Family and Education

b. by 1533, poss. s. of Sir Geoffrey Middleton of Middleton, Westmld.1

Offices Held

Commr. gaol delivery, Carlisle 1554; servant household of William, 3rd Lord Dacre by 1558/59; j.p. Cumb. 1558/59-64, Northumb. 1561-4.2

Biography

There can be little doubt that the senior Member for Carlisle in 1555 was the William Middleton described on a list of Cumberland justices of the peace of 1558/59 as a household servant of Lord Dacre, or that it was this connexion which explains his return. As the same William Middleton was to be adjudged in 1564 ‘evil’ in religion and unfit to be a justice he could have been expected to support the Marian restoration, and the absence of his name from the list of opponents of one of the government’s bills doubtless reflects his attitude in the House. There were many Catholic Middletons in the north, including three martyrs. Although it has not proved possible to place him in one of the many families, or branches of the same family, of that name, kinship with Sir Geoffrey Middleton could have brought him the patronage of Lord Dacre, to whom that Middleton family was related. William Middleton is last heard of in 1574 when Thomas Gorges^† was empowered to tender on the crown’s behalf 5s. to the Countess of Cumberland and others, including Middleton, for the possessions placed in their care by a man since attainted.3

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: Alan Davidson

Notes

• 1. Date of birth estimated from first reference. Nicolson and Burn, Westmld. and Cumb. i. 253-4; Vis. Westmld. ed. Bridges, 16-18.
• 2. CPR, 1554-5, p. 106; 1560-3, pp. 435, 441; 1563-6, pp. 20, 25; Lansd. 1218, f. 7.
• 3. Cam. Misc. ix(3), 50; SP Hen. VIII, iv. 503; CPR, 1572-5, pp. 350-1.