Richard Major or Richard Maijor (1605 – 25 April 1660) was a Member of Parliament during the English Commonwealth era.[1]

Major was the son of John Maijor, merchant and MP for Southampton in 1628[2] and nephew of John Searle, MP for Newport, I.o.W in 1614[3] He matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford in November 1621.[4] On his death in the following year John Searle bequeathed his nephew his mainland property.[3] He graduated BA in 1624.[4] In 1625 he married Ann (d. 1662), daughter of John Kingswell of the manor of Marvel in Carisbrooke, I.o.W.[5]

He bought Hursley Park and Lodge, Hampshire in 1639[6] and served as High Sheriff of Hampshire for 1639–40. His eldest daughter, Dorothy, was married to Cromwell's eldest living son Richard Cromwell, who succeeded Oliver as Lord Protector in 1658.[6]

Major sat for Hampshire in both the Barebones Parliament of 1653 and the First Protectorate Parliament of 1654 and was also appointed to Oliver Cromwell's Council of State.[7]

He died in 1660 and was buried in Hursley Church. Hursley Park passed to Richard Cromwell and his heirs.

References

  1. ^ Neale, J.P (1820). Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen.
  2. ^ "MAJOR (MAYOR), John (-d.1629), of Southampton, Hants". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b "SEARLE (SERLE), John (1569-1622), of Newport , I. o. W. and Lincoln's Inn, London; later of Townhill, South Stoneham, Hants". History of Parliament. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714:Mascall-Meyrick". Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  5. ^ "On Some Medals and Seals of the Cromwell Family". The Journal of the British Archaeological Association: 394. 1877.
  6. ^ a b Knight, Charles (1841). Hampshire. p. 97.
  7. ^ Hainsworth p.158

Bibliography

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