Thomas Widdrington
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Widdrington SL (died 13 May 1664) was an English
politician
and judge
of the 17th century.
He and his brother Ralph were of a junior branch of an ancient Northumbrian family and were distantly related to William Widdrington, 1st Baron Widdrington
. He was the son of Lewis Widdrington of Cheeseburn Grange, near Stamfordham
, Northumberland
.
Widdrington was knight
ed at York
in 1639, and in 1640 he was twice elected Member of Parliament
for Berwick. He was already a barrister
, and his legal knowledge was very useful during the English Civil War
. In 1651 he was chosen a member of the Council of State
, although he had declined to have any share in the trial of the king. He was elected MP for York in 1654 and knight of the shire for Northumberland
in 1656.
Widdrington was elected Speaker
in September 1656, and in June 1658, he was appointed Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
. In 1659 and again in 1660, he was a member of the Council of State
, and on three occasions he was one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal
, but he lost some of his offices when Charles II was restored. However, he returned to Parliament as MP for York in 1660 for a year and finally as MP for Berwick once again until his death.
He died in 1664. He had married Frances, a daughter of Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
and left four daughters, but no sons {His only son Thomas had died in 1660 when MP for Morpeth). The estate at Cheeseburn Grange passed firstly to his brother Henry and then to his brother Ralph.
Widdrington, who founded a school at Stamfordham
, Northumberland, wrote Analecta Eboracensia; some Remaynes of the city of York. This was not published until 1877, when it was edited with introduction and notes by the Rev. Caesar Caine.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the 17th century.
He and his brother Ralph were of a junior branch of an ancient Northumbrian family and were distantly related to William Widdrington, 1st Baron Widdrington
William Widdrington, 1st Baron Widdrington
Sir William Widdrington , of Widdrington, Northumberland, was created 1st Baron Widdrington of Blankney in the Peerage of England on 2 November 1643.He was the son and heir of Sir Henry Widdrington of Widdrington Sir William Widdrington (1610 – 3 September 1651), of Widdrington,...
. He was the son of Lewis Widdrington of Cheeseburn Grange, near Stamfordham
Stamfordham
Stamfordham is a village in Northumberland. It is located about 5 miles to the west of Ponteland and 10 miles to the east of Hexham-External links:**...
, 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...
.
Widdrington was 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....
ed at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
in 1639, and in 1640 he was twice 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 Berwick. He was already a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, and his legal knowledge was very useful during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. In 1651 he was chosen a member of the Council of State
English Council of State
The English Council of State, later also known as the Protector's Privy Council, was first appointed by the Rump Parliament on 14 February 1649 after the execution of King Charles I....
, although he had declined to have any share in the trial of the king. He was elected MP for York in 1654 and knight of the shire for Northumberland
Northumberland (UK Parliament constituency)
Northumberland, was a County 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 Members of Parliament.The constituency was split into two...
in 1656.
Widdrington was elected Speaker
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
in September 1656, and in June 1658, he was appointed Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
The Chief Baron of the Exchequer was the first "baron" of the English Exchequer of pleas. "In the absence of both the Treasurer of the Exchequer or First Lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was he who presided in the equity court and answered the bar i.e...
. In 1659 and again in 1660, he was a member of the Council of State
English Council of State
The English Council of State, later also known as the Protector's Privy Council, was first appointed by the Rump Parliament on 14 February 1649 after the execution of King Charles I....
, and on three occasions he was one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal
Great Seal of the Realm
The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom is a seal that is used to symbolise the Sovereign's approval of important state documents...
, but he lost some of his offices when Charles II was restored. However, he returned to Parliament as MP for York in 1660 for a year and finally as MP for Berwick once again until his death.
He died in 1664. He had married Frances, a daughter of Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron , English parliamentary general.-Early life:He was born in Yorkshire the eldest son of Thomas Fairfax, whom Charles I in 1627 created Lord Fairfax of Cameron in the Peerage of Scotland and received a military education in the Netherlands. Two of his...
and left four daughters, but no sons {His only son Thomas had died in 1660 when MP for Morpeth). The estate at Cheeseburn Grange passed firstly to his brother Henry and then to his brother Ralph.
Widdrington, who founded a school at Stamfordham
Stamfordham
Stamfordham is a village in Northumberland. It is located about 5 miles to the west of Ponteland and 10 miles to the east of Hexham-External links:**...
, Northumberland, wrote Analecta Eboracensia; some Remaynes of the city of York. This was not published until 1877, when it was edited with introduction and notes by the Rev. Caesar Caine.