Sir Thomas Russell, MP

Family and Education b. 1577, 1st s. of John Russell II of Strensham. educ. St. John’s, Oxf. 1591. m. 1597, Elizabeth, da. of William Spencer of Yarnton, Oxon., 2s. 3da. suc. fa. 1593. Kntd. 1603.

Offices Held

J.p. Worcs. from 1600, dep. Lt. 1603, sheriff 1603-4; master of game in Malvern chase from 1610.

Biography His parents having separated, Russell was brought up in his father’s household, and succeeded to the estates aged only 16. He was elected junior knight of the shire to the first Parliament after he came of age. His name is not to be found in its journals, but as a county Member he could have attended the main business committee appointed 3 Nov., that on monopolies appointed 23 Nov. and another, on the assurance of certain manors, 9 Dec. He became a j.p., deputy lieutenant and sheriff, but by 1610 he had openly adopted his mother’s religion and become a recusant, remaining, however, on the commission of the peace. Russell died 30 Dec. 1632, his estate not noticeably diminished by his recusancy.

Vis. Worcs. (Harl. Soc. xxvii), 119; (xc), 84; VCH Worcs. iii. 204; iv. 25, 27, 204-7, 367, 372; C142/239/124, 241/126, 580/97; Q. Sess. Pprs. 1591-1643 (Worcs. Hist. Soc.), passim; PRO Index 4208; APC, xxxii. 251; D’Ewes, 624, 649, 673; CSP Dom. 1603-10, pp. 593, 621; J. L. Hotson, I, William Shakespeare, 45-8, 266-8, 288; PCC 1 Russell.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603 Author: S. M. Thorpe Notes