John Ramsden (died 1646)

Sir John Ramsden (died March 1646) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1628 and 1640. He fought for the Royalist army in the English Civil War and was killed in action at the Siege of Newark.

Ramsden was the son of William Ramsden of Longley near Huddersfield.[1] He was knighted in1619. In 1628 Ramsden was elected Member of Parliament for Pontefract.[2] In 1629 he purchased the Manor of Almondbury.[3]

In April 1640, Ramsden was elected MP for Pontefract in the Short Parliament. On the outbreak of CIvil War, he joined the Royalist cause. In 1644 he was captured at Selby by the Parliamentary Army and committed as a traitor to the Tower of London. In August 1644 he was exchanged for a Parliamentary prisoner held by the King. In 1645, Ramsden was Colonel of the Third Division defending Pontefract Castle and he took part in the negotiations for its surrender. He died during the siege of Newark and was buried at the parish church on 27 March.[3]

Ramsden married firstly, Margaret Freshville, the daughter of Sir Peter Freshville, of Stovely, in Lancashire, and had sons William and John. He married secondly Anne Pool, widow of Alderman Pool, of London.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Benjamin Boothroyd The history of the ancient borough of Pontefract
  2. ^ 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 pp229-239
  3. ^ a b Longley Old Hall - Dates
Parliament of England
Preceded by
Sir John Jackson
Sir Francis Foljambe, Bt		 Member of Parliament for Pontefract
1628-1629
With: Sir John Jackson		 Succeeded by
Parliament suspended until 1640
Preceded by
Parliament suspended since 1629		 Member of Parliament for Pontefract
1640
With: Sir George Wentworth of Woolley		 Succeeded by
Sir George Wentworth of Woolley
Sir George Wentworth of Wentworth Woodhouse