William Portman MP (abt. 1643 - 1690)

Born about 5 Sep 1643 in Orchard Portman, Somerset, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Cutler) Portman — married 14 Nov 1661 (to 1673) in St Mary le Strand, Middlesex, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Southcote) Portman — married 23 Oct 1674 (to 1680) in Otterton, Devon, England

Husband of Mary (Holman) Portman — married 19 Apr 1682 in Weston Favell, Northamptonshire, England

Died 18 Mar 1690 at about age 46 in Orchard Portman, Somerset, England

Biography

William Portman MP is Notable.

Born on 5 Sep 1643 and baptised at Orchard Portman, Somerset on 26 Feb 1644, William Portman was the only surviving son of Sir William Portman, 5th Bt., of Orchard Portman and his wife, Anne Colles, daughter and coheir of John Colles of Barton Lodge, Pitminster in Somerset. ^[1]He succeeded his father on 10 August 1645 becoming Baronet aged about 2. William was educated at All Souls, Oxford.

He was knighted in April 1661 and was returned to Parliament as member for Taunton, continuing to sit either for Taunton or Somerset throughout his life. On 14 November that year he married Elizabeth Cutler who went to him with £30,000.^[2]Elizabeth was daughter of Sir John Cutler, Baronet Cutler of Westminster. William was never particularly active in Parliament but in 1673 defended the right of his cousin, Edward Seymour to combine the speakership with other office.

Elizabeth bore no children and died in 1673. His second wife, whom he married on 23 October 1674, was Elizabeth Southcote, daughter of Thomas Southcote of Buckland Tout Saints in Devon and his wife, Alice Petre. ^[3]Elizabeth died in 1680 having borne no children either. At the 1679 election William was busy at Corfe Castle to help his cousin, Nathaniel Napier.

On the 19 April 1682 he married again, this time to Mary Holman daughter of Sir John Holman Bart. She brought him £10,000 but again there were no children.

William died in 1690 leaving his considerable estate to his cousin Henry Seymour. He was buried on 28 March 1690 in Orchard Portman, Somerset, England.^[4] His age was given in the parish register as 45 years 6 months.

His will was probated on 3 July 1690. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999"
   FamilySearch Record: 6D9X-Y88L (accessed 9 April 2023)
   FindMyPast Image
   William Portman baptism on 11 Sep 1644 (born 10 Sep 1644), child of The Right ? Sir William Portman & Lady Anne, in Orchard Portman, Somerset, England.
2. ↑ Marriage: "Westminster, London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812"
   City of Westminster Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: SML/PR/2/1
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 61865 #162031 (accessed 9 April 2023)
   Sr William Portman marriage to Elizabeth Cutter on 14 Nov 1661 in St Mary Le Strand, London, Westminster, England.
3. ↑ Marriage: "England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973"
   England, Marriages, 1538-1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 917211
   Ancestry au Record 9852 #18145043 (accessed 9 April 2023)
   William Portman marriage to Elizabeth Southcott on 23 Oct 1674 in Otterton, Devon, England.
4. ↑ Burial: "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812"
   Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1914; Reference Number: D\P\orch.p/2/1/1
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 60856 #3414359 (accessed 9 April 2023)
   Sr William Portman burial on 28 Mar 1690 in Orchard Portman, Somerset, England.
5. ↑ Will: "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 401
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 5111 #797058 (accessed 9 April 2023)
   Will of Dni Willimi Portman, granted probate on 3 Jul 1690. Died about 1690 in Orchard, Somerset, England.

• History of Parliament online: William Portman

• Wikipedia: Sir William Portman