Family and Education

bap. 1 Jan. 1616, 1st s. of William Arthington of Arthington by Anne, da. of Thomas Tancred of Brampton Hall. m. 24 May 1638, Mary, da. of Ferdinando, 2nd Baron Fairfax of Cameron [S], 2s. (1 d.v.p.) 4da. suc. fa. 1623.3

Offices Held

Commr. for assessment, Yorks. (W. Riding) 1643-9, Jan. 1660-1, 1663-9, Yorks. 1650, 1652, sequestrations (W. Riding) 1643, northern assoc. 1645, militia, Yorks. 1648, 1659, Mar. 1660, j.p. (W. Riding) 1650-7, Mar. 1660-d., liberties of Ripon, Sutton, Marston and Otley 1654; commr. for oyer and terminer, Northern circuit July 1660; dep. lt. (W. Riding) c. Aug. 1660-?d., lt.-col. of militia ft. by 1661-d.4

Biography

Arthington’s family had held the manor from which they took their name since at least the 14th century; but he was the first to enter Parliament. A Presbyterian and a conforming Rumper, he joined his brother-in-law, Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax, in the northern movement for a restoration, assisting Bryan Fairfax in the first part of his journey to Scotland with the secret message to George Monck and taking part in the seizure of York in January 1660. He stood for Ripon at the general election on Fairfax’s interest, and was involved in a double return with the republican general John Lambert. Seated in the Convention on the merits of the return, he was appointed only to the committee of elections and privileges and to that to consider the poll bill (30 May). He was noted on Lord Wharton’s list as ‘abroad’. He did not stand again and died on 19 June 1671. He was buried at Adel.5

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: M. W. Helms / P. A. Bolton

Notes

• 1. Abstained after Pride’s Purge, 6 Dec. 1648, readmitted 23 July 1649.
• 2. Excluded.
• 3. R. Thoresby, Ducatus Leodiensis (1816), 8; Clay, Dugdale’s Vis. Yorks. i. 70; Adel Par. Reg. (Thoresby Soc. v), 4, 19, 57, 64.
• 4. SP29/60/66, 42/66.
• 5. D. Underdown, Pride’s Purge, 48, 366; Parl. Rep. Yorks. (Yorks. Arch. Soc. rec. ser. xcvi), 73.