Christopher Clapham facts for kids

This is the coat of arms for the Clapham family.

A drawing of a monument to John of Gaunt. It shows the Clapham family arms, hinting at a connection to this important historical figure.

Christopher Clapham (1608–1686) was an English politician from Beamsley, a place near Skipton in Yorkshire, England. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is a key part of the English Parliament, in both 1659 and 1660.

Who Was Christopher Clapham?

Christopher Clapham was the oldest son of George Clapham, who passed away in 1629. His mother was Martha Heber. She was the daughter of Reginald Heber from Marton, also in Yorkshire.

His Political Life

Christopher Clapham was careful not to pick a side during the English Civil War. Even though three of his brothers fought for the King, he stayed out of the conflict.

In 1658, he became a "freeman" of Stamford. This meant he had special rights in the town. The next year, in 1659, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Stamford. He served in the Third Protectorate Parliament.

In 1660, he was elected as an MP again, this time for Appleby. He served in the Convention Parliament. On June 8, 1660, he was made a knight, which meant he was called "Sir Christopher Clapham."

He took on many important roles in his local area:

• In July 1660, he became a Justice of the Peace (JP) for West Riding of Yorkshire. A JP helps keep law and order.
• He also worked as a commissioner for taxes in different areas, like Westmorland and Yorkshire.
• In 1663, he became a captain in the horse volunteers for Lincolnshire.
• He continued as a JP for Kesteven, Lincolnshire, until he died.
• Later, he was made a Deputy Lieutenant for Lincolnshire in 1681. This was another important local government role.
• From 1682 to 1683, he held the high position of High Sheriff of Lincolnshire. The High Sheriff was a top law enforcement officer in the county.

Family Life

Christopher Clapham was married three times.

• His first wife was Mary Lowden. They married by 1627 and had two sons and one daughter. Mary passed away in 1637.
• In 1639, he married Margaret Oldfield. She was a widow and the daughter of Anthony Oldfield. They had four sons and four daughters together. Margaret died in 1674.
• His third marriage was in 1678 to Mary Needham. She was the daughter of Robert Needham, 2nd Viscount Kilmorey.

His Final Years

Christopher Clapham passed away at the age of 77. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Stamford on August 16, 1686.