PRAED, James (1655-1706), of Trevethoe, nr. St. Ives, Cornw.

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

Mar. 1681
1689 - 1705

Family and Education

b. 1655, 1st s. of James Praed† of Trevethoe by Honor, da. of Arthur Gifford of Brightley, Devon; bro. of John Praed*.  educ. Exeter, Oxf. matric. 27 June 1671, aged 15; M. Temple 1674.  m. 29 Apr. 1706, Lucy, da. of John Basset† of Tehidy, Illogan, Cornw., s.psuc. fa. 1687.1

Offices Held

Recorder, Penzance 1693–d.; stannator, Penwith and Kerrier 1703.2

Biography

Colonel Praed, as he was known from his rank in the militia, sat for St. Ives on his own interest. He had voted against the vacancy of the throne in 1689 and was classed as a Tory by Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†) in March 1690. In December he was again listed among those thought likely to defend Carmarthen from parliamentary attack. In April 1691 Robert Harley* classed him as a Country supporter. On 10 Jan. 1693 he was given leave of absence for a month ‘for the recovery of his health’, and also received leave for health reasons on 20 Jan. 1694. During that summer he had a violent quarrel with Sir Bourchier Wrey, 4th Bt.*, being ‘hurt slightly in the face’. On 26 Nov. he was ordered into custody following a call of the House, being discharged on 3 Dec. He was given further leave of absence on 1 Mar. 1695, to take effect only after the Queen’s funeral. Re-elected in 1695, he was forecast as likely to oppose the government in the division of 31 Jan. 1696 over the proposed council of trade, but he signed the Association. He was given leave of absence for a month on 2 Mar., which would explain his absence from the divisions over the price of guineas. The following session he was absent from the division on 25 Nov. on the attainder of Sir John Fenwick†, and was granted further leave of absence on account of ill-health on 22 Dec. On 4 Apr. 1698 he was excused attendance on the House, but only after a division in his favour by 201 votes to 100. Returned again in 1698, he was classed as a member of the Country party in about September, and forecast as a likely opponent of the standing army. He seems to have taken little part in the proceedings of this Parliament, being granted leave on 25 Mar. 1699, or indeed of the next, obtaining leave of absence on 17 May 1701. Harley classed him as a Tory in December 1701. In the next Parliament he was forecast as a probable supporter of the Tack, for which he duly voted on 28 Nov. 1704. On 21 Dec. 1704 he was again given leave of absence, but he was one of the Tackers defeated at the 1705 election and he died the following year, letters of administration being granted in December 1706. He left all his personal property to his wife, whom he had married shortly before his death, so that Trevethoe alone passed to his brother John.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Eveline Cruickshanks / Stuart Handley

Notes

  • 1. G. C. Boase, Collectanea Cornubiensia 756; IGI, Cornw.
  • 2. J. Tregoning, Stannary Laws, 118.
  • 3. Luttrell, Brief Relation, iii. 322, 324; BL, Verney mss mic. 636/47, John Verney* (Ld. Fermanagh) to William Coleman, 5 June 1694; Egerton 920, f. 110; PROB. 6/82, 83.