Robert Wallop, MP

From Wikipedia:

Robert Wallop (20 July 1601 – 19 November 1667) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times from 1621 to 1660. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War and was one of the regicides of King Charles I of England.[1]

Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Family life 4 References

Early life[edit]Wallop was the only son of Sir Henry Wallop of Farleigh Wallop, Hampshire and his wife Elizabeth Corbet, daughter of Robert Corbet, of Morton Corbet, Shropshire.

Career[edit]In 1621, Wallop was elected Member of Parliament for Andover and was re-elected for the seat in 1624. In 1625 he was elected MP for Hampshire and was re-elected for the seat again in 1626. He was re-elected MP for Andover in 1628 and sat until 1629, when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.[2]

Wallop refused to contribute towards the Bishops' War in 1639 and 1640 out of antipathy to the King. In April 1640 he was elected MP for Andover for the Short Parliament and was re-elected MP for Andover for the Long Parliament in November 1640.[2] He supported parliament in the Civil War joining in all the subsequent votes against King Charles.

Nevertheless the King had such confidence in Wallop's honour, that in 1645 he said to Parliament he should be willing to put the militia into Wallop's hands, with many noblemen, and others, upon such terms as his commissioners at Uxbridge had agreed upon. However this proposal was rejected.[3] Wallop survived Pride's Purge to sit in the Rump Parliament and was named by the army grandees as one of the 59 Commissioners who sat in judgment at the trial of Charles I. He attended the trial and sat in the Painted Chamber 15 January and on 22 January, and in Westminster Hall the same day and on 23 January, but he did not sign the death warrant.[4]

Under the Commonwealth, Wallop was elected one of the Council of State in 1649 and 1650. However he submitted to Cromwell's government with very great reluctance, having a determined preference for a republic, and he was willing to work against the Cromwellian interest, to restore his preferred parliament, as a proof of his sentiments and courage. For example when Cromwell wished to form the First Protectorate Parliament to help in the government of the Protectorate, Cromwell wished to keep Sir Henry Vane out of the parliament. He prevented Vane being returned at Hull and Bristol, though it was said he had the majority of votes in those two cities. Wallop supported Vane, and used his influence to have him chosen by the borough of Whitchurch, Hampshire, which, so enraged the Cromwellian faction, that they sent a menacing letter to Wallop, which was signed by most of the justices of the peace for the county. This stated that if Wallop continued to support Vane they would oppose Wallop's attempt to become an MP. Wallop ignored them and assisted Sir Henry Vane, and was elected MP for Hampshire in 1654 in spite of the opposition of the justices of the peace.[5] Wallop was elected MP for Hampshire again in 1656 and in 1659.[2]

After the fall of the Cromwellian interest, Wallop shewed his sincere zeal for that of the Long Parliament, as the support of the republic, and they procured him a seat in 1659, in their council of state. In the following December, having assisted, with others, in securing Portsmouth, he received their thanks for the good and important services he had rendered them.[5] In April 1660 he was elected MP for Whitchurch in the Convention Parliament but did not take part in its proceedings and was disabled from sitting on 11 June 1660.[2]

At the restoration of the monarchy he was excepted him from receiving any benefit of his estate under the Act of Indemnity, and subjected to further punishment. He was brought up to the bar of the House of Commons, with Lord Monson and Sir Henry Mildmay, after being required to confess his guilt, he was sentenced to be degraded from his gentility, drawn upon a sledge to and under the gallows at Tyburn, with a halter round his neck, and to be imprisoned for life. This sentence was solemnly executed upon him on 30 January 1662, which was the anniversary of the king's execution.[6] He died 19 November 1667, and his body was sent down to Farley, to be interred with his ancestors.[6]

Family life[edit]Wallop married Ann Wriothesley, daughter of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton by whom he a son Henry Wallop, his only child, who through the interest of the then lord treasurer, his maternal uncle Thomas Wriothesley, was permitted to enjoy those estates which his father's treason had forfeited. John Noble suggests that it was most probable on account of his family connection to Wallop that Thomas Wriothesley was so extremely strenuous in favour of those regicides who had surrendered.[6]

Henry married Dorothy Bluet, youngest daughter of John Bluet, had four sons: Robert, who died in his father's life-time; Henry, who became heir to his father, but died unmarried; and John Wallop, who next enjoyed the estate; and the youngest, Charles, who died before his father, unmarried.[7] His grandson John, who became heir to the great estates of the family, was created by King George I 11 June 1720, Baron Wallop, of Farley Wallop, and Viscount Lymington, both in the county of Southampton. _______________________________________________________________________________

IN 1268 Walter de Hopton was SherifF of Shropshire. He was a Judge of the Exchequer, and was the first of the name associated with Shropshire. Hopton was held as a knight's fee in the Fitzalan's Barony of Clun. In 1337 and in 1364 Hoptons were Knights of the Shire, and in 1430 Thomas Hopton was SherifF, His daughter and heiress married Sir Roger Corbet, of Morton, and in the family of Corbet the castle remained till Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Robert Corbet, of Moreton, married Sir Henry Wallop, Sheriff in 1606.

His son, Robert Wallop, M.P. for Hampshire, was a staunch Commonwealth man, was one of the king's judges, and after the restoration was imprisoned for life in the Tower.

It was during his ownership that the castle was garrisoned for the Parliament and defended by Col. Samuel More in 1644. After a gallant resistance it was surrendered to Sir Michael Woodhouse, and all the garrison, with the exception of Col. More, thirty-one in number, were put to the sword.

Since that time the place has been dismantled and uninhabited. Robert Wallop sold it in 1655 to Bartholomew Beale, whose descendant was Sheriff in 1734. The estate was sold by the Beales about 1890 to Sir Henry Ripley, of Bedstone Court, the present owner.

The castle stands in a secluded spot among the hills.

http://archive.org/stream/shropshirehouses00leiguoft/shropshirehous...