Thomas Leigh (1594/5 - 1672),
landowner and politician
Thomas was the eldest son of Sir John Leigh of Stoneleigh,
Warwickshire and Ursula. His mother was the daughter of Sir
Christopher Hoddesdon, of Leighton Buzzard. His grandfather
was Sir Thomas Leigh.
Thomas was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford and
matriculated in 1608. He married on the 11th November 1610 to Mary
Egerton, who was the daughter and coheir of Sir Thomas Egerton.
As a result of their long marriage the couple had a total of five
sons and six daughters.
On his grandfather's death in 1626, Thomas became
second baronet and inherited the estates at Soneleigh, Warwickshire,
Hamstall Ridware, Staffordshire and Leighton
Buzzard. He was admitted to the Warwickshire bench in 1626,
but excused himself from service. He represented Warwickshire in
the parliament 1628-9 and was a leading figure in the county in
the 1630s. In 1636-7 he served as sheriff.
During the Civil War period he remained faithfull
to King Charles I, and on the 1st July 1643 he was made Baron Leigh
of Stoneleigh. In October 1644 he was captured by Sir Thomas Middleton,
but was rescued by his own party. He subsequently paid £4895 in
composition to parliament for his estate.
His youngest son Ferdinand died in 1655, and his
eldest son, Thomas in 1662.
Thomas Leigh died on the 22nd February 1672, and
was buried at Stoneleigh alongside his wife who had died in 1669.
The majority of his estate was left to his grandson Thomas, the
son of Thomas by his second wife Jane, daughter of Patrick Fitzmaurice,
Lord Kerry. His surviving eldest son Charles was
established at Leighton Buzzard. (see also the will
of Thomas Leigh)
|