HOLTE, Sir Charles, 3rd Bt. (1649-1722), of Aston, Warws.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. 22 Mar. 1649, 1st s. of Sir Robert Holte, 2nd Bt., by 1st w. educ. Magdalen Coll. Oxf. 1666, BA 1669, MA 1671, MD 1695. m. 5 Aug. 1680, Anne (d. Feb. 1739), da. and coh. of (Sir) John Cloberry of Winchester, Hants, 4s. 8da. suc. fa. 3 Oct. 1679.1

Offices Held

J.p. Warws. 1679-?d., Staffs. 1681-?d., Salop and Worcs. 1685-?96; dep. lt. Warws. by 1680-7, 1689-?d.; freeman, Winchester 1683; commr. for assessment, Warws. 1689-90.2

Biography

Holte was brought up by his uncle, William Brereton, Lord Brereton, from whom he derived those principles of the love of God and his country ‘which were to guide him in the splendid course of his life’. In this, politics played an altogether secondary role; his early years, after succeeding to the baronetcy, were principally devoted to rescuing the encumbered Aston estate by prudent management and rigid economy. He declined an invitation from the Warwickshire gentry to contest the county in 1681, though Sir Leoline Jenkins wrote to him in 1684: ‘Your affection for the public and your zeal for the King’s service being so great ... I wish you frequent occasions to approve yourself what you are’. The Birmingham nonconformists did not fail to supply such occasions, and Holte was particularly commended for his care and discretion in securing the surrender of the grammar school charter. Under the new charter of 20 Feb. 1685 he was appointed to the board of governors.3

Before the general election Holte wrote to Sunderland that ‘our old disturbers are at work under the pretence of great loyalty’; but he was returned unopposed for Warwickshire to James II’s Parliament. An active Member, he was named to 14 committees, including the committee of elections and privileges, and those to recommend expunctions from the Journals and to consider the general naturalization of Huguenot refugees. Danby added his name in pencil to his list of the Opposition. Holte seems to have evaded answering the three questions on the repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws in Staffordshire and Worcestershire on the grounds that he could not leave home as he was expecting a visit from Sunderland. He did not stand again, though his name was retained on the Warwickshire commission of the peace after the Revolution. He seems to have cleared the estate by 1692, and occupied his later years with medical studies. ‘By his skill in medical science, and by supplying the poor with medicine, he restored many to health who would have fallen a prey to disease, had he not charitably administered relief.’ He died on 20 June 1722, and in accordance with his will was buried quietly at Aston:

I never was fond of pompous funerals, which I ever esteemed as a gaudy show to entertain a mob and disorder a family. I have for several years lived retired, and do therefore earnestly desire that my burial may be private.

His grandson, Sir Lister Holte, was returned for Lichfield as a Tory in 1741.4

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: A. M. Mimardière

Notes

  • 1. A. Davidson, Holtes of Aston, 32-36.
  • 2. Warws. Recs. vii. pp. xxix, xxxii; viii. p. xliii; ix. p. xviii; Worcs. RO, 186; Winchester corp. assembly bk. 5, f. 152.
  • 3. Davidson, 36; Add. 34730, ff. 66-67, 74-75; Bath mss, Thynne pprs. 28, ff. 90-91, 231-2; CSP Dom. 1683-4, p. 376; 1684-5, pp. 90, 238; Recs. King Edward’s Sch. (Dugdale Soc. xii), 196-7.
  • 4. CSP Dom. 1685, pp. 32, 72; HMC Lords, n.s. iii. 474-7; Davidson, 36; PCC 28 Richmond.