Family and Education

b. c.1546, 1st s. of Hugh Weston of Stalbridge Weston. educ. Christ Church, Oxf. 1564, BA 1568; M. Temple 1575, called. m.Catherine, da. of William Willoughby of Silton, Dorset, at least 2s. Kntd. 1583.

Offices Held

Steward, manor of Gillingham, Dorset by 1588; recorder, Weymouth and Melcombe Regis and j.p. Dorset 1592; l.c.j. [I] 1593.

Biography

Weston was one of a group of west-country friends who studied together at the Middle Temple. These included William Fleetwood I Richard Swayne (another recorder of Weymouth and Melcombe), Robert Napper (who afterwards accompanied Weston to Ireland), Thomas Stephens and Edward Aylworth. Aylworth mentions meeting Weston at Mr. James Daccombe’s house during his tour of the west country with another law student in the summer of 1573. The four friends went hawking and then Weston left to visit a Mr. Doddington in Wiltshire. Weston was recommended for his post of recorder at Weymouth by his predecessor in the office, another Middle Temple friend, Thomas Hannam. He represented the joint borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in the first Parliament after his appointment, but two months after the dismissal of the Commons he was in Ireland, where, by September 1594, he was fatally sick. He died on the 23rd of that month at Dublin. James Hannam and Henry Willoughby, his ‘good and well-beloved friends’ were the overseers of the will he had made before leaving England.

Hutchins, Dorset, iii. 622, 675; Vis Wilts. (Harl. Soc. cv, cvi), 218; J. Ball, Judges of Ireland, i. 152; Lansd. 16, f. 84; Weymouth Charters, 95, 101; Vis. Wilts. (Harl. Soc. cv, cvi), 218; Som. and Dorset N. and Q. vi. 216; CSP Ire.1592-6, pp. 91, 143, 274; HMC Hatfield, xiii. 508; PCC 62 Scott.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: P. W. Hasler

Notes