Mary on 15 Mar 2003  •  Link

According to the Companion, Sir John Bernard (1630-1679) was a prosperous lawyer; bought the Manor of Brampton in 1653; connected by marriage to the families of Oliver St. John and Cromwell; sat for the borough in the three Protectorate parliaments. In 1660 he was thus a rival to the Mountagu interest in Huntingdon politics. We shall hear more of him later.

John's brother, William, appears to have been London resident; a member of the Grocer's Company; died c. 1667

Phil on 15 Mar 2003  •  Link

John's father was Sir Robert Bernard: http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…

language hat on 15 Mar 2003  •  Link

Like Pepys, John went to Huntingdon School and Cambridge.
His relations with Pepys were friendly.

Mj on 28 Feb 2012  •  Link

Sir John Bernard Was William Shakespeare's Grandson (In Law).

Terry Foreman on 26 Jul 2014  •  Link

Sir John Bernard, 2nd Baronet (November 1630 – 25 June 1679)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir…

San Diego Sarah on 15 Mar 2023  •  Link

John Bernard was descended from a younger son of the Northamptonshire family.

His father, Robert Bernard MP of Huntingdon, was recorder of that town and represented the borough in the Short Parliament.

John Bernard bought the Brampton estate, 2 miles from the town, in 1653. A domineering lord of the manor, he used his legal training to drive the smaller freeholders out.

With his brother-in-law, Nicholas Pedley, he defeated the Montagu candidates for Huntingdon at the general election of 1660.

in Apr. John Bernard MP obtained a pass for Holland, where he hoped to counteract the influence of Adm. Edward Montagu MP at Court, and perhaps to solicit the baronetcy (which was granted to his father in 1662).

He was not an active Member of the Convention Parliament, serving only on the committee of elections and privileges and on two others of minor importance, and making no recorded speeches. He is likely to have voted with the Opposition.

It is not known whether John Bernard stood again at Huntingdon, where his father continued as recorder until removed by the commissioners for corporations.

John had the courage to shelter his first wife’s father (Elizabeth was the daughter of Oliver St.John) before the Cromwellian Lord Chief Justice fled the country, and the longstanding conventicle at Brampton may have owed something to his protection, as well as the bishop of Lincoln’s tolerance.

John Bernard succeeded his father as the 2nd Bart. on 18 Apr. 1666.

He either resigned or was removed from the commission of the peace in July 1670, presumably because of his opposition to the Conventicles Act.

Sir John Bernard, 2nd Bart., died on 25 June 1679, and was buried at Brampton.
https://www.historyofparliamenton…