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John Major (d. 1629) was a Southampton cloth merchant and served as member of parliament for Southampton in 1628.

He was the son of John Major, a Southampton brewer who probably originally came from Jersey, and his wife Joyce. His father was an alderman and served as mayor of Southampton in 1601-2. Between 1603 and 1614 Major served terms as constable, steward, bailiff and sheriff of Southampton, before becoming an alderman in 1615. He served as mayor in 1615-16. In 1622 he purchased the manor of Allington close to Southampton for £900;.

In 1628 he was chosen to serve in parliament alongside his business partner George Gallop. He died 21 February 1629, shortly before the session was terminated. By his will he left £200 for the founding of an almshouse in Southampton.

By 1599 Major had married Anne (d.1646), daughter of John Searle of Cossam, Carisbrooke, I.o.W., a yeoman. Her brother John Searle (1569-1622) sat for Newport, I.o.W in 1614. On his death without a direct heir Searle left a substantial bequest to their son Richard.

References

1. ^ "MAJOR (MAYOR), John (-d.1629), of Southampton, Hants". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
2. Horrocks, J.W. (1917). The Assembly books of Southampton. p. 1.
3. "VCH Hampshire, volume 3: South Stoneham". British History Online. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
4. "SEARLE (SERLE), John (1569-1622), of Newport , I. o. W. and Lincoln's Inn, London; later of Townhill, South Stoneham, Hants". History of Parliament. Retrieved 29 March 2024.

• English MPs 1628–1629
• 1629 deaths
• Mayors of Southampton
• 17th-century English merchants