Roger Pepys

Roger Pepys (3 May 1617 – 4 October 1688) was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1661 to 1678.

Pepys was born at Heydon, Norfolk, the son of Talbot Pepys of Impington, Cambridgeshire and his wife Beatrice Castell, daughter of John Castell of Raveningham, Norfolk. He was educated at The Perse School Cambridge under Mr Lovering and was admitted at Christ's College, Cambridge on 17 April 1635. He was admitted at the Middle Temple on 4 November 1634 and was called to the bar in 1641. His cousin Samuel Pepys considered him to be too simple to be a useful lawyer.^[1] He became recorder of Cambridge in 1660^[2] when his father gave up that position.

In 1661, Pepys was elected Member of Parliament for Cambridge in the Cavalier Parliament and sat until 1678. He was active in various bills in his early years in the house, particularly the plague bill in 1665. He objected to the precedence given to the vice-chancellor of Cambridge University over the mayor, and acted as teller for an amendment. He was chairman in regard to the bills for establishing the London Fire Court and against atheism and profanity. He stood at the election in 1679 but was defeated.^[1]

He became a bencher of his Inn in 1664. In 1679 he was removed from his post as recorder "for acting in conjunction with the factious party against the court and loyal interest."^[2]

Pepys died at the af of 71 and was buried at Impington.^[2]

Pepys married four times. He married firstly Anne Banks, daughter of Luke Banks of Beck Hall, Giggleswick. He married secondly Barbara Bacon, daughter of Francis Bacon of Norwich and had four sons and two daughters. Through his third wife Parnele Duke, daughter of John Duke, of Worlingham, Suffolk, he inherited the Manor of Diss, Norfolk. He married fourthly Esther Conyers, widow of Rev, Richard Conyers and daughter of Bernard Dickenson of Westminster. His son John was later MP for Cambridge. His daughters Bab and Betty were referred to in the diary of his cousin

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