BURRIDGE, Robert (1656-1717), of Peter Street, Tiverton, Devon

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

28 Nov. 1702 - 1708

Family and Education

b. 1656.  m. lic. 4 June 1678, Margaret (d. 1700), da. and coh. of Samuel Foote*, 2s. 6da.; (2) ?Martha Mompesson, wid. of Samuel Foote.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Lyme Regis 1688; receiver-gen. of taxes, Devon and Exeter 1696–1702; alderman, Tiverton, bef. 1698, mayor 1698–9, 1709–10.2

Biography

Burridge, a merchant engaged in the serge trade at Tiverton, had married a daughter and coheir of Samuel Foote, one of the town’s leading merchants and its Member of Parliament. It was doubtless Foote’s influence which was responsible for his election to the corporation. In 1682 Burridge was one of the common councilmen pardoned by the King for performing his duties without first having taken the Test. In the same year he and his father-in-law were accused of gun-running, but no action was taken against them. In 1689 he stood security for his brother-in-law John Cruwys upon his appointment as receiver of taxes for Devon. Burridge himself succeeded to this office in 1696, resigning in favour of his son in 1702. Meanwhile Burridge’s business had prospered to such an extent that in one year he was estimated to have made a profit of £10,500, some of which was invested in the purchase of the manor of Hensleigh in Somerset. A Whig, Burridge was returned for Tiverton at a by-election in 1702. He voted on 13 Feb. 1703 in favour of agreeing with the Lords’ amendments to the bill for enlarging the time for taking the oath of abjuration. On 28 Nov. 1704 he either voted against the Tack or was absent from the House. Re-elected in 1705 he was classed as ‘Low Church’ and voted for the Court candidate for Speaker on 25 Oct. He again supported the Court on 18 Feb. 1706 over the ‘place clause’ in the regency bill. He did not stand for any subsequent Parliament, dying in 1717. By his will, dated 13 Mar. and proved 24 Sept., he left most of his property to his eldest son, Samuel.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

  • 1. Trans. Devon Assoc. lxvii. 328; lxxxiv. 10; M. Dunsford, Hist. Mems. Tiverton, 316; PCC 165 Whitfield.
  • 2. Dunsford, 449, 450; Bodl. mss Eng. misc. e 4, f. 13; Cal. Treas. Bks. x. 1308; xvii. 368, 370; Dorset RO, Lyme Regis mss B6/11, p. 34.
  • 3. W. Harding, Hist. Tiverton, i. 80; iv. 185; CSP Dom. 1682, p. 69; Trans. Devon Assoc. 10; Dunsford, 450; PCC 165 Whitfield.