John Seymour (Gloucestershire MP)

Sir John Seymour (died 20th May 1596) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1646 to 1648.

John Seymour of Frampton was the first son of Sir John Seymour of Wulf Hall, Wiltshire who was born out of wedlock, as recorded in two Visitation books of Gloucestershire.^[1] Unusually, he was fully recognised by his father, and worked alongside his brothers, Edward and Thomas.

John married Jane Poyntz of Iron Acton (1538-1593) in 1560 as part of a land contract. John’s’ half brother Sir Edward Seymour arranged this contract marriage ny arranging for John to receive the lease of the prebend of Bitton. This landed John (now John Seymour of Frampton and Bitton) in the privileged position of being both financially secure and one of the most well connected young men in England. Recorded in the Book of Historical and genealogical memoir of the Family Poyntz, (pt.1, Sir John Maclean), it is recorded that:

“Jane or Joan Poyntz, mar. 2568 as 1st wife of John Seymour, afterwards knighted, bastard bro. Of Lady Jane Seymour, consort of King Hen.VIII. His will prov. 4 Aug. 1599 (69 Kidd).”

Sir John Seymour had suffered a great loss and sought restitution, and his restitution claim required him to surrender Sharpham Park to the Duke of Somerset and marry Jane Poyntz, Sir Nicholas points eldest daughter, and this marriage was described something which Sir Nicholas was “hyped hym self pleased”. Apparently the Duke was so happy with this arrangement that he gave Horton near Wimborne in Dorset and it’s income to John Seymour, and he’s assured that John will come out better for the exchange.

Apparently although illegitimate, sir John Seymour of Frampton Cotterell lived a good life growing up with his father and other brothers and sisters. He became possessor of the passage and estate at. The Grange Bitton, a Norman Hall, in placement with the Seymour family crest above an internal doorway. His monument is in Bitton Church. Curiously, according to a paper citing the. Bath Longleat manuscripts ‘Seymour papers‘, he was also a leading member of the Seymour household at Wolf Hall and highly regarded by Edward Seymour, acting as his attorney. Interestingly, he was imprisoned in the tower with Edward prior to his brother’s execution.

He was knighted at Greenwich on 9 April 1605.^[2] He succeeded to his father's estates in 1627, being then 40 years old or more.^[1]

John is recorded as having a son with Jane, known as sir Thomas Seymour (born 1569 to 1627) Who married Elizabeth Webb and became the father of Sir John Seymour of Frampton Cotter the younger, MP (died 1663), MP for Gloucestershire, who died in 1663 and was buried at the church of St Mary at Bitton, Gloucestershire, where there is a monument decorated with female supporters and weepers, alongside the monument of his grandfather.^[3]