ASHBY, Thomas (?1694-1743), of Piggot's Hill, Herts.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1734 - 29 Jan. 1743

Family and Education

b. ?1694, s. of John Ashby of London and later of Piggot’s Hill, Herts. educ. Edmonton; St. John’s, Camb. 22 Apr. 1712, aged 17. m., at least 1 surv. s.

Offices Held

Biography

After declining to stand for St. Albans at a by-election in 1732,1 Ashby was returned for it in 1734 with the support of the Duchess of Marlborough, to whom he wrote on 27 Apr:

As my election was secured to me by your Grace’s favour, you’ll forgive me, Madam, that I take the liberty to trouble you with all the return in my power, a grateful sense of your goodness to me, and a resolution to be honest and active with my best capacity for the true interest of my county.2

A Tory — his younger brother joined the Young Pretender at Dunkirk in 17443 — he voted against the Administration in both the recorded divisions of that Parliament. In 1741 he threw over the Duchess and was re-elected unopposed though ‘not able to spend £5’,4 voting with the Opposition on the chairman of the elections committee. He died 29 Jan. 1743.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

  • 1. St. Albans and Herts. Arch. Soc. Trans. v(3), p. 301.
  • 2. Marlborough mss.
  • 3. Stuart mss 256/26, 71.
  • 4. Thos. Rudd to Jas. West, 2 Oct. 1755, Add. 34734, f. 109.