John Claypole was an English politician who sat in the House of Commonsin 1654. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.
Claypole was the son of Adam Claypole of Latham, Lincolnshire and his wife Dorothy Wingfield, daughter of Robert Wingfield, of Upton, Rutland, and his wife Elizabeth Cecil, who was sister to William Lord Burleigh. His name was spelt a great variety of ways, including Chappole, Clappoole, Claipol, and Claypole.[1]
In 1637 Claypole was summoned as a gentleman before the Star Chamber, and the attorney-general was ordered to begin a prosecution against him for refusing to pay ship money. He declared for the Parliament at the start of the Civil War in 1643, and 1644, he was appointed one "of their assessors for the county of Northampton.
In 1654, Claypole was elected Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in the First Protectorate Parliament. .[2] He may have been High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1655, as major-general William Boteler recommends him to John Thurloe, in a letter to him, dated 16 November.[1]
Claypole was created a baronet by the Protector on 16 July 1657.[3] Also in 1657, he was made a commissioner with his son, for levying the taxes upon the county of Northampton; to distinguish them, he is called "John Claypole, esq. senior", and his son "Lord Claypole".[1]
Claypole married Elizabeth and was the father of John Claypole who married a daughter of Oliver Cromwell.[1]
| Parliament of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Gilbert Pickering, 1st Baronet Thomas Brooke |
Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire 1654 With: Sir Gilbert Pickering, 1st Baronet Thomas Brooke John Crew Sir John Norwich, 1st Baronet Sir John Dryden, 2nd Baronet |
Succeeded by Sir Gilbert Pickering, 1st Baronet William Boteler Thomas Crew John Lord Claypole Alexander Blake James Langham |