Walter Yonge (died 1649) facts for kids
Walter Yonge (born 1579, died 1649) lived at a place called Great House in Colyton, Devon, England. He was a smart lawyer, a busy merchant, and he kept detailed diaries. These diaries are very important today because they tell us a lot about life in his time.
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Walter Yonge's Family History
Walter Yonge was the oldest son of John II Yonge. His mother was Alice Stere. Walter's grandfather, John I Yonge, lived in Axminster, Devon.
Walter's great-grandfather was Walter I Yonge. He lived around the time of King Henry VII and King Henry VIII. He was the first person in his family to move to Devon. He bought several pieces of land there, including:
- Stuttecomb, in the area of Axmouth. He bought this from Sir Peter Carew.
- Buckland Trill, also in Axmouth. He bought this from Sir Peter Carew too.
- Batteshorn, in Honiton. He bought half of this land from Sir Amias Paulet.
- Cob Whimpell, in Whimple. He also bought this from Sir Amias Paulet.
Walter Yonge's Work and Life
Walter Yonge went to Magdalen College, Oxford for his education. He then became a lawyer, training at a place called Middle Temple.
In 1628, he was chosen to be the Sheriff of Devon. This was an important job, like a chief officer for the county.
As a merchant, Walter invested money in the Dorchester Company. This company was a group of people who put their money together. They wanted to start fishing and build new settlements in New England (which is now part of the USA).
From 1640, Walter Yonge was a Member of Parliament for Honiton. This meant he helped make laws in the Long Parliament. However, he stopped attending after an event called Pride's Purge in December 1648.
From 1642 to 1648, he also helped supply the Navy with food and other necessities.
Walter Yonge's Family Life
Walter Yonge married Jane Periam. Jane was the daughter of Sir John Peryam from Exeter. Sir John was also a Member of Parliament and a Mayor of Exeter. Jane's mother was Elizabeth Hone.
Jane's uncle was Sir William Peryam. He was a very important judge, known as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
Walter and Jane had two sons and one daughter:
- Sir John Yonge, 1st Baronet (1603–1663): He was their oldest son. He also became a Member of Parliament and worked alongside his father.
- Walter Yonge (1608–1667): Their second son. He also became a lawyer.
- Jane Young (1605–1666): Their daughter. She never married.
Walter Yonge's Writings
Today, Walter Yonge is best known for his writings. He kept detailed diaries from 1604 to 1627 and again from 1642 to 1645. These diaries are like a window into the past. They are very important for historians who want to learn about life in England during the 1600s.
Four of his diary volumes are kept in the British Library. They were published in Britain in the 1800s by the Camden Society. You can even read the full text of his diaries online here.
