Background
Saunders was the son of John Saunders of Reading and Woolstone in Berkshire (the latter now in Oxfordshire) and his wife Margaret Evelyn, daughter of John Evelyn of Godstone, Surrey.
Saunders was the son of John Saunders of Reading and Woolstone in Berkshire (the latter now in Oxfordshire) and his wife Margaret Evelyn, daughter of John Evelyn of Godstone, Surrey.
He succeeded his father in 1638 and purchased the estate of Mongewell Park in Oxfordshire, across the River Thames from Wallingford, also in Berkshire (but now in Oxfordshire). He was commissioner for assessment for Berkshire from August 1660 and for Oxfordshire from 1661. He was Justice of the Peace for Oxfordshire from 1661, and for Wallingford and for Berkshire from 1664.
Saunders died between 25 October 1669 when he made his will and 15 February 1671 when it was proved.
In 1660, he was elected Member of Parliament for Wallingford in a by-election to the Convention Parliament.