William Strode (1562–1637) Explained

Sir William Strode (1562 - 1637) of Newnham in the parish of Plympton St Mary, Devon, England, was a member of the Devon landed gentry, a military engineer and seven times a Member of Parliament elected for Devon in 1597 and 1624, for Plympton Erle in 1601, 1604, 1621 and 1625, and for Plymouth in 1614. He was High Sheriff of Devon from 1593 to 1594 and was knighted in 1598. In 1599 he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Devon. There is a monument to him in the parish church of Plympton St Mary.

Biography

Strode was the only son of Richard Strode (died 1581) of Newnham, Plympton St Mary, by his wife Frances Cromwell, first cousin of King Edward VI. Frances was a daughter of Gregory Cromwell, 1st Baron Cromwell (c. 1520 – 1551) (only son of Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex (c. 1485 – 1540), chief minister of King Henry VIII) by his wife Elizabeth Seymour, sister of Queen Jane Seymour and sister of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset[1] (c. 1500 – 1552) uncle and Lord Protector of King Edward VI.

He entered Inner Temple in 1580 and succeeded to the estates of his father the following year. At the time of the Spanish Armada (1588) he became a colonel of the stannary of Plympton, in command of one hundred men. He was a JP for Devon from about 1592. In 1593 he came into possession of the family tin-mining interests which were previously managed by his uncle, Philip Strode and was appointed High Sheriff of Devon for 1593–94. In 1595 he was in charge of construction works on Plymouth fort. He was a close friend of Admiral Sir Francis Drake (died 1596) and was one of the executors of Drake's will.[2]

In 1597, Strode was elected Member of Parliament for Devon. He was appointed surveyor of the house and castle of Templeton, Devon for life. In 1599 he became Deputy Lieutenant. He was elected MP for Plympton Erle in 1601 and was re-elected for the seat in 1604. In 1606 he was appointed surveyor of Devon for life.[2] He was re-elected MP for Plympton Erle in 1614 and in 1621. In 1624, he was elected MP for Devon. He was elected MP for Plympton Erle again in 1625 and 1626.[3]

As well as Newnham, Strode also had a residence at Meavy,[4] about six miles to the north, which was later the residence of his second son William Strode (1594–1645), MP. His great-grandfather Richard Strode (died 1552) had married Agnes Milliton, daughter of John Milliton of Meavy.[5]

Strode died in 1637 and was buried in the church of St Mary's Plympton, where there is a monument to him (see photograph below). His will was proved in February 1639.[2]

Marriages and children

Strode married twice.[6] Firstly in 1581 to Mary Southcote (died 1618) daughter of Thomas Southcote (died 1600), MP, of Bovey Tracey, by whom he had three sons and seven daughters:[6]

Strode's second marriage, in 1624 was to Dunes Glanville (died 1635) daughter of Nicholas Glanville, who was brother to Sir Sir John Glanville (1542–1600).[10] He was her third husband; they had no children.[11]

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Risdon, p. 198
  2. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/strode-william-ii-1562-1637 History of Parliament Online - William Strode
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=5V09AAAAYAAJ&q=%22Browne+Willis%22 Browne Willis Notitia parliamentaria, or, An history of the counties, cities, and boroughs in England and Wales: ... The whole extracted from mss. and printed evidences 1750 pp156-218
  4. Risdon, ("Meavy Church") p. 195; Pole, ("Mewy") p. 337
  5. Vivian, p. 718
  6. Vivian, p. 719
  7. Vivian, p. 190, pedigree of Chudleigh of Ashton
  8. Vivian, p. 299, pedigree of Drake
  9. Vivian, pp. 706–7, pedigree of Speccot of Thornbury
  10. Per inscription on Strode's monument and per Vivian, p. 411
  11. Per inscription on Strode's monument