John Gurdon

  General Notes:

Taken from Adam Winthrop, a lawyer and prosperous Suffolk landowner who kept a diary:

On Thursday the 3. of July, Mr. Brampton Gurdon had a soonne borne to him: who was baptized on Sunday the 13 of July and named John. Sr Wm Waldegraue and old Mr. John Gurdon were godfathers: and the Lady Moore & olde Mris. Gurdon were godmoothers.

John Gurdon was an MP for Ipswich, Suffolk between 1640 and 1653 and Suffolk in 1654 and Sudbury, Suffolk in 1660.

He supported the Parliamentarian cause in the Civil War and in the internal dissension between the parliamentarians he supported the Army party. He remained in the House of Commons after Pride's Purge, but when named one of the Commissioners for the trial of the King he refused to attend. Nevertheless, he was chosen a member of the council of State in 1650, 1651 and 1652. After the expulsion of the Long Parliament, he sat for Suffolk in the First Protectorate Parliament (1654) and for Sudbury in the Convention Parliament of 1660. He was not re-elected after the Restoration.

More information on John Gurdon here:
http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/gurdon-john-1595-1679

The will of John Gurdon:

JOHN GURDON of Assington, Suffolk, Esq. 25 June 1677, proved 4 October 1679. To my dear and loving wife Anne Gordon, for and during the term of her natural life, my mansion house wherein I now dwell, commonly called Assington Hall, with all the outhouses. barns, stables, orchards, yards and gardens belonging to the same, together with the park and warren, with the deer and coneys; also the Priory ground Into in the occupation of Abraham Hayward, with all the tithes which I have nosy let to William Firmin of Assington. I also give her, for terns of her natural lift, the free disposition of the Vicarage of Assington so often as it shall be void (and certain farms is Assington and Stoke next Nayland). All which said farms were settled upon my said wife at her marriage with me, with three other farms in Great Cogshall in Essex and other towns thereto adjacent, which I do farther confirm to her by this my will and do give them to her for and during the term of her natural life. To my son Nathaniel Gordon the farm iii which the widow Such now liveth and holdeth of me, lying and being in Great Cogshall and towns adjacent, after my wife's decease. I give him one hundred pounds and to his daughter Anne Gordon, my grand-child, one hundred pounds, to be paid unto him for the use of his said daughter and paid to her by him at the age of eighteen years. To my son Brampton Gordon one hundred pounds. To my son Barrett Gurdon one hundred pounds. To my son in law Mr. John Gould, merchant, and his wife my daughter, to each of them ten pounds apiece. To my son in law Mr. John Jollife and his wife my daughter ten pounds apiece and to my son in law Dr. Thomas Jacomb and his wife my daughter ten pounds apiece. To my eldest son Robert Garden ten pounds, to my son Philip Garden ten pounds, to my son Nathaniel Gordon and to trio wife ten pounds apiece, to my son Brampton Gordon ten pounds son to my son Barrett Gordon ten pounds. To my four grandchildren, the children of my son Nathaniel, of Woodham in Essex, viz' John, Elizabeth, Amy and Judith, twenty pounds apiece, to be paid within two years after my decease to their father for their use and benefit. To my sister Joyce Gordon of London, widow, and to my sister Gordon of Letton, in Norfolk, and to my brother son sister Saltonstall forty shillings apiece. To my brother Robert Gordon's two sons. James and John, and to their sister Anne Gurdon forty shillings apiece. To Mr. Walker, Mr. Samuel Cradoeke and to AP Ashwell forty shillings apiece and to Mr. 'diode three pounds. To the poor of Assington. Nayland juxta Stoake and Bowers St. Mary and to the poor of Cornard. To Amy Hall who served my wife twenty years the sum of ten pounds. Bequests to other servants. My wife Anne Gordon and my son Philip Gordon to be my executors. Francis Quarless one of the witnesses.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Grays Inn, 16 November 1614, London, Middlesex.

• Occupation: MP, 1640, Ipswich, Suffolk.

• Occupation: MP, 1654, Suffolk.

• Occupation: MP, 1660, Sudbury, Suffolk.

John married Anne Parker, daughter of Sir Calthorpe Parker and Lady Mercy Soame, in April 1624. (Anne Parker was born in 1604, died in May 1681 in Assington, Suffolk and was buried on 23 May 1681 in Assington, Suffolk.)