MORE, Richard (1627-98), of Linley, nr. More, Salop.

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

1689 - 1690
1695 - July 1698

Family and Education

bap. 18 Oct. 1627, 2nd surv. s. of Samuel More† of Linley being 1st s. by his 2nd w. Elizabeth Worsley of Deeping Gate, Maxey, Northants.  educ. G. Inn 1646.  m. 1659, Anne, da. of Isaac Pennington†, fishmonger, of Wood Street, London, ld. mayor 1642–4, s.p.; 2s. illegit. by Dorcas Owen.  suc. fa. 1662.1

Offices Held

Commr. compounding 1650–9, indemnity 1652–4; member high ct. of justice 1653; commr. sequestrations 1654–9.2

Bailiff, Bishop’s Castle 1659–61, 1679–80; sheriff, Salop 6–20 Dec. 1694.3

Biography

A moderate Whig, but from a strongly Puritan background, More did not stand in the general election of 1690 and put up in a by-election for Bishop’s Castle soon afterwards only to withdraw in favour of Walter Waring*, after having received promises from several persons of ‘their interest the next time’. His being named as sheriff for Shropshire in December 1694 both surprised and disconcerted him and he was reported as saying that he would ‘get off’. Within a fortnight another had been named in his place. The following month one of the sitting Members for Bishop’s Castle died, and More was the first to declare for the vacant seat. He was opposed by Henry Newton, brother-in-law to Lord Coningsby (Thomas*). Just before the election More complained to his friends the Harleys that several of those who previously had promised him their votes were now preparing to go back on their word. He also told them that he suspected treachery from the bailiff of the borough, who was the returning officer. This suspicion proved to be justified, for when More won the election in March the bailiff refused at first to make any return. There were hasty consultations at Brampton Bryan and More wrote to Robert Harley* that he had been advised by Harley’s brother ‘to have the House moved to send for the bailiff’. No sooner had this line of action been suggested than the bailiff made a double return of More and Newton. More petitioned, but the hearing was several times postponed, and the Parliament was dissolved before judgment could be given. At the ensuing general election, however, More was returned unopposed with another Whig. He was forecast as a probable supporter of the government in a division on 31 Jan. 1696 on the proposed council of trade, readily signed the Association, and in March that year voted in favour of fixing the price of guineas at 22s. His appearances in the Journals for this Parliament are impossible to distinguish from those of Arthur Moore*, except for the occasion on 21 Mar. 1698 when he was granted leave of absence to recover his health.4

More died after an illness lasting less than a day and was buried at More on 7 July 1698, his estates passing to his brother. His nephew Robert later sat for Bishop’s Castle (1727–41) and Shrewsbury (1754–61).5

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: D. W. Hayton

Notes

  • 1. Info. from the late Sir Jasper More; Trans. Salop Arch. Soc. ser. 4, xi. 182–3; Salop Par. Reg. Soc. Hereford dioc. ii. More, 17.
  • 2. G. E. Aylmer, State’s Servants, 213–14.
  • 3. Bor. of Bishop’s Castle. List of Mayors and Town Clerks.
  • 4. Add. 70117, Abigail to Sir Edward Harley*, 15 Dec. 1694, 9 Feb. 1695; 70118, Edward Harley to same, 18 Mar. 1695; 70249, More to Robert Harley, 1, 27, 29 Mar. 1695.
  • 5. Add. 70117, Abigail to Sir Edward Harley, 10 July 1698; Trans. Salop Arch. Soc. ser. 4, vii. 123; Salop Par. Reg. Soc. 44.