Unton Croke (159328 January 1671) was an English judge and politician who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

in 1628 and 1640. He supported the Parliamentarian cause during the

English Civil War The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...

. Croke was the son of Sir

John Croke Sir John Croke (1553 – 20 January 1620) After selling Chilton, he died in prison, and the issue passed to his only son, Sir Dodsworth Croke. Dodsworth Croke lived in poverty, and died issueless, in old age, in 1728. See also * Croke baronet ...

Chilton, Buckinghamshire Chilton is a village and civil parish in Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is in the west of the county, about north of Thame in Oxfordshire. Chilton parish includes the hamlet of Easington (not to be confused with the O ...

, and

Studley, Oxfordshire Horton-cum-Studley is a village and civil parish in the Cherwell district, in Oxfordshire, England, about northeast of the centre of Oxford and bordering Otmoor, and is one of the "Seven Towns" of Otmoor. The 2011 Census recorded the parish' ...

, who was a judge, recorder of London and

Speaker of the House of Commons Speaker of the House of Commons is a political leadership position found in countries that have a House of Commons, where the membership of the body elects a speaker to lead its proceedings. Systems that have such a position include: * Speaker of ...

, and his wife Catherine, the daughter of Sir

Michael Blount Sir Michael Blount (c. 1530–1610) was a Tudor and Jacobean royal official and politician. Early years Michael was born in Mapledurham House, Oxfordshire, the son of Richard Blount (died 1564), Sir Richard Blount (1505–1564; Lieutenant of the ...

Mapledurham House Mapledurham House is an Elizabethan stately home located in the civil parish of Mapledurham in the English county of Oxfordshire. It is a Grade I listed building, first listed on 24 October 1951. History and architecture The manor of Mapledur ...

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...

. He was 1st cousin to Sir James Whitelocke. He matriculated at

Oxford University The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...

on 2 March 1610, and in 1616 he was called to the bar at

Inner Temple The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court and is a professional association for barristers and judges. To be called to the Bar and practice as a barrister in England and Wa ...

. In 1625, Croke was elected Member of Parliament for

Wallingford Wallingford may refer to: People Surname * Darcy Wallingford (fl. 1980s), Canadian swimmer * Jesse Wallingford (1872–1944), British sport shooter and New Zealand army officer * Sidney Wallingford (1898–1978), British-born aviator and New Zeal ...

for a year. Croke became a bencher of his Inn on 14 June 1635. He was re-elected for Wallingford in April 1640 for the

Short Parliament The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that was summoned by King Charles I of England on 20 February 1640 and sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640. It was so called because of its short session of only three weeks. After 11 years of per ...

. Croke supported the Parliamentary side in the

although he was not a member of the

Long Parliament The Long Parliament was an Parliament of England, English Parliament which lasted from 1640 until 1660, making it the longest-lasting Parliament in English and British history. It followed the fiasco of the Short Parliament, which had convened f ...

. His house at

Marston, Oxfordshire Marston is a village in the Civil parishes in England, civil parish of Old Marston about northeast of the centre of Oxford, England. It was absorbed within the city boundaries in 1991. It is commonly called Old Marston to distinguish it from th ...

was used by

Sir Thomas Fairfax Sir Thomas Fairfax (17 January 1612 – 12 November 1671) was an English army officer and politician who commanded the New Model Army from 1645 to 1650 during the English Civil War. Because of his dark hair, he was known as "Black Tom" to his l ...

as his headquarters when besieging Oxford in 1645 and 1646. It was also used for the negotiations for the royalist surrender, which was signed there. In 1649, Croke was created B.C.L. at Oxford. He went with

Bulstrode Whitelocke Sir Bulstrode Whitelocke (6 August 1605 – 28 July 1675) was an English lawyer, writer, parliamentarian, and one of the commissioners of the Great Seal during the Interregnum. Early life He was the eldest son of Sir James Whitelocke and ...

to Sweden in 1654 and was created serjeant-at-law by

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...

on 21 December 1654. John Owen, dean of Christ Church, recommended Croke for a judgeship in 1655 and he was made commissioner for trials of persons charged with treason in 1656. He was justice of the peace for Marston, Oxfordshire and for a time was deputy of the Earl of Pembroke in the stewardship of the Oxford University. He retired from public life after the Restoration. Croke died at the age of 76 and was buried at the Church of St Nicholas, Marston. Croke married Anne Hore, daughter and heiress of Richard Hore of Marston in

on 8 November 1617. They lived at Marston and had ten children including Sir Richard Croke who was later a member of parliament for Oxford. Another son was Unton Croke.

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Croke, Unton 1593 births 1671 deaths Alumni of the University of Oxford Members of the Inner Temple English barristers Serjeants-at-law (England) 17th-century English judges Roundheads People from Oxfordshire Politicians from Buckinghamshire English MPs 1625 English MPs 1640 (April)