TISDALL, Richard (1562-1627), of St. Michael Wood Street, London

Tisdall, or Tisdale as he was frequently known, was born at St. Mary Bothaw, in the heart of London, though his father, resident there since at least 1553, also had ties to Devon. No evidence survives of Tisdall’s education, but he evidently acquired some legal training. In addition to being clerk of the papers at Wood Street compter, he practised as an attorney in the London sheriffs’ court, and subsequently served as common counsel to his home parish. He was wealthy enough to send his son Richard to Oxford University and Gray’s Inn.3 GL, ms 4310, f. 3; PROB 11/118, f. 143; 11/152, f. 237v; Al. Ox.; GI Admiss. Elected at St. Germans in December 1620 at the behest of the borough’s principal patron, Bishop Cotton of Exeter, he secured his nomination through his close friend John Trott, the bishop’s son-in-law, who had represented St. Germans in the previous two Parliaments. Tisdall had presumably known Trott since childhood, as the latter’s mother was godmother to one of Tisdall’s younger brothers. There is no evidence that he was active in the Commons. In his will, drawn up on 9 Aug. 1624, Tisdall named Trott as one of his overseers. He died in September 1627, and was buried at St. Michael Wood Street. None of his immediate descendants sat in Parliament.4 Mdx. Peds. (Harl. Soc. lxv), 77; GL, ms 4310, f. 5; PROB 11/152, f. 237v.