Biography of Edward Seymour 4th Baronet 1633-1708

In 1630 [his father] Edward Seymour 3rd Baronet [aged 19] and [his mother] Anne Portman Baroness Seymour [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Lady Seymour of Berry Pomeroy.

In 1633 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet was born to [his father] Edward Seymour 3rd Baronet [aged 22] and [his mother] Anne Portman Baroness Seymour [aged 20] at Berry Pomeroy Castle [Map].

On 5th October 1659 [his grandfather] Edward Seymour 2nd Baronet [aged 79] died. His son [his father] Edward [aged 49] succeeded 3rd Baronet Seymour of Berry Pomeroy.

In 1661 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 28] was elected MP Hindon.

Around 1661 [his son] Edward Seymour 5th Baronet was born to Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 28] and [his future wife] Margaret Wale. He married 11th August 1685 Laetitia Popham Baroness Seymour and had issue.

On 7th September 1661 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 28] and Margaret Wale were married.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 11th January 1664. Waked this morning by 4 o'clock by my wife to call the mayds to their wash, and what through my sleeping so long last night and vexation for the lazy sluts lying so long again and their great wash, neither my wife nor I could sleep one winke after that time till day, and then I rose and by coach (taking Captain Grove with me and three bottles of Tent, which I sent to Mrs. Lane by my promise on Saturday night last) to White Hall, and there with the rest of our company to the Duke [aged 30] and did our business, and thence to the Tennis Court till noon, and there saw several great matches played, and so by invitation to St. James's; where, at Mr. Coventry's [aged 36] chamber, I dined with my Lord Barkeley [aged 62], Sir G. Carteret [aged 54], Sir Edward Turner [aged 47], Sir Ellis Layton, and one Mr. Seymour [aged 31], a fine gentleman; were admirable good discourse of all sorts, pleasant and serious.

On 8th February 1664 [his son] William Seymour was born to Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 31] and [his wife] Margaret Wale.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 11th October 1665. By and by comes Cocke [aged 48] to tell me that Fisher and his fellow were last night mightily satisfied and promised all friendship, but this morning he finds them to have new tricks and shall be troubled with them. So he being to go down to Erith, Kent with them this afternoon about giving security, I advised him to let them go by land, and so he and I (having eat something at his house) by water to Erith, Kent, but they got thither before us, and there we met Mr. Seymour [aged 32], one of the Commissioners for Prizes, and a Parliament-man, and he was mighty high, and had now seized our goods on their behalf; and he mighty imperiously would have all forfeited, and I know not what. I thought I was in the right in a thing I said and spoke somewhat earnestly, so we took up one another very smartly, for which I was sorry afterwards, shewing thereby myself too much concerned, but nothing passed that I valued at all. But I could not but think [it odd] that a Parliament-man, in a serious discourse before such persons as we and my Lord Bruncker [aged 45], and Sir John Minnes [aged 66], should quote Hudibras, as being the book I doubt he hath read most. They I doubt will stand hard for high security, and Cocke would have had me bound with him for his appearing, but I did stagger at it, besides Seymour do stop the doing it at all till he has been with the Duke of Albemarle [aged 56].

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 12th October 1665. Having learned as much as I could, which was, that the King [aged 35] and Duke [aged 31] were very severe in this point, whatever order they before had given my Lord in approbation of what he had done, and that all will come out and the King see, by the entries at the Custome House, what all do amount to that had been taken, and so I took leave, and by water, very cold, and to Woolwich, Kent [Map] where it was now noon, and so I staid dinner and talking part of the afternoon, and then by coach, Captain Cocke's [aged 48], to Greenwich, Kent [Map], taking the young lady home, and so to Cocke, and he tells me that he hath cajolled with Seymour [aged 32], who will be our friend; but that, above all, Seymour tells him, that my Lord Duke did shew him to-day an order from Court, for having all respect paid to the Earle of Sandwich, and what goods had been delivered by his order, which do overjoy us, and that to-morrow our goods shall be weighed, and he doubts not possession to-morrow or next day.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 4th November 1665. At noon with him to dinner at Boreman's, where Mr. Seymour [aged 32] with us, who is a most conceited fellow and not over much in him. Here Sir W. Batten [aged 64] told us (which I had not heard before) that the last sitting day his cloake was taken from Mingo he going home to dinner, and that he was beaten by the seamen and swears he will come to Greenwich, Kent [Map], but no more to the office till he can sit safe.

In 1673 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 40] was appointed Treasurer of the Navy.

In 1673 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 40] was appointed Speaker of the House of Commons.

In 1674 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 41] and Letitia Popham Baroness Seymour were married.

In 1675 [his son] Popham Seymour-Conway was born to Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 42] and [his wife] Letitia Popham Baroness Seymour.

In 1678 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 45] was appointed MP Baltinglass.

In 1679 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 46] was elected MP Devon.

In 1679 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 46] was elected MP Totnes.

On 28th May 1679 [his son] Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Baron Conway was born to Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 46] and [his wife] Letitia Popham Baroness Seymour. He married (1) 17th February 1704 his fourth cousin once removed Mary Hyde, daughter of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester and Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester, and had issue (2) 1709 Jane Bowden and had issue (3) July 1716 Charlotte Shorter and had issue.

In 1685 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 52] was elected MP East Cheshire.

On 11th August 1685 [his son] Edward Seymour 5th Baronet [aged 24] and [his daughter-in-law] Laetitia Popham Baroness Seymour [aged 25] were married. She by marriage Lady Seymour of Berry Pomeroy.

On 4th December 1688 [his father] Edward Seymour 3rd Baronet [aged 78] died. His son Edward [aged 55] succeeded 4th Baronet Seymour of Berry Pomeroy. [his wife] Letitia Popham Baroness Seymour by marriage Lady Seymour of Berry Pomeroy.

On 18th March 1690 William Portman 6th Baronet [aged 46] died without issue. Baronet Portman of Orchard Portman in Somerset extinct. His estate was inherited by his [his mother] aunt Anne's [aged 77] son [his brother] Henry Seymour. He also died without issue so the estate was inherited by his [his aunt] aunt Joan's great-grandson William Berkeley aka Portman [aged 9].

John Evelyn's Diary. 21st June 1693. I saw a great auction of pictures in the Banqueting house, Whitehall [Map]. They had been my Lord Melford's [aged 42], now Ambassador from King James [aged 59] at Rome, and engaged to his creditors here. Lord Mulgrave [aged 45] and Sir Edward Seymour [aged 60] came to my house, and desired me to go with them to the sale. Divers more of the great lords, etc., were there, and bought pictures dear enough. There were some very excellent of Vandyke, Rubens, and Bassan. Lord Godolphin [aged 48] bought the picture of the Boys, by Murillo the Spaniard, for 80 guineas, dear enough; my nephew Glanville, the old Earl of Arundel's head by Rubens, for £20. Growing late, I did not stay till all were sold.

In 1695 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 62] was elected MP Totnes.

In 1695 [his mother] Anne Portman Baroness Seymour [aged 82] died in Berry Pomeroy, Devon.

In 1698 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 65] was elected MP Devon.

On 4th June 1699 [his son] Popham Seymour-Conway [aged 24] drunkenly duelled with Captain George Kirk of the Royal Horse Guards; he was wounded in the neck.

On 18th June 1699 he died from wounds received duelling. His estates were inherited by his younger brother Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Baron Conway [aged 20].

John Evelyn's Diary. 15th June 1699. This week died Conyers Seymour [aged 24], son of Sir Edward Seymour [aged 66], killed in a duel caused by a slight affront in St James' Park [Map], given him by one who was envious of his gallantries; for he was a vain, foppish young man, who made a great éclât about town by his splendid equipage and boundless expense. He was about twenty-three years old; his brother [aged 20], now at Oxford, inherited an estate of £7,000 a year, which had fallen to him not two years before.

John Evelyn's Diary. 2nd September 1701. Died the Earl of Bath [deceased], whose contest with Lord Montague [aged 40] about the Duke of Albemarle's estate, claiming under a will supposed to have been forged, is said to have been worth £10,000 to the lawyers. His eldest son shot himself a few days after his father's death; for what cause is not clear. He was a most hopeful young man, and had behaved so bravely against the Turks at the siege of Vienna, that the Emperor made him a Count of the Empire. It was falsely reported that Sir Edward Seymour [aged 68] was dead, a great man; he had often been Speaker, Treasurer of the Navy, and in many other lucrative offices. He was of a hasty spirit, not at all sincere, but head of the party at any time prevailing in Parliament.

In 1702 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 69] was appointed Comptroller of the Household.

On 17th February 1704 [his son] Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Baron Conway [aged 24] and [his daughter-in-law] Mary Hyde were married. She the daughter of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 61] and Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester. They were fourth cousin once removed.

In 1707 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 74] was elected MP Exeter.

After 1708. All Saints Church, Maiden Bradley [Map]. Monument to Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 75]. Sculpted by John Michael Rysbrack [aged 13]; white marble reclining figure in front of tablet with pediment with cherubs, scrolled pediment with arms over. Powdered Wig. Heeled Shoes. Buckled Shoes.

On 17th February 1708 Edward Seymour 4th Baronet [aged 75] died. His son Edward [aged 47] succeeded 5th Baronet Seymour of Berry Pomeroy.

On 16th March 1714 [his former wife] Letitia Popham Baroness Seymour died.

In December 1757 [his grandson] Edward Seymour 8th Duke of Somerset [aged 62] died. His son [his great grandson] Edward [aged 40] succeeded 9th Duke Somerset, 7th Baronet Seymour of Berry Pomeroy. Monument to Edward Seymour 8th Duke of Somerset, Edward Seymour 9th Duke of Somerset, Webb Seymour 10th Duke of Somerset [aged 38], Edward Seymour 4th Baronet, Edward Seymour 5th Baronet and Laetitia Popham Baroness Seymour at All Saints Church, Maiden Bradley [Map].

[his son] John Seymour was born to Edward Seymour 4th Baronet and Letitia Popham Baroness Seymour.

[his son] Alexander Seymour was born to Edward Seymour 4th Baronet and Letitia Popham Baroness Seymour.

[his son] Henry Seymour was born to Edward Seymour 4th Baronet and Letitia Popham Baroness Seymour.

[his son] Charles Seymour was born to Edward Seymour 4th Baronet and Letitia Popham Baroness Seymour.