He father, who was by profession a mercer, had been a significant figure among the radicals at the time of the English Civil War, commanding a regiment but never becoming particularly prosperous.
On 25 April 1672, he married Elizabeth Bradshaw, daughter of a wealthy alderman of Chester, having become a councilman in the previous year.
He became a contentious figure around the time of a visit by the Duke of Monmouth, which occurred during his mayoralty and saw him accused of encouraging riots and trying to obstruct those who wished to take action against dissenters.
As a consequence, his position as alderman ended in 1684 when he was specifically excluded from membership of Chester's corporation upon its adoption of a new charter.
[1] His position as alderman was reinstated in 1688 and continued until his death on 14 August 1695, when he was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Chester.