John Whiteway (politician) facts for kids
John Whiteway (born 1614 – died around 1677) was an English wool merchant and a politician. He served as a member of the House of Commons, which is like a part of the government, at different times between 1654 and 1660. He was an important figure in his hometown of Dorchester.
Contents
Early Life and Family
John Whiteway was the only son of William Whiteway and Mary Mounsell. His father, William, was also a successful wool merchant. He had also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Dorchester.
Public Service and Roles
John Whiteway took on many important roles in his community. In 1643, he became a captain in the local militia in Dorchester. A militia was a group of citizens trained as soldiers, ready to defend their area.
Local Government Roles
From 1643 to 1652, John Whiteway worked as a commissioner for assessment in Dorset. This meant he helped decide how much tax people should pay. In 1645, he became the mayor of Dorchester, which is the main leader of the town.
He also became a J.P. for Dorset in 1647. A Justice of the Peace is a local official who helps keep order and deals with minor legal matters. He held this role until 1660.
Other Important Duties
John Whiteway continued to serve in various capacities. In 1648, he was again a commissioner for the militia. Later, in 1653, he became a commissioner for prisoners and piracy. This role involved dealing with issues related to prisoners and sea robbery.
Political Career
John Whiteway was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Dorchester several times. An MP represents their local area in the national government.
Serving in Parliament
In 1654, he was elected to the First Protectorate Parliament. He was re-elected in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament. These parliaments were important during a time when England was led by Oliver Cromwell.
Continued Public Service
He continued his work as a commissioner for assessment in Dorset in 1657. In 1658, he served as the mayor of Dorchester for a second time. In 1659, he was again a commissioner for the militia.
In 1660, John Whiteway was re-elected as an MP for Dorchester. This time, he served in the Convention Parliament. This parliament was very important because it helped bring back the monarchy to England.
Personal Life
John Whiteway was married twice. His first wife was Mary White. They married in 1639 and had four sons and two daughters. Mary passed away in 1658.
Later, in 1667, he married Martha. She was the widow of Francis Sedgwicke and Timothy Alsop. Martha was the daughter of Ralph Triplett. John Whiteway's will, which is a legal document about his property after his death, was officially approved in February 1679.
