John Buller (died 1716)

Arms of Buller: Sable, on a cross argent quarter pierced of the field four eagles displayed of the first^[1]

John Buller (1632–1716) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1656 and 1695. He inherited from his father the Cornish estate of Shillingham near Saltash, and owned an estate in the Isle of Thanet. He inherited from his first wife the Cornish estate of Morval, near Looe, in Cornwall.^[2] His ancestors had long been active in the county administration of Cornwall and he was himself ancestor to many eminent men, several Members of Parliament, the Buller baronets and Baron Churston and the famous soldier Major-General Sir Redvers Buller (1839-1908), VC.

Origins

The Bullers were a west country family who had become a yeoman tenant due to the dissolution of Glastonbury Abbey. John Buller was the second son of Francis Buller (Parliamentarian), MP for Cornwall in 1640, of Shillingham near Saltash, in Cornwall and Ospringe in Kent^[3] by his wife Thomasine Honywood ^[4] daughter of Sir Thomas Honywood.^[2] He was heir to his nephew James Buller (d.1707) who died without progeny was the only son of his elder brother Francis Buller (1630-1682), MP. Francis had married Elizabeth Grosse, daughter and heiress of Ezekiel Grosse of Gowlden, who inherited from her father 17 manors.^[2]

Education

He entered the Middle Temple on 29 January 1646 and matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge on 6 July 1647.^[5] It is unknown whether he actually practiced at the bar, although he was called to the bar in 1652.^[6]

Career

Buller served as MP several times as follows:

• 1656 MP for the combined constituency of East Looe and West Looe in the Second Protectorate Parliament.
• 1659 MP for East Looe and also for Saltash in the Third Protectorate Parliament, choosing to represent East Looe^[7]
• 1660 MP for West Looe in the Convention Parliament.^[8]
• 1661 MP for Saltash in the Cavalier Parliament.^[9]
• 1679, 1681 and 1689 MP for Liskeard.^[10]
• 1692 MP for Grampound and held the seat until 1695.^[11]

Sheriff of Cornwall

He was appointed High Sheriff of Cornwall from November 1688 to March 1689.^[12]

Marriages

Anne Coode (b.1639), daughter and sole heiress of John Coode of Morval, and wife of John Buller (1632-1716). Portrait attributed to Mary Beale, c.1675/1685. National Trust, collection of Antony House, Cornwall, ref. 353104

Buller married twice:

• Firstly in 1657 to Anne Coode, daughter and sole heiress of John Coode of Morval. He had issue by her John Buller (1668-1701), MP for Lostwithiel in 1701, of Morval, eldest son and heir, who married Mary Pollexfen, 3rd daughter and co-heiress of Sir Henry Pollexfen, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. John died of smallpox and predeceased his father, but left a son John Francis Buller (1695-1751), of Morval, MP for Saltash 1718-1722, himself the father of three Members of Parliament: James Buller (1717-1765), John Buller (1721-1786), Lord of the Admiralty and Francis Buller (1723-1764).
• Secondly to Jane Langdon, daughter of Walter Langdon of Keverall near East Looe.^[4]

References

1. Burke's Landed Gentry, 1937, p.279, Buller of Downes
2. Burke's Landed Gentry, 1937, p.279
3. Burke's LG
4. Basil Duke Henning The House of Commons, 1660-1690
5. "Buller, John (BLR647J2)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
6. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/buller-john-1632-1716 BULLER, John (c.1632-1716), of the Middle Temple and Morval, nr. East Looe, Cornw. History of Parliament Online
7. Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. pp. 229–239.
8. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 2)
9. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 2)
10. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 3)
11. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "G" (part 2)
12. Cruikshank, Eviline. The House of Commons, 1690-1715, Volume 1. p. 400.