Henry Cornewall MP (abt. 1654 - 1717)

Born about 1654 in Herefordshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Margarita (Huyssen) Cornewall — married 11 Oct 1683 (to 26 Nov 1692) in Den Haag, Holland, Nederland

Descendants

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Biography

Henry Cornewall was born about 1654, the eldest son of Edward Cornewall of Moccas Court in Herefordshire, and his wife, Frances Pye.^[1] By his mother he was half-brother to Roger Vaughan of Bredwardine.^[1] His father had fought as a Royalist in the Civil War and found favour after the Restoration. By 1669 Henry was serving as a page of honour to the Duke of York and joined the army as an ensign in the Duke of York's regiment in 1672.^[1] His brother, Roger, was killed at the Battle of Solebay on 7 June 1672 (NS) leaving no heir but heavy debts both to the crown and to private creditors. Henry took over the estate and paid off the debts. ^[2] It is possible that Henry was the Captain Cornewall serving under the Duke of Monmouth in the French Army in 1676. ^[1]

In 1677 Henry was appointed equerry to the Princess Mary, daughter of the Duke of York, on the occasion of her marriage to William, Prince of Orange, and accompanied her to the Netherlands.^[1]

On 11 October 1683 at The Hague Henry married Margarita Huyssen, daughter of Laurentius Huyssen, Lord of Weelde in Zeeland. ^[3][1] they were parents of 2 sons, one of whom died in Henry's lifetime.^[1]

Charles II died in February 1685 and his brother James had a peaceful succession being crowned on the 23rd of April. ^[4] Henry was first returned to Parliament, as member for Weobley together with Robert Price, to the loyal parliament, that year. ^[5] He soon found himself called upon to raise a regiment in Herefordshire to resist the invasion of the Duke of Monmouth.^[1]

With divided loyalties Henry took no part in the machinations that preceded the invasion of William of Orange and the flight of the king in 1688, nor did he seek election to the parliament that followed, but was returned as member for Hereford in the by-election of June 1689, having defeated Edward Gwyn ^[6] then retained his seat in 1890 when he was returned with Paul Foley. ^[7]

According to History of Parliament Margarita died 26 November 1692 ^[1] but Strype dates it 26th of April. ^[8] Three years later by license dated 27 April 1695 Henry married Susanna Williams, daughter of Sir John Williams Bt. of Pengethley in Herefordshire ^[1] and his wife, Susan Skipwith. They were parents of 3 sons, one of whom died in Henry's lifetime, and a daughter.^[1]

Henry took the Herefordshire seat with Henry Gorges in 1698. ^[9] In 1701 Henry returned his political ambition to the decidedly venal borough of Weobley where, together with John Birch, he defeated the Honourable Henry Thynne, Charles Cornwall, Thomas Price, Thomas Birch and Samuel Birch, in the first election held that year, but could not defend his seat against Robert Price and John Birch in the second election of the year. ^[10] Subsequently he took the seat with Thomas Price in 1702, and John Birch in 1705, 1708 and 1710.

Henry died 22 February 1717.^[1]

• Fact: Alt. Birth (Abt 1655) Bredwardine Castle, Bredwardine, Hereford, Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom
• Fact: Christening (Abt 1655) Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Church, Eye, Herefordshire Unitary authority, Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom
• Fact: Burial (28 February 1717) Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11} History of Parliament online: CORNEWALL, Henry (c.1654-1717), of Bredwardine Castle, Herefs. East Bailey Lodge, Enfield, Mdx
2. ↑ History of Parliament online 1660-1690: VAUGHAN, Roger (c.1641-72), of Bredwardine, Herefs
3. ↑ UK, Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects, 1628-1969 Piece DescriptionRG 33: Foreign Registers and Returns, 1627-1960 (Hague, Holland 11 October 1683 Henry Cornwall married Margareta Laurentia Huyfsen van Welse) Viewed at Ancestry. Text only
4. ↑ Wikipedia: 1685 in England
5. ↑ History of Parliament online 1660-1690: Weobley
6. ↑ History of Parliament online 1660-1690: Hereford
7. ↑ History of Parliament online 1690-1715: Hereford
8. ↑ An electronic edition of John Strype's A SURVEY OF THE CITIES OF London and Westminster: Broadstreet Ward. Monuments in S. Augustines
9. ↑ History of Parliament online 1690-1715: Herefordshire
10. ↑ History of Parliament online: 1690-1715: Weobley

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 01 July 2022, 03:43), entry for Henrici Cornwall (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LCZ5-7LB ); contributed by various users.