Edmund Thomas (Parliamentarian)

Edmund Thomas (1633 - 1677) was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654 and 1656 and sat in Cromwell's Upper House. He supported the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War and the Interregnum.

Biography

Thomas was born at Wenvoe, the only son of William Thomas of Wenvoe and his wife Jane Stradling, eldest daughter of Sir John Stradling. His father died in 1636 at the age of 25.^[1]

In 1654, Thomas was elected Member of Parliament for Glamorgan in the First Protectorate Parliament. He was re-elected MP for Glamorgan in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament.^[2] On 10 December 1657, Thomas became one of three Welsh men, who were made members of Oliver Cromwell's House of Lord, the other two were Philip Jones and John Jones of Merionethshire. Thomas had extensive family connection with General Edmund Ludlow, and the brothers William Strickland and Walter Strickland, all three of whom were also members of Cromwell's Upper House.^[3] He also attended Cromwell's funeral. In 1659 he was put in command of Militia in Glamorgan, Brecon and Radnor. He purchased lands in Wenvoe, St Andrews, Llandow, Rhiwperra and Michaelston-y Vedw. In 1664 he was High Sheriff of Glamorgan.^[1]

Thomas died in 1677 and was buried at Wenvoe.^[1]

Family

Thomas came from family that were for many years seated at Wenvoe. The original name was Harpwaye, of Tresimont, in Herefordshire: they took the name of Thomas, as a result of a marriage with Catherine, daughter and sole heir of Thomas ap Thomas, of Wenvoe Castle.^[4] Thomas married firstly Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of Sir Lewis Morgan of Rhiwperra and sister of Thomas Morgan. He married secondly Mary Lewis, daughter of Sir Thomas Lewis of Penmark Place at Wenvoe on 1 August 1671. His son and heir William Thomas married the daughter of Philip, Lord Wharton^[5]

See also

• Thomas Baronetcy, of Wenvoe

Notes

1. Williams 1895, pp. 97, 98.
2. Willis 1750, pp. 268, 281.
3. Jenkins 2002, p. 112.
4. The Editors 1832, p. 339.
5. Noble 1787, p. 422.

References

• Jenkins, Philip (2002). The Making of a Ruling Class: The Glamorgan Gentry 1640-1790. Cambridge University Press. pp. 112. ISBN 978-0-521-52194-9.
• Noble, Mark (1787). Memoirs of the protectoral-house of Cromwell;: deduced from an early period, and continued down to the present time ... collected chiefly from original papers and records ... together with an appendix ... Embellished with elegant engravings. I. G. G. J. and J. Robinson. p. 422.
• The Editors, eds. (1832). Cambrian quarterly magazine and Celtic repertory. H. Hughes. 4: 339. Missing or empty |title= (help)
• Williams, William Retlaw (1895). The parliamentary history of the principality of Wales, from the earliesr times to the present day, 1541-1895 ... Brecknock: Priv. Print. for the author by E. Davis and Bell. pp. 97, 98.
• Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. pp. 259, 268, 272, 281.

Further reading

• Collins, Arthur. The English Baronetage: Containing a Genealogical and Historical Account of All the English Baronets, Now Existing: Their Descents, Marriages, and Issues; Memorable Actions, Both in War, and Peace; Religious and Charitable Donations; Deaths, Places of Burial and Monumental Iiscriptions [sic], Volume 4, Tho. Wotton, 1741. p.55 "383 Thomas of Wenvoe, Glamorganshire, (John, esq) Created Baronet Decem. 24 1694."
• Betham, William. The Baronetage of England: Or The History of the English Baronets, and Such Baronets of Scotland, as are of English Families; with Genealogical Tables, and Engravings of Their Coats of Arms, Burrell and Bransby, 1803 p . 110 "Thomas of Wenvoe, Glamorganshire, Created Baronet Dec. 4 1694."
• Huygens , Lodewijck , et all. The English journal, 1651-1652, Issue 1 of Publications of the Sir Thomas Browne Institute. Archive, 1982. ISBN 90-04-06858-9, ISBN 978-90-04-06858-2. p. 126 A description of Wenvoe Castle as it appeared in 1652.