Thomas Strickland (cavalier)

Sir Thomas Strickland of Sizergh (November 1621 – January 1694), Supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War, being knighted for his gallantry at the Battle of Edgehill.^[1] After the restoration he was a member of Parliament for Westmorland, as well as attending the courts of Charles II and later James II. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, he went accompanied James II when the latter left for France and died there six years later.

Biography

At the Battle of Edgehill, the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War, Thomas Strickland commanded the regiment of foot while his father Sir Robert Strickland commanded a regiment of horse. For his gallantry Thomas Strickland, was knighted knight banneret by King Charles I in person, in the field at Edgehill, 23 October, 1642.^{[2] [3]}

After the restoration Sir Thomas was Member of Parliament for the county of Westmorland in the Cavalier Parliament of 1661 until 1676 when he was expelled as a Popish recusant. However he had not been active in the house speaking only once (against the impeachment of Clarendon) and declined to speak up in his own defence during the Common debate on whether to expel him. As rewards for his loyalty to the Crown he was granted the salt duty for twenty years, and by the post of Sub-Commissioner of Prizes. Also he shared with Sir John Reresby a fourteen year monopoly on the production of steel.^[4] The anonymous author (but probably Andrew Marvel) of Flagellum Parliamentarium, a contemporary publication which listed many of the pensioners of the Cavalier Parliament, described these rewards as bribes, given not for previous loyalty, but for supporting the court party in the post-restoration parliament.^[5]

Sir Thomas, was privy purse to Charles II and one of the privy councils to James II, and following the fortunes of James went into exile with him, dying in France on 8 January 1694. He was buried at Rouen. Sir Thomas was succeeded by his eldest son Walter.^[2][3][4]

Family

Sir Thomas Strickland married first, Jane, daughter and co-heir of John Moseley, esq. of Ulskelfe, in the county of York, by whom he had two surviving daughters: Alice, married Sir Walter Blunt, of Soddington and Mauly, in the county of Worcester, but d. without issue, Anne, married John Middleton, esq. of Stockeld, in the county of York, but d. without issue.^[2][3]

Sir Thomas married secondly, Winifred, daughter and heiress of Sir Charles Trentham, knt. of Rocester, in the county of Stafford, and had issue:^[2][3]

• Walter, b. in May, 1645.
• Robert, d. unmarried.
• Roger, who was page to the Prince of Conti. when he went from France to be elected King of Poland. Roger Strickland died unmarried at 24 years old.
• Thomas, in holy orders. Bishop of Namur. He was sent ambassador to England by the Emperor, Charles VI. He died at Namur, in the year 1743, and was buried in his own cathedral.

Notes

References

• Burke, John (1836). A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great Britain and Ireland enjoying territorial possessions or high official rank: but uninvested with heritable honours, Volume 1, Colburn.
• Ferguson, Richard Saul (1871), Cumberland and Westmorland M.P.'s from the Restoration to the Reform Bill of 1867, 1660-1867, London Bell 2nd Daldy
• Nicolson, Joseph; et al (1777). The history and antiquities of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland, Volume 1, Printed for W. Strahan.

Attribution

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Cumberland and Westmorland M.P.'s from the Restoration to the Reform Bill of 1867, 1660-1867" by Richard Saul Ferguson (1871)
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "The history and antiquities of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland", by Joseph Nicolson (1777)