John Carter (MP)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Carter was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1654 and 1660. He served in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War
.
Carter was the second son of Thomas Carter of Denton, Buckinghamshire. He is said to have been apprenticed to a linen-draper, probably in London. During the Civil War he joined the Parliamentary army where he distinguished himself as a Parliamentary officer. As Lieutenant Colonel Carter, he was sent with forces from London to reinforce General Middleton
and landed in Pembrokeshire in August 1644. After marching to join Middleton's army in Cardiganshire he then accompanied him to North Wales. He was one of General Mytton
's Commissioners to receive the surrender of Carnarvon Castle on 4 June 1646. He settled at Kinmel and became one of the most powerful men in Denbighshire. The Committee of both Houses ordered him to continue as Governor of Conway Castle on 17 July 1647. He was appointed a Commissioner for pious uses for the use of the Corporation of Denbigh on 17 November 1648 and was Constable of Conway Castle from 23 June 1649 to 15 February 1661. On 8 October 1648 and on 13 February 1650 he was appointed High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire
and was appointed a Commissioner. of Sequestration in North Wales on 18 February 1650. He was Custos Rotulorum of Caernarvonshire
from 1 May 1651 to 25 June 1656. As Governor of Conway, he received a commission from the Council of State on 18 August 1651 to raise a Troop of Horse.
In 1654 Carter was admitted a capital burgess of Denbigh
and was elected Member of Parliament
for Denbighshire
in the First Protectorate Parliament
. He was Custos Rotulorum of Carnarvonshire from 4 July 1656 to September 1660. In 1656 he was re-elected MP for Denighshire in the Second Protectorate Parliament
. He was knighted by Cromwell between 1656 and 1658. In 1659 he was re-elected MP for Denbighshire in the Third Protectorate Parliament
.
In 1660, Carter was elected Member of Parliament
for Denbigh
in the Convention Parliament. He was knighted on 7 June 1660 at Whitehall and was appointed Steward of the Manor of Denbigh in July 1660. He was ordered on 24 October 1660, with William Griffiths of Llyn and Griffith Bodwrda
to see to the dismantling of Carnarvon Castle He was appointed Governor of the Fort and Garrison of Holyhead in November 1660. In 1665 he was High Sheriff of Denbighshire
.
Carter died at the age of 57 and was buried in St. George's Chapel, Denbigh.
Carter married Elizabeth Holland, daughter and co-heir of David Holland of Kinmel. The country people
considered him as a rapacious oppressor and petty tyrant, and claimed that he forced the heiress of Kinmel to marry him. It was joked at the time that he betrayed his former trade by choosing the "best piece of Holland
" in the County.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
at various times between 1654 and 1660. He served in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Carter was the second son of Thomas Carter of Denton, Buckinghamshire. He is said to have been apprenticed to a linen-draper, probably in London. During the Civil War he joined the Parliamentary army where he distinguished himself as a Parliamentary officer. As Lieutenant Colonel Carter, he was sent with forces from London to reinforce General Middleton
Thomas Myddelton (younger)
Sir Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle was a Welsh politician and Parliamentary general.-Early life:He was the son of Sir Thomas Myddelton. He matriculated from Queen's College, Oxford, on 22 February 1605, and became a student of Gray's Inn in 1607. he was knighted on 10 February 1617, and was M.P...
and landed in Pembrokeshire in August 1644. After marching to join Middleton's army in Cardiganshire he then accompanied him to North Wales. He was one of General Mytton
Thomas Mytton
-Life:Born about 1597, son of Richard Mytton of Halston, Shropshire, by Margaret, daughter of Thomas Owen of Condover, he matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, on 11 May 1615, aged 18. He became a student of Lincoln's Inn in 1616...
's Commissioners to receive the surrender of Carnarvon Castle on 4 June 1646. He settled at Kinmel and became one of the most powerful men in Denbighshire. The Committee of both Houses ordered him to continue as Governor of Conway Castle on 17 July 1647. He was appointed a Commissioner for pious uses for the use of the Corporation of Denbigh on 17 November 1648 and was Constable of Conway Castle from 23 June 1649 to 15 February 1661. On 8 October 1648 and on 13 February 1650 he was appointed High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire
High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Caernarvonshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
and was appointed a Commissioner. of Sequestration in North Wales on 18 February 1650. He was Custos Rotulorum of Caernarvonshire
Custos Rotulorum of Caernarvonshire
This is a list of people who have served as Custos Rotulorum of Caernarvonshire.* Sir Richard Bulkeley c. 1544* John Wyn ap Meredith c. 1558* Maurice Wynn bef. 1562 – aft. 1577* Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester bef. 1579–1588...
from 1 May 1651 to 25 June 1656. As Governor of Conway, he received a commission from the Council of State on 18 August 1651 to raise a Troop of Horse.
In 1654 Carter was admitted a capital burgess of Denbigh
Denbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
and was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Denbighshire
Denbighshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Denbighshire was a county constituency in Denbighshire, in north Wales, from 1542 to 1885.- History :From 1542, it returned one Member of Parliament , traditionally known as the knight of the shire, to the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then to the Parliament of Great...
in the First Protectorate Parliament
First Protectorate Parliament
The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House....
. He was Custos Rotulorum of Carnarvonshire from 4 July 1656 to September 1660. In 1656 he was re-elected MP for Denighshire in the Second Protectorate Parliament
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
. He was knighted by Cromwell between 1656 and 1658. In 1659 he was re-elected MP for Denbighshire in the Third Protectorate Parliament
Third Protectorate Parliament
The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons...
.
In 1660, Carter was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Denbigh
Denbigh Boroughs (UK Parliament constituency)
Denbigh District of Boroughs was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Denbigh in Wales. It returned one Member of Parliament to the British House of Commons.The constituency first returned an MP in 1542, to the English Parliament...
in the Convention Parliament. He was knighted on 7 June 1660 at Whitehall and was appointed Steward of the Manor of Denbigh in July 1660. He was ordered on 24 October 1660, with William Griffiths of Llyn and Griffith Bodwrda
Griffith Bodwrda
Griffith Bodwrda was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1656 and 1660.Bodwrda was the son of Hugh Bodwrda of Bodwrda Carnarvonshire. Before 1646 he was granted the Wine Licence Office which had an income of £300 pa...
to see to the dismantling of Carnarvon Castle He was appointed Governor of the Fort and Garrison of Holyhead in November 1660. In 1665 he was High Sheriff of Denbighshire
High Sheriff of Denbighshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
.
Carter died at the age of 57 and was buried in St. George's Chapel, Denbigh.
Carter married Elizabeth Holland, daughter and co-heir of David Holland of Kinmel. The country people
considered him as a rapacious oppressor and petty tyrant, and claimed that he forced the heiress of Kinmel to marry him. It was joked at the time that he betrayed his former trade by choosing the "best piece of Holland
Holland cloth
The Holland cloth, or simply Holland is a plainwoven or dull-finish linen used as furniture covering or a cotton fabric made more or less opaque by a glazed or unglazed finish...
" in the County.