Wise’s ancestors had held property in Marystowe, 12 miles from Okehampton, since the 13th century, and first sat for the county in 1432. Wise’s father, a ship-money sheriff, was returned as knight of the shire at both elections of 1640 and reckoned a member of the Opposition. Wise, who inherited from him an extravagant disposition as well as £3,000 debt, held local office during the Protectorate and sat for Okehampton in Richard Cromwell’s Parliament, but doubtless supported the Restoration.3Worthy, Devon Pars. i. 177; Keeler, Long Parl. 398; Trans. Devon Assoc. xli. 135-6.
Wise was involved in a double return with the Mohun candidate at the general election of 1660, but seated on the merits of the return. A ‘poor, weak-witted gentleman’, of indolent disposition, he was named to no committees and made no speeches in the Convention. Re-elected in 1661, he was scarcely more active in the Cavalier Parliament. He was appointed to only fourteen committees, of which the most important were on the bills for executing those under attainder (26 Nov. 1661) and hindering the growth of Popery (17 Mar. 1663). Though he was later remembered by a Whig writer as ‘a pliant man in the Pensioners’ Parliament’, his name appeared on no lists of the court party. He sold the Stoke Damarell property in 1667 to William Morrice I for £11,600. He twice defaulted on calls of the House in 1668 and 1671, and there is no evidence that he attended again. He died on 17 Nov. 1675, and was buried at Marystowe. His daughter brought what remained of the Wise estate to her husband, Arthur Tremayne of Collacombe.4CJ, viii. 3; Trans. Devon Assoc. xli. 140-8; Western Antiq. i. 61.