 The family later in the 16th century made its fortune as cloth merchants at Crediton

He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford on 9 May 1617, aged 16 and was a student of Middle Temple in 1618.In November 1640 he was elected Member of Parliament for the newly re-established borough of Ashburton in the Long Parliament.On 16 July 1641, he was created a baronet.