LLOYD (FLOYD), Sir Richard I (1606-76), of Esclus Hall, Denb.

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

Constituency

Dates

1661 - 6 Nov. 1676

Family and Education

b. 23 Feb. 1606, 1st s. of Evan Lloyd of Dulasau, Penmachno, Caern. by Janet, da. of Roderick ap Ieuan of Pennarth, Llanystumdwy, Caern. educ. Wadham, Oxf. 1624, BA 1624; G. Inn 1618, called 1635. m. 24 Sept. 1632, Margaret, da. of Ralph Sneyd of Keele, Staffs., 1s. d.v.p. 3da. suc. fa. 1626; kntd. 7 Oct. 1642.1

Offices Held

Reader, Barnard’s Inn 1639; attorney-gen. N. Wales 1640-7, July 1660-71; commr. of array, Denb. and Rad. 1642; c.j. Brecon circuit July 1660-d.; j.p. Brec., Caern., Denb., Glam. and Rad. July 1660-d.; commr. for assessment, Denb. and Caern. Aug. 1660-d., Glam. and Merion. 1661-d., Rad. 1661-3, 1665-d., Brec. 1665-9, loyal and indigent officers, Caern., Denb., Merion. and Rad. 1662; dep. lt. Denb. 1674-d.2

Col. of dgns. (royalist) 1642-7; gov. Holt Castle 1645-7.3

Biography

Lloyd’s ancestors had been lords of Penmachno in the later middle ages. Lloyd, a crown lawyer, was one of the most zealous Royalists in North Wales. Under his command, Holt held out for the King longer than any other garrison except Harlech, and he was rewarded with exceptionally favourable terms on its surrender. He was allowed to go into exile, and his estate, valued at £300 p.a., was granted to his wife. He seems to have established himself at Calais, but took no part in royalist activities during the Interregnum, which would doubtless have jeopardized this grant.4

Lloyd was almost as much a foreigner in Glamorgan or Radnorshire as an Englishman would have been. Nevertheless at the general election of 1661 he was returned for both Cardiff and Radnorshire, thanks to his post as chief justice of the circuit. He chose the county seat on 24 May 1661, and was listed as a moderate by Lord Wharton. Although he organized support for the court of the marches, a b’te noire of the borough Member (Sir) Edward Harley, he was not active in the Cavalier Parliament. No speeches are recorded, and he was named to only 18 committees. He was one of the Members appointed to examine the Journals of the Long Parliament, and recommend erasures of treasonable and scandalous passages, and he was on the committee for the corporations bill. He acted as chairman for one private bill committee in the opening session. His leisure hours, it may be inferred from Samuel Pepys, were spent in the convivial company of old Cavaliers like Giles Strangways and John Robinson I. His last appearance in the Journals was when he was added to the committee of elections and privileges in 1669. He was marked as a court supporter on the opposition list in 1671, but in July 1672 and March 1673 he was reported dead. He was one of the officials absent from the 1675 sessions, but he did not die till 5 May 1676. His grandson died in childhood, the last of the family, and his estates after much litigation were divided, Esclus falling to the heirs of his son-in-law, Sir Henry Conway.5

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: John. P. Ferris

Notes

  • 1. J. E. Griffith, Peds. Anglesey and Caern. Fams. 330; C142/426/91; A. N. Palmer, Wrexham Parish Church, 188; Wadham Reg. i. 55.
  • 2. Pens. Bk. G. Inn, i. 336; W. R. Williams, Gt. Sessions in Wales, 137-8; CSP Dom. 1660-1, p. 142; 1671, p. 275.
  • 3. List of Officers Claiming (1663), 50.
  • 4. Evelyn Diary, ii. 560; iii. 16, 55; Whitelocke Mems. ii. 96.
  • 5. CSP Dom. 1661-2, p. 36; Pepys Diary, 17 Mar. 1663; Arch. Camb. (ser. 4, vi), 266-8.