Family and Education

b. 7 July 1600, 1st s. of William Blois, merchant, of Ipswich and Grundisburgh Hall by Frances, da. of John Tye of Ipswich. educ. Pembroke, Camb. 1617, BA 1620; G. Inn 1619. m. Elizabeth, da. of Sir Thomas Wingfield of Letheringham, 5s. (3 d.v.p.) 3 da. suc. fa. 1621.2

Offices Held

Commr. for sequestrations, Suff. 1643, execution of ordinances 1643, levying of money 1643, eastern assoc. 1643, assessment, Suff. 1644-52, 1657, Aug. 1660-d., Ipswich 1663-d., new model ordinance, Suff. 1645; elder, Ipswich classic, 1645; j.p. Suff. by 1650-3, 1657-d.3

Capt. of ft. (parliamentary) 1643, col. by 1645, 1648.4

Biography

Blois’s ancestors had resided at Grundisburgh since the reign of Henry VII, although it was Blois himself who acquired the manor. He abandoned trade, sold his Ipswich house to Francis Bacon, and devoted himself to the study of local genealogies. A Presbyterian in religion, he served in the parliamentary army in both Civil Wars, commanding a regiment at the siege of Colchester. He was twice returned for the county under the Protectorate, although not well disposed to the regime. In January 1660 he signed and presented the Suffolk petition for a free Parliament to George Monck.5

Blois did not stand in 1660, but he was returned for Ipswich at the general election of 1661 as an opponent of the Court. He took little part in the Cavalier Parliament, for he was not appointed to any committees and made no recorded speeches. Absent from a call of the House in December 1666, he was excused any penalty on account of his ‘aged, sick and infirm’ condition. He died on 13 Nov. 1673, and was buried at Grundisburgh.6

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

• 1. Excluded.
• 2. Vis. Suff. (Harl. Soc. lxi), 138; Suff. Inst. Arch. Procs. xiv. 149; Copinger, Suff. Manors, iii. 47-48.
• 3. County of Suff. Divided (1647), 2.
• 4. Suff. and the Gt. Rebellion (Suff. Rec. Soc. iii), 63, 71, 130.
• 5. Copinger, iii. 20, 47-48; Suff. Inst. Arch. Procs. xxvi. 167; Add. 25335, f. 52; PCC 15 Savile.
• 6. Suff. Inst. Arch. Procs. xiv. 149.