Walter Chetwynd (Newcastle-under-Lyme MP) facts for kids
Walter Chetwynd was an important English politician who lived a long time ago. He was born sometime before 1638 and passed away on May 31, 1638. Walter Chetwynd was a member of the House of Commons, which is a bit like today's parliament, where laws are made. He served there many times between the years 1584 and 1614.
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Early Life and Family
Walter Chetwynd was the son of John Chetwynd. His mother was Margery Middlemore, who was John's second wife. The family lived at a place called Ingestre, which is near Stafford in England.
Walter went to school at places called Barnard's Inn and Gray's Inn in 1582. These were like special schools for people who wanted to study law. In 1612, Walter took over the Ingestre estate after his half-brother, Sir William Chetwynd, passed away.
Political Career
Walter Chetwynd had a busy career in politics. He held several important jobs that helped run the country and his local area.
Member of Parliament
In 1584, Walter was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for a place called Newcastle-under-Lyme. An MP is someone elected to represent their town or area in the House of Commons, helping to make decisions and laws for the country. He was chosen again for Newcastle in 1586. Later, in 1604, he was elected as an MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme once more. In 1614, he became an MP for the larger area of Staffordshire.
Justice of the Peace
Around 1592, Walter Chetwynd became a J.P. for Shropshire. By 1596, he was also a J.P. for Staffordshire. A Justice of the Peace was an important local official. They helped keep law and order, dealt with smaller crimes, and managed local government.
Other Important Roles
- In 1601, he was a commissioner for musters in Staffordshire. This meant he helped organize and prepare local soldiers for military service.
- In 1604, he was given the special title of Knight. This was an honor given by the King or Queen.
- From 1607 to 1608, he served as the High Sheriff of Staffordshire. The High Sheriff was a very old and important role, responsible for law enforcement in the county.
- From 1613 to 1614, Walter Chetwynd was the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme. The Mayor is the leader of a town or city.
Later Life
In 1613, Walter Chetwynd rebuilt Ingestre Hall, the family home. This shows he was a wealthy and influential person in his community.
Walter Chetwynd was married twice. His first wife was Mary Mullins. Her father was John Mullins, who was an Archdeacon of London. An Archdeacon is an important leader in the church. Walter and Mary had two sons and one daughter. After Mary passed away, Walter married Catherine Unton. She was the daughter of Sir George Hastings. Walter's eldest son, also named Walter, took over the family estate after his father's death.
