Jonathan Rashleigh (1591–1675)

Arms of Rashleigh: Sable, a cross or between in the first quarter: a Cornish chough, argent beaked and legged gules; in the second quarter: a text "T"; in the third and fourth quarters: a crescent all of the third^[1]

Jonathan I Rashleigh (4 July 1591 – 1 May 1675), of Menabilly, near Fowey in Cornwall, was an English shipping-merchant, Member of Parliament for Fowey in 1614, 1621, 1625,^[2] April 1640 and November 1640, ^[3] and 1661^[4] and served as Sheriff of Cornwall in 1627. He supported the Royalist cause during the Civil War.

Origins

Rashleigh was the 2nd son and heir of John Rashleigh II (1554–1624), MP for Fowey in 1588.

Career

Rashleigh was elected Member of Parliament for Fowey in 1614, 1621 and 1625.^[2] In 1627 he served as Sheriff of Cornwall. In April 1640 Rashleigh was re-elected MP for Fowey for the Short Parliament and re-elected in November 1640 for the Long Parliament.}^[3] He supported the King in the Civil War and was disabled from sitting in parliament in 1644. He was bankrupted by penalties imposed on his estate and imprisoned in St Mawes castle. His fortunes were repaired at the Restoration in 1660. He was elected once more MP for Fowey to the Cavalier Parliament in 1661 and sat until his death at the age of 83.^[5]

Marriages & progeny

He married twice:

• Firstly in 1614^[6] Jonathan Rashleigh married Anne Basset (c. 1595-1631), eldest daughter of Sir Robert Basset (1573-1641)^[7] of Umberleigh and Heanton Punchardon in Devon, MP for Plymouth in 1593, by his wife Elizabeth Periam (1571-1635) (whose mural monument exists in Heanton Punchardon Church in Devon) the 2nd daughter and co-heiress of Sir William Peryam, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. By Anne he had five children including:
  • John Rashleigh (1621-1651), who pre-deceased his father,^[8] whose mural monument exists in Kenton Church. Devon.^[9] He married Joan Pollexfen (d.1668), daughter of John Pollexfen of Mothecombe, Devon, and was the father of Jonathan Rashleigh II (1642–1702), of Menabilly, many times MP for Fowey and Sheriff of Cornwall in 1687
  • Alice Rashleigh, wife of Sir Peter Courtney (c.1616-1670), MP, of Trethurfe, Cornwall.
  • A daughter, name unknown, who married her cousin from the senior Cornwall line, John Rashleigh (1619-1693) of Coombe, Fowey, MP for Fowey in 1661
• Secondly in 1633 he married Mary Harris (d.1674), daughter of John Harris of Radford, near Plymouth, Devon.^[8]

Death & succession

Jonathan I Rashleigh died on 1 May 1675^[8] and was succeeded by his grandson Jonathan II Rashleigh (1642-1702), of Menabilly, many times MP for Fowey and Sheriff of Cornwall in 1687

Notes

1. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain, vol.1
2. Willis 1750, p. 168, 177.
3. Willis 1750, p. 230, 242.
4. History of Parliament biog
5. History of Parliament Online - Rashleigh, Jonathan
6. 17 December 1614 date of marriage settlement, per Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitation of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.47, pedigree of Basset
7. Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitation of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.47, pedigree of Basset
8. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 15th Edition, ed. Pirie-Gordon, H., London, 1937, p.1891, pedigree of Rashleigh of Menabilly
9. Hoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959 (first published 1954), p.419

References

• 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. 168, 177, 230, 242.

Further reading

• Brunton, D; Pennington, D H (1954). Members of the Long Parliament. London: George Allen & Unwin.
• Vivian's Visitations of Cornwall. Exeter: William Pollard & Co. 1887.