Sir Thomas Webster, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Webster, 1st Baronet (1679 – 30 May 1751) was a British Member of Parliament for Colchester.[1]
He was born the eldest son of Sir Godfrey Webster, a well-to-do clothier of Fenchurch St., London, and the Nelmes, Havering, Essex and educated at the Middle Temple from 1697.
In 1703 he purchased the estate of Copped Hall in Essex for over £20,000 from Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset and was created a Baronet the same year. He also served as High Sheriff of Essex for 1703–04.
He was elected the Whig MP for Colchester in December 1705, sitting until 1711. He was re-elected in 1713, but on petition the result was voided in 1714 following a dispute over the generous creation of Freemen, who had the right to vote, by the Whig dominated council. He was, however, re-elected in 1722, representing the borough until 1727.
He was appointed Verderer of Waltham Forest from 1718 until his death. In 1721 he purchased Battle Abbey from Anthony Browne, 6th Viscount Montagu.
He married Jane Cheek, the daughter and heiress of Edward Cheek of Sandford Orcas, Somerset by his wife Mary, daughter and co-heiress of the wealthy merchant Henry Whistler (who died in 1718), from whom a fortune descended to the Webster family, which they acknowledged by using Whistler as a Christian name in the Webster family. The published catalogue of the Muniments of Battle Abbey (1835) notes (p 199) that Sir Thomas's son and heir Whistler Webster's share of Henry Whistler's property, "independent of what he derived from his father, Sir Thomas" was £68,000. Sir Thomas and Lady (Jane) Whistler had 2 sons and 3 daughters. Sir Thomas was succeeded by his son Sir Whistler Webster, 2nd Baronet, who also became an MP. His daughter Abigail married William Northey, MP.
References
- ^ "WEBSTER, Sir Thomas, 1st Bt. (c.1679-1751), of Copped Hall, Essex and Battle Abbey, Suss". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 18 March 2016.