William Lewis (MP for Anglesey) facts for kids

William Lewis (born around 1526, died possibly 1601) was an important person in Wales. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Anglesey, which means he represented the people of Anglesey in the country's government.

Early Life and Family

William Lewis was the first son of Hugh Lewis, who lived at Presaddfed Hall. His mother was Agnes, the daughter of Sir William Gruffydd. After his father and grandfather passed away, William was looked after by John Puleston. This meant Puleston was his "ward," helping to manage his affairs until William was old enough.

William Lewis's Career

William Lewis held several important jobs during his life.

Local Government Roles

He served as the Sheriff of Anglesey three times: in 1548–49, 1557–58, and 1571–72. A sheriff was a key local official, responsible for keeping peace and enforcing laws. William also worked as a commissioner. This meant he was given special tasks, like helping with taxes in 1550 or looking after church property in 1553.

Public Records and Disputes

William Lewis started appearing in official records more often during the time of King Edward VI. However, some records show he began renting land in Anglesey even earlier, before King Henry VII's reign ended.

He was involved in a legal case in a special court called the Star Chamber. This case was against Richard and Thomas Bulkeley, and it was about building a mill dam. This dispute was part of a bigger argument between William Lewis and his cousin, Sir Richard Bulkeley. Their rivalry caused a lot of trouble on the island.

Serving as a Member of Parliament

William Lewis was chosen to be an MP for the first parliament of Queen Mary I. However, his cousin, Sir Richard Bulkeley, challenged this election. Bulkeley claimed that the sheriff had wrongly declared Lewis the winner, even though Bulkeley said he had more votes.

The courts sided with Bulkeley, meaning the election result was overturned. By 1555, Sir Richard Bulkeley had been elected MP for Anglesey twice after William Lewis. It's not clear if Bulkeley ran for parliament again in late 1555, but William Lewis was elected as MP once more.

The feud between William Lewis and Sir Richard Bulkeley continued for a long time. A poet named Wiliam Llŷn even wrote a poem about it in 1560, saying that their constant fighting was making social life difficult on the island.

William Lewis did not oppose the return of Catholicism during Queen Mary's reign. Later, even though an agent of Mary, Queen of Scots listed him as a Catholic, he was still able to serve the government of Queen Elizabeth I.

Personal Life

William Lewis married twice. His first wife was Margaret, the daughter of John Puleston, who was also an MP. They had three sons and seven daughters. His second wife was Ellen, the daughter of Edward ap Hugh Gwyn. With Ellen, he had one son and one daughter.