Samuel Wightwick facts for kids

Samuel Wightwick was an English lawyer and politician who lived a long time ago. He was a member of the House of Commons in 1659. This was an important part of the English government, similar to today's Parliament.

Samuel Wightwick was the younger son of Francis Wightwick. His family lived in a place called Great Bloxham in Staffordshire, England.

Early Life and Legal Career

Samuel Wightwick started his journey to become a lawyer in November 1629. He joined the Inner Temple, which was a famous place where lawyers were trained. It was like a special school and club for lawyers.

As he got older, Samuel worked his way up in the legal world. He became a "Prothonotary of the Upper Bench" during a time called the Commonwealth. This was a very important job in the main court of England. He helped manage the court's records and legal cases.

Working for Parliament

Samuel Wightwick was a strong supporter of the Parliament during the English Civil War. He even served on a committee that helped support Parliament's efforts. Because of his support, his home and belongings were sometimes taken or damaged.

In 1646, Samuel asked a special committee for help. He shared an important job with another person, Robert Henley. Samuel explained that he only received a small part of the money from this job. He asked the committee to consider his loyalty to Parliament. He also mentioned that he had eight children to support.

Buying Property

Samuel Wightwick also bought some houses in Drury Lane in London. These houses had belonged to William Lord Craven but were taken by the government. Samuel was able to buy them, and they were officially cleared for him to own in 1646.

Political Life

Samuel Wightwick became a Member of Parliament in 1659. He represented the area of Brecon, which is in Wales. This meant he helped make laws and decisions for the country.

After the Commonwealth period, in 1662, he continued his legal work. He became a Joint Chief Clerk with Robert Henley. They were in charge of recording legal pleas in the King's Bench court.

Family Life

Samuel Wightwick married a woman named Abigail Wright. They had four sons together: Samuel, Peter, George, and Francis. All of his sons followed in their father's footsteps. They also became members of the Inner Temple, just like their dad. This shows that being a lawyer was an important tradition in their family.