Giles Strangways (1528–1562)

Sir Giles Strangways (1528 – 11 April 1562), of Melbury Sampford, Dorset, was five times MP for Dorset in 1553, 1554, 1555, 1558 and 1559.

He was the son of Henry Strangways (died 1544), who died vivente patre, killed at the Siege of Boulogne in 1544. In 1546 Giles therefore succeeded his grandfather Giles Strangways (died 1546).

He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and was knighted in 1549. He served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Dorset in 1553, 1554, 1555, 1558 and 1559. In 1557 he saw military service in France under the Earl of Pembroke.

He married Joan Wadham, a daughter of John Wadham (died 1578) of Merryfield, Ilton, Somerset and Edge, Branscombe, Devon, and a sister and co-heiress of Nicholas Wadham (died 1609), also educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and co-founder of Wadham College, Oxford. Joan later remarried Sir John Young, MP, and her effigy is included in his monument in Bristol Cathedral with the following inscription:

"Here lyes the bodies of Sir John Young knight and Dame Joan his wyfe. By him she yssued Robert, Jane and Margaret. She was fyreste marryed to Sir Gyles Straingwayes knight by whome shee had yssue John, Edward, George, Nicholas, Ann and Elizabeth. She was daughter to John Wadham esquire and she departed this mortall lyfe the 14th June 1603 aged 70 yeeres".

She was in later life a defendant in the Case of the Swans. By Joan he had four sons and two daughters:

• John Strangways (died 1666)
• Edward Strangeways
• George Strangeways
• Nicholas Strangeways
• Ann Strangeways
• Elizabeth Strangeways

• Picture of Joans tomb

He died in 1562 and was buried at Melbury Sampford.