Sir Thomas Webster, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Thomas Webster, 1st Baronet (1679 – 30 May 1751) was an important British landowner and politician. He owned large estates like Copped Hall in Essex and Battle Abbey in Sussex. Sir Thomas was a member of the Whig political party and served in the English and British House of Commons from 1705 to 1727.
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Early Life and Family Connections
Sir Thomas Webster was born in 1679. He was the oldest son of Sir Godfrey Webster, a successful cloth merchant from London. Thomas studied law at the Middle Temple starting in 1697.
In 1701, he married Jane Cheek. Her mother, Mary Whistler, was the daughter of a very rich merchant named Henry Whistler. The Webster family later used "Whistler" as a first name for their children to remember this important family connection and the wealth they inherited.
In 1703, Sir Thomas bought the large estate of Copped Hall in Essex for more than £20,000. This was a huge amount of money at the time! In the same year, he was given the title of a Baronet. This meant he became "Sir Thomas Webster, 1st Baronet." He also served as the High Sheriff of Essex from 1703 to 1704. The High Sheriff was a very important local official.
A Career in Parliament
Sir Thomas Webster was a member of the Whig party. The Whigs were one of the two main political groups in Britain at the time. He was first elected to Parliament as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Colchester in 1705.
He was re-elected for Colchester in the 1708 British general election. In Parliament, he voted on important issues. For example, in 1709, he supported a law to allow people from Palatine (a region in Germany) to become British citizens. He also voted in favor of impeaching (putting on trial) Dr. Sacheverell in 1710.
Sir Thomas was elected again in the 1710 British general election. However, he lost his seat after a special review, called a "petition," in 1711. He won again in the 1713 British general election, but was again unseated in 1714. This happened after a disagreement about how many new "Freemen" (people with the right to vote) were created by the local council.
Despite these challenges, he was re-elected in the 1722 British general election. He continued to represent Colchester in Parliament until 1727.
Later Life and Legacy
From 1718 until his death, Sir Thomas was a Verderer of Waltham Forest. This role involved protecting the forest and its wildlife. In 1721, he bought another important property, Battle Abbey, in Sussex.
Sir Thomas Webster passed away on May 30, 1751. He and his wife had two sons and three daughters. His son, Sir Whistler Webster, became the 2nd Baronet and also served as an MP. His daughter Abigail married William Northey, who was also a Member of Parliament.
Records show that Sir Thomas's son, Whistler Webster, inherited a large sum of £68,000 from Henry Whistler's property. This was in addition to what he received from his father.
Images for kids
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Copped Hall, one of Sir Thomas Webster's estates.
