Barnham was probably born in Thetford, the son of Peter Barnham (b. 1544) of that city. The suggestion that he was a son of Sir Francis Barnham of Hollingbourne and his wife Elizabeth Leonard, daughter of Sampson Lennard[1] is an error. The subject of this entry has sometimes been confused with both William Barnham (b. 1613) and with his own grand nephew William Barnham, esquire (1651-1718), based upon their supposed tenure as mayor of Norwich. However, neither of them held that office. The statement that William was baptised at Saint Martin-in-the-Fields on 19 May 1613 is also unlikely, based upon the year and place of his birth, and probably refers to William Barnham (b. 1613) of Boughton Monchelsey, Kent.
Career as politicianedit
He was a hosier of Norwich and became an alderman.[2] He was mayor of Norwich in 1652.[1] A parliamentary sympathizer in the Civil War, he held municipal office from 1646 and throughout the Interregnum, and was returned to Richard Cromwell's Parliament for the city. In 1659, Barnham was elected Member of Parliament for Norwich in the Third Protectorate Parliament.[2] He signed the address to George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle for a free Parliament, and in 1660 he was elected without contest as MP for Norwich in the Convention Parliament.[2] He stood for parliament in 1661 but came third in the poll.[2] He was listed by Lord Wharton as a friend, but his only known activity in the Convention was on the committee to encourage shipping and woollen manufactures. He was heavily defeated at the general election, and displaced as alderman by the commissioners for corporations, although he had subscribed £8 to the voluntary gift to the King. Several times re-elected, he never resumed office because, as a hard-shell Presbyterian, he would not renounce the Covenant. After extensive charitable bequests to Thetford, he left property in Horsham St., Faith and Beeston to two kinsmen, Thomas and John Barnham [N.B., probably his nephews, sons of his brother Thomas]. The latter was court candidate for Norwich in 1688, but no other member of his family entered Parliament.
Marriages and later lifeedit
William married (1) unknown, (2) Elizabeth Windham, of Stokesby with Herringsby, Norfolk, England; buried 30 Dec 1690 in Saint John Maddermarket, Norwich, Norfolk, England and (3) Mary Booty, of Hardingham, Norfolk, England, widow of Francis Booty and daughter of Rev. William Grigson, rector of Hardingham; d.s.p., buried 23 May 1659 in Saint John Maddermarket, Norwich, Norfolk, England.[2] Barnham died at the age of 61 and was buried 22 Mar 1675 at the church of Saint John Maddermarket, Norwich, Norfolk, England.
Referencesedit
^ abJohn Burke, John Bernard Burke A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies
^ abcdeHistory of Parliament Online - Barnham, William (This source suggests that Barnham was born in Thetford and does not corroborate Burke's birth attribution which, as previously mentioned, applies to a different person)
william, barnham, 1606, march, 1675, mayor, norwich, english, politician, house, commons, 1659, 1660, contents, early, life, career, politician, marriages, later, life, referencesearly, life, editbarnham, probably, born, thetford, peter, barnham, 1544, that, c. William Barnham 1606 March 1675 was a mayor of Norwich and an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 1660 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career as politician 3 Marriages and later life 4 ReferencesEarly life editBarnham was probably born in Thetford the son of Peter Barnham b 1544 of that city The suggestion that he was a son of Sir Francis Barnham of Hollingbourne and his wife Elizabeth Leonard daughter of Sampson Lennard 1 is an error The subject of this entry has sometimes been confused with both William Barnham b 1613 and with his own grand nephew William Barnham esquire 1651 1718 based upon their supposed tenure as mayor of Norwich However neither of them held that office The statement that William was baptised at Saint Martin in the Fields on 19 May 1613 is also unlikely based upon the year and place of his birth and probably refers to William Barnham b 1613 of Boughton Monchelsey Kent Career as politician editHe was a hosier of Norwich and became an alderman 2 He was mayor of Norwich in 1652 1 A parliamentary sympathizer in the Civil War he held municipal office from 1646 and throughout the Interregnum and was returned to Richard Cromwell s Parliament for the city In 1659 Barnham was elected Member of Parliament for Norwich in the Third Protectorate Parliament 2 He signed the address to George Monck 1st Duke of Albemarle for a free Parliament and in 1660 he was elected without contest as MP for Norwich in the Convention Parliament 2 He stood for parliament in 1661 but came third in the poll 2 He was listed by Lord Wharton as a friend but his only known activity in the Convention was on the committee to encourage shipping and woollen manufactures He was heavily defeated at the general election and displaced as alderman by the commissioners for corporations although he had subscribed 8 to the voluntary gift to the King Several times re elected he never resumed office because as a hard shell Presbyterian he would not renounce the Covenant After extensive charitable bequests to Thetford he left property in Horsham St Faith and Beeston to two kinsmen Thomas and John Barnham N B probably his nephews sons of his brother Thomas The latter was court candidate for Norwich in 1688 but no other member of his family entered Parliament Marriages and later life editWilliam married 1 unknown 2 Elizabeth Windham of Stokesby with Herringsby Norfolk England buried 30 Dec 1690 in Saint John Maddermarket Norwich Norfolk England and 3 Mary Booty of Hardingham Norfolk England widow of Francis Booty and daughter of Rev William Grigson rector of Hardingham d s p buried 23 May 1659 in Saint John Maddermarket Norwich Norfolk England 2 Barnham died at the age of 61 and was buried 22 Mar 1675 at the church of Saint John Maddermarket Norwich Norfolk England References edit a b John Burke John Bernard Burke A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies a b c d e History of Parliament Online Barnham William This source suggests that Barnham was born in Thetford and does not corroborate Burke s birth attribution which as previously mentioned applies to a different person Parliament of EnglandPreceded byJohn HobartBernard Church Member of Parliament for Norwich1659 With John Hobart Succeeded byThomas Atkins Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Barnham amp oldid 1145184367, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
