Sixteenth and seventeenth century English member of Parliament
John Wentworth (1564–1613), of Gosfield Hall, Essex, was an English politician.
Early life.
He was the only son of Sir John Wentworth of Little Horkesley and Gosfield Hall, Essex, and the former Elizabeth Heydon (d. c. 1573) (a daughter of Sir Christopher Heydon and his first wife Anne Drury). His only sister, also named Elizabeth Wentworth (d. 1627), married firstly Christopher St Lawrence, 10th Baron Howth, which ended in a legal separation in about 1605, before she married Sir Robert Newcomen, 1st Baronet.
In 1581, his father inherited Gosfield Hall, Essex from his relative Ann, Lady Maltravers.
Career.
He succeeded to his father's estates in 1588 before being appointed High Sheriff of Essex in 1592, and serving until 1593. He was a Member of the Parliament of England for Essex in 1597 and for Wootton Bassett, presumably due to the influence of his wife's uncle, the Earl of Hertford, in 1601. He leaves little trace on the records of Parliament, nor does he seem to have been active in county affairs. On the other hand, he built up the family estates into "a splendid inheritance", despite the very heavy debts run up by his father-in-law, who had left £23,000 in debts, which involved him in much trouble and litigation over his wife's inheritance. He was also noted for his charity to the poor.
Personal life.
He had married Cicely Upton, the daughter of Sir Edward Unton and Lady Anne Seymour (daughter of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset). She was also a sister of Sir Henry Unton. Together, they were the parents of at least one son and four daughters, including:
He died in 1613 and was buried at Gosfield. He was succeeded in the family estates, that "splendid inheritance", by his eldest son Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet, who dissipated the wealth accumulated by his father. His widow remarried the soldier, diplomat and scholar Sir Edward Hoby. She died in 1618.
Descendants.
Through his daughter Cicely, he was a grandfather of four grandchildren, including Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchilsea.
References.
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