Richard Erdeswicke (1594-1640) was an English MP, whose public career was hampered by debt.
[2] His mother borrowed money from his half-brother Sir Everard Digby to purchase Erdeswicke's wardship, which led to complications when Everard was executed for his part in the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and his estate confiscated by the Crown.
[2] Erdeswicke's selection to represent Staffordshire in 1625 was probably due to a combination of the county's desire to curry favour with Buckingham, the influence of Digby's father-in-law Sir Walter Chetwynd, who had held the seat in 1614 and the sheriff Edward Stanford himself having a recusant background.
[2] The estate he had acquired from his father had been heavily encumbered and the debts were increased securing his own wardship.
[4] He sold Sandon to Digby, but this did not solve his problems and he was eventually imprisoned for debt in the Fleet Prison, where he died.