He was born February 2, 1536 in Grójec, to a family of lesser landless gentry.
He subsequently gained the loyalty of part of the lesser gentry.
Most Rumpers were gentry, though there was a higher proportion of lesser gentry and lawyers than in previous parliaments.
However, over 110 of its 140 members were lesser gentry or of higher social status.
Most families prominent in the iron trade came from the yeomanry and lesser gentry, though there were a few bigger men.
Never a great or wealthy country seat, Turnhurst is described as being typical of the houses of lesser gentry.
Like me, he started common and shinned his way up into the lesser gentry.
Most of the building and lands were sold to the lesser gentry, new nobility, and town merchants or to borough corporations.
Yet, for the lesser gentry in the Commons, this was not the victory that it seemed.