Thomas Willoughby, 11th Baron Willoughby of Parham
Encyclopedia
Thomas Willoughby, 11th Baron Willoughby of Parham (c.1602–1691/92) was an English peer
of the House of Lords
. He was born in about 1602, son of Sir Thomas Willoughby and Mary Thornhaugh (Thornley), and grandson of Charles Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby of Parham
and Lady Margaret Clinton. He married Eleanor Whittle, daughter of Hugh and Mary Whittle, of Horwich
on 22 February 1639 (or 1640). After marriage they lived at Old Lord's Farm in Horwich, the area is still known as 'Old Lords Estate'. They had two sons and three daughters, Hugh, the eldest son and Francis who in 1696 married Eleanor Rothwell of Haigh
. Their daughters were Mary who married Samuel Greenhalgh of Adlington
, Sarah and Abigail. Eleanor died aged 67 in 1665.
Thomas was a staunch puritan
and is closely associated with dissenting religious bodies. During the English Civil War
, he was a major
and fought on the side of the Parliamentarians
. He saw action in the first
and second
battles at Middlewich
in 1643, and at the Bolton Massacre
in 1644. He was a governor of Rivington Grammar School
during the Commonwealth and after Restoration from 1650 until 1691. The school lacked income between 1650 and 1660 so Thomas travelled to London, York and Durham for affidavits and trials and secured the rental income for the school. In the school's records he is noted as Gentleman
of Horwich. He served as Chairman of Governors in 1651, 1653–54, 1653, 1670, 1676 and 1683.
On the death of his cousin, Charles Willoughby, 10th Baron Willoughby of Parham
in 1679, the title should have been inherited by Henry Willoughby, grandson of Sir Ambrose Willoughby, and great-grandson of Charles, the 2nd Baron
. However, Henry Willoughby had emigrated to Virginia
and his whereabouts was not known. Thomas Willoughby was summoned to parliament as a commoner
on 19 May 1685 as the 11th Baron Willoughby of Parham
. His bloodline thereafter became ennobled and by point of law a new barony had been created. The right to the barony created by letters patent
in 1547 was later claimed by a descendant of Henry Willoughby as 16th Baron Willoughby of Parham
in 1767.
Thomas died in 1691 aged 89 and was buried under the chancel by the east window at the old Horwich Parish Church
. He was succeeded by his eldest son Hugh
as the 12th Baron Willoughby of Parham.
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. He was born in about 1602, son of Sir Thomas Willoughby and Mary Thornhaugh (Thornley), and grandson of Charles Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby of Parham
Charles Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby of Parham
Charles Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby of Parham was the only son of William Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby of Parham and Elizabeth Heneage.Charles Willoughby was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford being under 14 years old in 1551...
and Lady Margaret Clinton. He married Eleanor Whittle, daughter of Hugh and Mary Whittle, of Horwich
Horwich
Horwich is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest from the city of Manchester. It lies at the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors with the M61 motorway close to the...
on 22 February 1639 (or 1640). After marriage they lived at Old Lord's Farm in Horwich, the area is still known as 'Old Lords Estate'. They had two sons and three daughters, Hugh, the eldest son and Francis who in 1696 married Eleanor Rothwell of Haigh
Haigh
Haigh may refer to:Places*Haigh, Greater Manchester, England - a village*Haigh, West Yorkshire, England - a villagePeople*Christopher Haigh, British historian*Philip A...
. Their daughters were Mary who married Samuel Greenhalgh of Adlington
Adlington
Adlington may refer to one of two places in England:*Adlington, Cheshire*Adlington, LancashirePeople with the surname Adlington:*Rebecca Adlington, a British swimmer*Terry Adlington, a British soccer player*William Adlington, British translator...
, Sarah and Abigail. Eleanor died aged 67 in 1665.
Thomas was a staunch puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
and is closely associated with dissenting religious bodies. During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, he was a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and fought on the side of the Parliamentarians
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
. He saw action in the first
First Battle of Middlewich
The First Battle of Middlewich took place on the 13 March 1643, during the English Civil War, and was fought between the Parliamentarians, under Sir William Brereton, and the Royalist supporters of King Charles I of England, under Sir Thomas Aston....
and second
Second Battle of Middlewich
The Second Battle of Middlewich took place on the 26 December 1643. In the battle around 200 Parliamentarians were killed, along with a number of Royalists under the command of Lord Byron.According to Ormerod's history of Cheshire:"December 2nd, 1643...
battles at Middlewich
Middlewich
Middlewich is a market town in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is east of the city of Chester, east of Winsford, southeast of Northwich and northwest of Sandbach....
in 1643, and at the Bolton Massacre
Bolton Massacre
The Bolton Massacre, sometimes recorded as the Storming of Bolton, was an episode in the English Civil War, on 28 May 1644. The strongly Parliamentarian town was stormed and captured by the Royalist forces under Prince Rupert of the Rhine. It was alleged that up to 1,600 of Bolton's defenders and...
in 1644. He was a governor of Rivington Grammar School
Rivington and Blackrod High School
Rivington and Blackrod High School is a Church of England, voluntary aided comprehensive and sixth form school in the North West region of England...
during the Commonwealth and after Restoration from 1650 until 1691. The school lacked income between 1650 and 1660 so Thomas travelled to London, York and Durham for affidavits and trials and secured the rental income for the school. In the school's records he is noted as Gentleman
Gentleman
The term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus...
of Horwich. He served as Chairman of Governors in 1651, 1653–54, 1653, 1670, 1676 and 1683.
On the death of his cousin, Charles Willoughby, 10th Baron Willoughby of Parham
Charles Willoughby, 10th Baron Willoughby of Parham
Charles Willoughby, 10th Baron Willoughby of Parham was an English peer of the House of Lords.He succeeded to the title in September 1678 on the death of John Willoughby, 9th Baron Willoughby of Parham...
in 1679, the title should have been inherited by Henry Willoughby, grandson of Sir Ambrose Willoughby, and great-grandson of Charles, the 2nd Baron
Charles Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby of Parham
Charles Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby of Parham was the only son of William Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby of Parham and Elizabeth Heneage.Charles Willoughby was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford being under 14 years old in 1551...
. However, Henry Willoughby had emigrated to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and his whereabouts was not known. Thomas Willoughby was summoned to parliament as a commoner
Commoner
In British law, a commoner is someone who is neither the Sovereign nor a peer. Therefore, any member of the Royal Family who is not a peer, such as Prince Harry of Wales or Anne, Princess Royal, is a commoner, as is any member of a peer's family, including someone who holds only a courtesy title,...
on 19 May 1685 as the 11th Baron Willoughby of Parham
Baron Willoughby of Parham
Baron Willoughby of Parham was a title in the Peerage of England with two creations. The first creation was for Sir William Willoughby who was raised to the peerage under letters patent in 1547, with the remainder to his heirs male of body...
. His bloodline thereafter became ennobled and by point of law a new barony had been created. The right to the barony created by letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
in 1547 was later claimed by a descendant of Henry Willoughby as 16th Baron Willoughby of Parham
Henry Willoughby, 16th Baron Willoughby of Parham
Henry Willoughby, 16th Baron Willoughby of Parham was an English peer of the House of Lords.On the death of Charles Willoughby, 10th Baron Willoughby of Parham, who died without male heir on 9 December 1679, the title should have passed to the descendants of Sir Ambrose Willoughby of Matson,...
in 1767.
Thomas died in 1691 aged 89 and was buried under the chancel by the east window at the old Horwich Parish Church
Holy Trinity Church, Horwich
Holy Trinity Church, commonly known as Horwich Parish Church, is a Grade II listed building in Horwich, Greater Manchester, England. It is an active Church of England parish church and part of the Deane deanery in the archdeaconry of Bolton, diocese of Manchester...
. He was succeeded by his eldest son Hugh
Hugh Willoughby, 12th Baron Willoughby of Parham
Hugh Willoughby, 12th Baron Willoughby of Parham was an English peer of the House of Lords. He was the eldest son of Thomas Willoughby, 11th Baron Willoughby of Parham and his wife Eleanor, daughter of Hugh Whittle of Horwich...
as the 12th Baron Willoughby of Parham.