WALTHAM, Henry (d.1668), of Weymouth, Dorset.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

s. of Henry Waltham of Weymouth. m. bef. 1646, Ruth, da. of Edward Lindsay, merchant, of Weymouth.1

Offices Held

Tper. (parliamentary) 1642-at least 1643; freeman, Weymouth 1647, alderman 1649-62, mayor 1657-8; commr. for sequestrations, Dorset 1659.2

Biography

Waltham’s family seems to have been of Devonshire origin, but one of them was mayor of Weymouth in 1596, and his father represented the borough in 1628-9. Waltham himself joined the parliamentary forces on the outbreak of the Civil War and served under Sir Walter Erle. His business appears to have included the supply of naval stores, in which his partner was John Fry, whose political and religious sympathies he shared. He was elected alderman on the forced resignation of a royalist predecessor. By Cromwell’s supporters he was reckoned as a high-flyer and a friend to the Levellers, but in 1657 he was described by the Quakers as a ‘moderate’. Waltham stood unsuccessfully for Weymouth in 1659, but was elected in 1660. He made no speeches in the Convention, and was named to no committees. He did not stand for reelection in 1661, but acted as agent for (Sir) William Penn. In 1662 he refused the oaths and was displaced from the corporation. Administration of his estate was granted to his widow on 19 May 1668.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: M. W. Helms / John. P. Ferris

Notes

  • 1. Som. and Dorset N. and Q. xiii. 360-1.
  • 2. SP28/128; Weymouth and Melcombe Regis corp. minute bk. ff. 194, 222, 261, 283; SP23/264/4.
  • 3. HMC Salisbury, vi. 479; C. H. Mayo, Dorset Standing Committee, 276; Thurloe, iii. 195; SP18/130/46; Hutchins, ii. 433; Weymouth minute bk. ff. 272, 283, 288, 291.