Matthew Cradock (1584–1636) was an English wool merchant and politician [1] who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1629.
Cradock was the son of George Cradock of Stafford.[2] He was the first mayor Stafford in 1614.[3] In 1615 he purchased the neglected Caverswall Castle. He built a mansion house retaining the old castle walls, to a design, it is said, of Robert Smythson or John Smythson. The three storey house has five bays each with stone mullioned and transomed windows. There is a castellated parapet and an entrance porch.[4]
In 1621, Cradock was elected Member of Parliament for Stafford. He was re-elected MP for Stafford in 1624 and 1625. He was elected MP for Stafford again in 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles dispensed with parliament for eleven years.[5] Cradock died in 1636 and was buried in the church of St Peter at Caverswall.[6]
Cradock married Elizabeth Fowler daughter of Richard Fowler of Harnedge Grange, Shropshire on 28 April 1612. They had a daughter Mary and a son George, who entered the Inner Temple in 1632, and died in 1643.[6] Cradock was said to be cousin of Matthew Cradock, a financial supporter of the Puritan migration.