John Upton (died 1641)

John Upton was born on 7 April 1590^[2] and was baptised at Weare Giffard,^[3] North Devon, the 3rd son and heir^[4] of Arthur Upton of Lupton, in the parish of Brixham, South Devon, by his wife Gertrude Fortescue (d.1598) a daughter of Hugh^[5] Fortescue of Filleigh and Weare Giffard^[6] in North Devon, ancestor of the present Earl Fortescue.

The ancient family of Upton originated at the Cornish manor of Upton.^[7] A notable early member of this family was Nicholas Upton^[8] (c.1400–1457), a cleric, Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral and a writer on heraldry and the art of war. Before inheriting Lupton this branch of the family were seated at Puslinch^[7] in the parish of Newton Ferrers^[9] in Devon.

In 1625 he was elected a Member of Parliament for Dartmouth, about 2 1/2 miles south-west of Lupton. He was re-elected MP for Dartmouth in 1626 and 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.^[10] In April 1640 Upton was re-elected MP for Dartmouth in the Short Parliament. He was re-elected for the Long Parliament in November 1640, but died the following year.^[10]

In 1613 Upton married Dorothy Rous (d.1644), a daughter of Sir Anthony Rous (alias Rowse) of Halton^[4] in Cornwall, one of that county's richest residents,^[11] and a sister of Francis Rous (1579-1659), MP. By his wife he had 6 sons and 8 daughters, including:

• Arthur Upton (1614-1662), eldest son and heir, a Member of Parliament for Devon^[12] in 1654 and 1656 during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, who in 1638 married Elizabeth Gould (d.1685), daughter of William Gould of Hayes and widow of Robert Haydon (1604-1634) of Cadhay.^[13] Arthur's eldest son and heir was:
  • John Upton (d.1687) of Lupton, a Member of Parliament for Dartmouth^[6] from February 1679 to August 1679.