WORSLEY, Thomas I (c.1649-1715), of Hovingham, Yorks.

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

1685 - 1687
1698 - 1700

Family and Education

b. c.1649, 1st s. of Thomas Worsley of Hovingham by Alice, da. of John Holcroft† of Holcroft, Lancs.  m. c.1675, Mary (d. 1711), da. and coh. of Henry Arthington† of Arthington, Yorks., 4s. (3 d.v.p.) 1da.  suc. fa. 1664.1

Offices Held

Biography

Although Worsley’s date of birth is unknown, he was recorded by Dugdale as being 16 years of age in August 1665. Having sat for Malton, eight miles from his house and estate at Hovingham, during 1685–7, Worsley appears to have maintained an interest in Yorkshire politics throughout the 1690s, though he did not consider standing for Parliament again until 1697, when he investigated the possibilities of gaining an interest at Thirsk. However, at the 1698 election he stood at Malton once more, apparently on the interest of William Palmes, with whom he was returned unopposed. Worsley’s political and party affiliations were obscure to contemporary analysts, and eluded the compiler of a comparison of the old and new Commons in 1698, though in an analysis of the House into ‘interests in’ 1700 he was noted as a probable opponent of the government. He was given leave of absence on 21 Mar. 1699, but was kept informed of parliamentary proceedings during the next few months by Palmes and Sir Thomas Frankland, 2nd Bt.* Worsley did not stand for Parliament again, despite Frankland’s urging in 1709, and he instead seems to have concentrated his efforts on furthering the career of his son, Thomas Worsley II*. In January 1712 Frankland expressed his surprise at hearing that Worsley had not been continued as a deputy-lieutenant for the North Riding, a position he had held since 1688, though Frankland also acknowledged that ‘whoever goes under the denomination of a Whig will probably not meet with much countenance’. Worsley died on 3 May 1715, and was buried at Hovingham on the 18th.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Eveline Cruickshanks / Ivar McGrath

Notes

  • 1. Dugdale’s Vis. Yorks. ed. Clay, iii. 57.
  • 2. Ibid.; N. Yorks. RO, Worsley mss ZON 13/1/32, 59, 115, 201, 210, 216–17, 220, 303, 310–11, 314, 322, Hon. Henry Fairfax* to Worsley, 11 Feb. 1689[–90], Mary Palmes to same, 31 Mar. 1692, 24 Dec. 1696, Joel Savile to same, 12 Nov. 1694, Samuel Buller to same, 4 Dec. 1697, William Palmes to same, 19 Apr. 1699, Frankland to same, 6 Apr., 3 Aug. 1699, 11 Aug. 1709, 19 Oct. 1710, 26 Jan. 1711–12, Henry Frankland to same, 20 Sept. 1710, Thomas Worsley I to Thomas Worsley II*, 19 Oct. 1710.