Christopher Clapham

Christopher Clapham (1608 - 1686) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 1660.

Clapham was the eldest son of George Clapham of Beamsley, Skipton, Yorkshire and his wife Martha Heber, daughter of Reginald Heber of Marton, Yorks. He succeeded his father in 1629. He avoided commitment in the Civil war, although three of his brothers fought for the King.^[1]

In 1658, Clapham became freeman of Stamford and in 1659 was elected Member of Parliament for Stamford for the Third Protectorate Parliament. In 1660 he was elected MP for Appleby in the Convention Parliament. He was knighted on 8 June 1660 and became a J.P. for West Riding of Yorkshire in July 1660. In August 1660 he became commissioner for assessment for Westmorland and Kesteven until 1661 and commissioner for assessment for West Riding of Yorkshire until 1690. He was commissioner for oyer and terminer for Lincoln in 1661 and commissioner for assessment for Lincolnshire from 1661 to 1663. In 1663 he became captain in the horse volunteers for Lincolnshire and JP for Kesteven, Lincolnshire until his death. He was commissioner for assessment for West Riding of Yorkshire from 1665 to 1680. He was JP for Yorkshire West Riding from 1672 until before 1680 and commissioner for recusants for West Riding in 1675. In 1681 he became Deputy Lieutenant for Lincolnshire until his death and was High Sheriff of Lincolnshire from 1682 to 1683. He was JP for West Riding of Yorkshire from 1685 until his death.^[1]

Clapham died at the age of 77 and was buried at St Mary's Church, Stamford on 16 August 1686.^[1]

Clapham married firstly by 1627, Mary Lowden daughter of John Lowden of Wrenthorpe, Yorkshire and had two sons and a daughter. Mary died on 1 August 1637 and he married secondly on 14 May 1639, Margaret Moyle, widow of Robert Moyle, and daughter of Anthony Oldfield, attorney, of Spalding, Lincolnshire and had four sons and four daughters. Margaret died in 1674 and he married thirdly by licence issued on 26 April 1678, Mary Needham, daughter of Robert Needham, 2nd Viscount Kilmorey of Shavington, Shropshire.^[1]

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