Edmund Thomas (Parliamentarian)


Edmund Thomas was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654 and 1656 and sat in Cromwell's Upper House. He supported the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War and the Interregnum.

Biography

Thomas was born at Wenvoe, the only son of William Thomas of Wenvoe and his wife Jane Stradling, eldest daughter of Sir John Stradling. His father died in 1636 at the age of 25.
In 1654, Thomas was elected Member of Parliament for Glamorgan in the First Protectorate Parliament. He was re-elected MP for Glamorgan in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament. On 10 December 1657, Thomas became one of three Welsh men, who were made members of Oliver Cromwell's House of Lord, the other two were Philip Jones and John Jones of Merionethshire. Thomas had extensive family connection with General Edmund Ludlow, and the brothers William Strickland and Walter Strickland, all three of whom were also members of Cromwell's Upper House. He also attended Cromwell's funeral. In 1659 he was put in command of Militia in Glamorgan, Brecon and Radnor. He purchased lands in Wenvoe, St Andrews, Llandow, Rhiwperra and Michaelston-y Vedw. In 1664 he was High Sheriff of Glamorgan.
Thomas died in 1677 and was buried at Wenvoe.

Family

Thomas came from family that were for many years seated at Wenvoe. The original name was Harpwaye, of Tresimont, in Herefordshire: they took the name of Thomas, as a result of a marriage with Catherine, daughter and sole heir of Thomas ap Thomas, of Wenvoe Castle. Thomas married firstly Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of Sir Lewis Morgan of Rhiwperra and sister of Thomas Morgan. He married secondly Mary Lewis, daughter of Sir Thomas Lewis of Penmark Place at Wenvoe on 1 August 1671. His son and heir William Thomas married the daughter of Philip, Lord Wharton