Family and Education

b. c.1635, 1st s. of Francis Drewe of Broadhembury by Mary, da. of Richard Walrond of Illbrewers, Som.  educ. Oriel, Oxf. matric. 1652; L. Inn 1655.  m. 14 May 1661, Margaret (d. 1695), da. of Sir Peter Prideaux, 3rd Bt.†, of Netherton, Devon, 1s. d.v.p. 2da.  suc. fa. 1675.1

Offices Held

Sheriff, Devon 1688–9.

Biography

A descendant of Edward Drewe (d. 1622), a successful lawyer and recorder of London, who purchased substantial estates in Devon including Broadhembury, Thomas Drewe had been appointed sheriff of the county by James II just before the Revolution. He was adopted and returned as knight of the shire in the Tory interest at a by-election in 1699, but made no impact on the House. Neither did he stand for re-election in January 1701 or at any subsequent election. In April 1703, however, his name was added to the Devon lieutenancy. He died on 10 Aug. 1707. The eventual successor to Drewe’s estate in 1714 was his nephew, Francis, who the previous year had been elected for Exeter. His daughter Elizabeth was the wife of the Barnstaple MP, Sir Arthur Chichester, 3rd Bt.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. Vivian, Vis. Devon, 307; Burke, Commoners, iv. 673.
• 2. Moore, Devon, 393–4; CSP Dom. 1703–4, p. 278.