William Heveningham facts for kids
William Heveningham (born 1604, died 1678) was an English politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like a parliament, from 1640 to 1653. He supported the Parliamentary side during the English Civil War. This was a big conflict in England between those who supported the King and those who supported Parliament. William Heveningham was involved in the trial of King Charles I.
William Heveningham's Political Journey
William Heveningham was the son of Sir John Heveningham. In 1633, he held an important local job called High Sheriff of Norfolk.
In April 1640, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for a place called Stockbridge. This was for a short meeting of Parliament known as the Short Parliament. Later that year, in November 1640, he was chosen again for Stockbridge. This time, he served in the Long Parliament, which lasted much longer, until 1653. During this time, he was part of the Rump Parliament.
In 1646, he worked on a committee for the Eastern Association. This was a group of counties that supported Parliament during the war.
William Heveningham was part of the special court that tried King Charles I in 1649. However, he did not sign the official order for the King's execution. In 1649, he also became a member of the Council of State, which was like a government committee. In 1651, he was made Vice-Admiral of the Coast for Suffolk. This job involved looking after the navy and coastal defenses in that area.
After the King's family returned to power in England, an event called the Restoration happened in 1660. In 1661, William Heveningham's life was saved because his wife's family helped him. Even so, he was put in prison at Windsor in 1664.
William Heveningham's Family Life
William Heveningham was married twice.
His first wife was Katherine Walop, who passed away in 1648. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Wallop. They had three children together:
- Elizabeth Heveningham, born in 1639 in Heveningham, Suffolk, England.
- John Heveningham, born in 1641 in Heveningham, Suffolk, England.
- Bridget Heveningham, born in 1642 in Heveningham, Suffolk, England.
In 1655, William Heveningham married his second wife, Mary Carey (1631–1696). She was the daughter of John Carey, 2nd Earl of Dover. They had two children:
- William Heveningham, who passed away in 1675. He married Barbara Villiers.
- Abigail Heveningham, born in 1660 and died in 1686. She married Sir John Newton, 3rd Baronet of Barrs Court. Abigail and Sir John were the grandparents of Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester, who lived at Holkham Hall.
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