Edward Tooker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Tooker
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St Mary's Church, Maddington, where Tooker was buried
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| Member of Parliament for Salisbury |
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| In office April 1660 – April 1664 |
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| Member of Parliament for Hindon |
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| In office January 1659 – April 1659 |
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| Member of Parliament for Salisbury |
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| In office September 1654 – January 1655 |
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| High Sheriff of Wiltshire | |
| In office 1648–1649 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1592 Maddington, Wiltshire |
| Died | 17 April 1664 (aged 71) Maddington, Wiltshire |
| Spouses | (1) Martha Cooper (2) Mary Hungerford (1638–1654) |
| Children | (1) Giles (1625–1676); Martha (died 1688); Philippa (1642–1703) |
| Alma mater | Lincoln's Inn |
Edward Tooker (born around 1592 – died April 17, 1664) was an English lawyer and politician from Wiltshire. He served as a member of the House of Commons, which is like a part of the government, at different times between 1654 and 1664. From 1631 to 1639, he was the legal guardian for his nephew, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper. His nephew later described him as "a very honest, industrious man, an hospitable, prudent person, much valued and esteemed, dead and alive, by all that knew him." This means people thought he was a good, hard-working, and wise person.
Contents
Who Was Edward Tooker?
His Early Life and Family
Edward Tooker was born in a place called Maddington, Wiltshire, around the year 1592. He was the oldest son of Giles Tooker and his wife Elizabeth. His father was also a lawyer and served as a judge (called a Recorder) in Salisbury. His father also represented Salisbury in Parliament between 1601 and 1614.
In 1616, Edward Tooker married Martha Cooper. She was the sister of Sir John Cooper, 1st Baronet and the aunt of his famous nephew, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper. Edward and Martha had three children together:
- Giles (born 1625, died 1676)
- Martha (died 1688)
- Philippa (born 1642, died 1703)
After Martha's death, Edward married again in 1638 to a widow named Mary Platt. They did not have any children together.
Becoming a Lawyer and Public Servant
Edward Tooker began studying law at Lincoln's Inn in 1610. He officially became a lawyer in 1616. In 1623, he inherited his father's properties in Maddington.
Edward became very involved in public life during a time of great change in England, known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He supported the Parliamentarian side. Here are some of the important roles he held:
- In 1643, he helped collect money for Parliament in Wiltshire. He continued this role from 1647 to 1652.
- He was the High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1648. A High Sheriff was a very important local official, responsible for law and order.
- He also helped organize the local army (called the militia) in 1648 and 1649.
- In 1651, he became a Justice of the Peace, which meant he helped keep the peace and deal with minor legal issues.
- In 1653, he worked to help poor prisoners.
Edward Tooker's Time in Parliament
Edward Tooker was elected to the House of Commons several times, representing different areas:
- In 1654, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Salisbury.
- In 1659, he was elected as an MP for Hindon.
- In April 1660, he was again elected as an MP for Salisbury in the Convention Parliament.
- In 1661, he was re-elected for Salisbury in the Cavalier Parliament and served there until he passed away.
Edward Tooker died on April 17, 1664, at the age of 71. He was buried in Maddington, the same place where he was born.
