William Ormshead Explained

William Ormshead
Parliament:England
Term Start1:1426
Term End1:1431
Predecessor1:Richard Russell
Successor1:William Ormshead
Term Start2:1431
Term End2:Unknown
Predecessor2:William Ormshead
Successor2:Thomas Scotton
Death Date:1437
Nationality:English
Spouse:Agnes (I)
Joan (II)
Ellen (III)
Mawards:is not set -->
Awards:is not set -->

William Ormshead was one of two Members of the Parliament of England for the constituency of York on two occasions.

Life and politics

William was a successful merchant before any record of his life is known. He first comes to note when becoming a freeman of the city of York in 1404. By this time he had been married to Agnes, but seven years later he is recorded as being married to Joan when they both became members of the Corpus Christi Guild. He was married for a third time to Ellen. He had one son and two daughters. His sister, Margaret was married to fellow York merchant and MP, John Blackburn.[1]

He held several civic offices. He was sheriff (1414–1415) and lord mayor (1425–26 and 1433–34). He was first elected as MP for York in 1421 and then again in 1426 and 1431. A wealthy wool merchant, he had property in Colliergate, Peasholm, Stonegate and Micklegate.[2] He also had a small amount of property in Cumberland.[1] [3]

Ormshead died in 1437 and his will stated his wish to buried next to his second wife in Holy Trinity Church.[3] He left the majority of his estate to his widow, on the condition she did not remarry, else it would go to his two daughters. There were provisions for his nephew, Nicholas Blackburn, and John Bolton, who had married his niece Alice.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The History of Parliament Trust. 21 December 2021.
  2. Book: 'The later middle ages: City and citizens', in A History of the County of York: the City of York. P M Tillott. London. 1961. 106–113 .
  3. Book: Hildyard, Christopher. The antiquities of York city, and the civil government thereof; with a list of all the mayors and bayliffs, lord mayors and sheriffs, from the time of King Edward the First, to this present year, 1719. Collected from the papers of Christopher Hildyard, esq., with notes and observations. G.White. 1719. 45, 47, & 49.