Family and Education

bap. 1 Sept. 1616, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Caleb Westbrooke of Witley by Phoebe, da. of Francis Taylor of Godalming, Surr. m. 17 July 1637, Barbara (d.1657), da. of William Watersfield of West Ferring and coh. to her bro. John, 4s. 2da. suc. fa. 1635.1

Offices Held

J.p. Surr. 1649-52, 1654-July 1660, commr. for assessment 1649-52, 1657, Aug. 1660-1, capt. of militia horse 1650, ft. Apr. 1660, commr. for militia by 1651, Mar. 1660.2

Biography

Westbrooke’s ancestors settled in the Godalming area as early as the 15th century. Little is known of Westbrooke before the second Civil War, in which he was clearly a trusted supporter of the Commonwealth. In 1659 he became the first of his family to enter Parliament, and he was re-elected for Haslemere, about eight miles from his home, with his brother-in-law, Richard West; but he was totally inactive in the Convention, though listed as a friend by Lord Wharton. After the Restoration he retired to his wife’s property in Sussex. He died on 7 June 1666 and was buried at Ferring.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: M. W. Helms / J. S. Crossette

Notes

• 1. Godalming Par. Regs. (Surr. Par. Reg. Soc. ii), 50; Manning and Bray, Surr. ii. 45; Add. 5699, pp. 103, 106; PCC 146 Bowyer, 32 Carr; Surr. Arch. Colls. xxi. 122.
• 2. CSP Dom. 1649-50, p. 243; 1650, p. 509; 1654, p. 314; Parl. Intell. 23 Apr. 1660.
• 3. Manning and Bray, 607; Surr. Arch. Colls. ii. 212-15; The Topographer, iii. 159.