Sir
William Master
MP
High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
In office
1627–1627
Member of the English Parliament
for Cirencester
In office
1624–1624
Personal details
Born1600
Died1662
NationalityEnglish
SpouseAlice Estcourt

Sir William Master (1600–1662) was an English politician.

Early life

William Master was born in 1600 in Gloucestershire, England, the son of George Master and Bridget Cornwall, daughter and heiress of John Cornwall, Esq. of Marlborough. He was the grandson of Richard Master.[1]

In 1622, he was knighted by King James I, and in 1623, elected to represent Cirencester in Parliament. He served as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1627 following his appointment to the position by King Charles I.[2][3]

English Civil War

Initially Master was favourable to Parliament at the outbreak of the English Civil War, however, following the Royalist invasion of his town, Master signed over contributions to the Royal Army after Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice were quartered in his home, and he became a staunch Royalist.[2][3] King Charles I would also spend time in Master's home, once in August 1642 en route from Oxford to Bristol and again in 1644 en route from Oxford to Bath.[2][4]

His estate was eventually sequestered and by 1652 was still faced with difficulty as a result.[2]

Marriage and family

Sir William married Alice, daughter of Sir Edward Estcourt, and had 12 children:[2][3]

  • Thomas, esquire and heir
  • William, author of "Essays and Observations, Theological and Moral"
  • George, barrister
  • Richard
  • John, doctor
  • Robert
  • Mary, married Richard Browne, Esq.
  • Ann, married Richard Morgan, Esq.
  • Bridget, married Thomas Smythe, Esq.
  • Alice
  • Elizabeth
  • Winifred

References

  1. ↑ "A history", p. 502. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chester-Master Family", National Archives of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "Burke's genealogical and heraldic history", p. 843. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  4. ↑ "The history of the ancient town of Cirencester", p. 113. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
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