former 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 1832. It was represented by two Knights of...
and again to the Convention Parliament of 1660. In 1661 he was elected MP for Cockermouth
Cockermouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Cockermouth was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England in 1295, and again from 1641, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was a parliamentary borough represented by two...
in the second parliament 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...
and sat until 1679. In 1688, shortly before his death he purchased a baronetcy
Lawson Baronets
There have been six Baronetcies created for persons with the surname of Lawson, two in the Baronetage of England and four in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
patent from James II
James II
James II may refer to:* James II, Count of La Marche , King Consort of Naples* James II , the second EP by Mancunian band James* James II of Aragon , King of Sicily...
, at a cost of around £2,000. Lawson purchased Brayton from the Salkeld family. On his death later in 1688 he settled the family estate at Isel on his grandson Wilfrid (son of his first son William), who subsequently became Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet, of Isell
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet was an English politician.He was the son of William Lawson and inherited his title on the death in 1688 of his grandfather Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isell....
; and to Wilfrid his second son he conferred the estate of Brayton, so founding the line of ‘Brayton’ Lawson’s upon whom the baronetcy descended on failure of the Isel Lawsons.
Lawson married Jane Musgrave, daughter of Sir Edward Musgrave, 1st Baronet of Hayton Castle and had four sons and four daughters. His eldest son William married Milcah Strickland daughter of Sir William Strickland, 1st Baronet
Sir William Strickland, 1st Baronet
Sir William Strickland, 1st Baronet was an English Member of Parliament who supported the parliamentary cause during the English Civil War....
of Boynton
Boynton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Boynton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately west of the town of Bridlington and lies on the B1253 road.According to the 2001 UK census, Boynton parish had a population of 161....
, Yorkshire and had a son Wilfrid
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet, of Isell
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet was an English politician.He was the son of William Lawson and inherited his title on the death in 1688 of his grandfather Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isell....
and two daughters. But William having previously lost his eyesight died within the lifetime of his father. The second son Wilfrid
Wilfrid Lawson (MP for Cockermouth)
Wilfrid Lawson was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 1660.Lawson was the son of Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isell and his wife Jane Musgrave, daughter of Sir Edward Musgrave, 1st Baronet of Hayton CastleIn 1659, Lawson was elected Member of Parliament for...
was also MP for Cockermouth.