John Upton (died 1641)


John Upton of Lupton in the parish of Brixham in Devon, was four times elected a Member of Parliament for Dartmouth in Devon at various times between 1625 and 1641.

Origins

John Upton was born on 7 April 1590 and was baptised at Weare Giffard, North Devon, the 3rd son and heir of Arthur Upton of Lupton, in the parish of Brixham, South Devon, by his wife Gertrude Fortescue a daughter of Hugh Fortescue of Filleigh and Weare Giffard in North Devon, ancestor of the present Earl Fortescue.
The ancient family of Upton originated at the Cornish manor of Upton. A notable early member of this family was Nicholas Upton, a cleric, Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral and a writer on heraldry and the art of war. Before inheriting Lupton this branch of the family were seated at Puslinch in the parish of Newton Ferrers in Devon.

Career

In 1625 he was elected a Member of Parliament for Dartmouth, about 2 1/2 miles south-west of Lupton. He was re-elected MP for Dartmouth in 1626 and 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. In April 1640 Upton was re-elected MP for Dartmouth in the Short Parliament. He was re-elected for the Long Parliament in November 1640, but died the following year.

Marriage and children

In 1613 Upton married Dorothy Rous, a daughter of Sir Anthony Rous of Halton in Cornwall, one of that county's richest residents, and a sister of Francis Rous, MP. By his wife he had 6 sons and 8 daughters, including:
He died aged 51 on 11 September 1641 and was buried in St Mary's Church, Brixham, the parish church of Lupton, where survives his mural monument in the Lupton Chapel forming the east end of the north aisle, inscribed on a brass plate as follows: