Family and Education

b. 1489/90, 2nd s. of Hugh Erdeswick (d. 16 Jan. 1502), of Sandon by Elizabeth, da. of John Harcourt of Ranton. m. by 1520, Elizabeth, da. of Humphrey Grey of Enville, 3s. 2da. suc. bro. 20 Apr. 1510.2

Offices Held

Escheator, Staffs. 1542-3; j.p. 1543-d.3

Biography

Sampson Erdeswick was returned to Parliament at a by-election held at Stafford following the death of Thomas Stanford early in 1532. He was an obvious choice for the townsmen to make, as his home was not five miles away and his family had long been associated with the borough, but his election was doubtless assisted by his former guardian Sir John Giffard, who was one of the knights for Staffordshire in this Parliament. The date of the by-election is unknown, but it was almost certainly ordered after the revision of the list of Members in the summer of 1532, when the death of Erdeswick’s predecessor was noted. Payment of Erdeswick’s wages by Stafford during 1532-3, although to an unspecified amount, indicates that the town complied promptly with the writ for the by-election and that he was present in the Commons for at least part of the fifth session (Feb.-Apr. 1533) of the Parliament. A similar payment was made to him in 1535-6, perhaps for the last session, but this may have been intended to cover his expenses for the Parliament of 1536, in which he probably sat again in accordance with the King’s request for the re-election of the previous Members. After helping in the suppression of Ranton abbey in 1537, he may have served for Stafford again in the Parliament of 1539, for which the names of its Members are lost.4

Erdeswick’s Membership seems to have marked an upward swing in his career, with the last ten years of his life seeing him cut a more important figure in Staffordshire. His late entry into local government may reflect earlier poverty: during his headship of the family the Erdeswick inheritance was encumbered with settlements in favour of his brother’s widow and other relatives, and in 1523 his own income from lands was assessed at only £8. He made his will on 17 Feb. 1544, providing for his family and appointing his son and son-in-law as executors and Walter, 4th Lord Ferrers of Chartley, as overseer. He died four days later and was buried at Sandon where the inscription on his tomb gives his death as a month earlier. Erdeswick was succeeded by his son Hugh, who in turn fathered Sampson Erdeswick the antiquarian.5

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Authors: L. M. Kirk / A. D.K. Hawkyard

Notes

• 1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament; Erdeswick, Staffs. xxxvi.
• 2. Date of birth estimated from age at elder brother’s i.p.m., C142/25/44. Erdeswick, 47; Wm. Salt Arch. Soc. v(2), 123-4; Staffs. Rec. Soc. (ser. 4), viii. 105; C142/15/84, 72/88.
• 3. LP Hen. VIII, xx.
• 4. Ibid. i, xvi; Erdeswick, xxxvi n, 511; J. C. Wedgwood, Staffs. Parl. Hist. (Wm. Salt Arch. Soc.), i. 303.
• 5. E179/177/104; Lichfield consist. ct. wills ser. iii. 26; C142/72/88.