LUTTRELL, John (1566-1620), of London and North Mapperton, Dorset.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. 1566, 2nd s. of Thomas Luttrell by Margaret, da. of Christopher Hadley of Withycombe, Som. educ. M. Temple 1584, called 1591. m. soon aft. 1594, Anne, 7th da. of Richard Bampfield of Poltimore, Devon, wid. of Christopher Morgan of Mapperton, 4s. 1da.

Offices Held

J.p. Dorset from c.1597.1

Biography

Luttrell was perhaps the first member of the family to enter upon a professional career in London. From his admission to the Middle Temple on 1 Feb. 1584 until his death some 36 years later, he is frequently mentioned in the minutes of parliament of that body, and two of his sons followed him into the legal profession. For much of the time he shared a room, situated ‘on the first storey on the east side of "le long gallerye" ', with John Strode whose family was linked to the Luttrells by two marriages. He was fined a year after his entry for not being present at a reading, and he took longer than average before qualifying as a barrister. He helped to provide the reader's feast at the Temple in 1602 and in 1613 it was his turn to take up the duties of reader and thus advance towards being admitted as a bencher. Like many other barristers during this period, however, he declined the office, preferring to pay a fine. Having foregone his turn he would dine in hall at the ancients' table, recently introduced for those of his status. Several members of west country families connected with the Luttrells were bound to him during their years of study at the Middle Temple. These included representatives of the Edgecombes, the Sydenhams, the Trenchards of Wolveton, Dorset, the Fulfords, and the Rogers family of Bryanston, Dorset. He also looked after a member of the Dublin branch of the Luttrells, and two of his own sons, Amias, who died young, and John. The latter took over his father's room in 1619.2

Though Luttrell had few contacts with the Somerset branches of the family, he was twice returned to the Commons for the family borough. His marriage, coupled with his probable upbringing at Parnham, after his mother's marriage to John Strode, makes it virtually certain that it was he who was a j.p. for Dorset by 1597, though his legal career must have been curtailed his performance of that office. He never became a great landowner. His wife was one of 12 children and so inherited little. As for her first husband's family, the Morgans, though they were lords of Mapperton, Christopher's heirs were two daughters by a previous marriage and their husbands. Luttrell did own North Mapperton, however, and in 1599 his brother George owned the advowson of Mapperton. The manor of Storridge nearby was also in the family's possession by 1630. Still, Luttrell's will, dated 5 July and proved 17 Nov. 1620 shows that he was a man of means. He left £800 as his daughter Anne's marriage portion, and Avell farm to his son George, then studying at King's, Cambridge. His other surviving son, John, shared the North Mapperton property with Anne.3

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: M.R.P.

Notes

  • 1. Leyte, Dunster, 172, 530-1; M. T. Recs. i. 265; ii. 322; Hutchins, Dorset , ii. 158; Signet Office, Docquet Bk., index 4208, f. 68.
  • 2. Williamson, Hist. Temple, 120, 132-3, 178-9, 188-9; Lyte, Dunster, 530-1.
  • 3. Hutchins, Dorset, ii. 133, 201; Vis. Devon, ed. Vivian; PCC 52 Dixy, 11 Sainberbe; Dorset Nat. Hist. and Antiq. Soc. lxxii. 127; PCC 3 Soame.