Canterbury: Members of Parliament

The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 11. Originally published by W Bristow, Canterbury, 1800.

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'Canterbury: Members of Parliament', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 11, (Canterbury, 1800) pp. 45-59. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol11/pp45-59 [accessed 19 March 2024]

In this section

Members of Parliament

SOME ACCOUNT has been given already, in the general History of the County of Kent, (fn. 1) of the first writs directed to sheriffs for the summoning of knights, burgesses, &c. to parliament. The first of these writs that has been found is of the 49th year of Henry III. and though there were several parliaments in king Edward I.'s time, before the 18th year of his reign, yet there is no testimony left upon record of any writ or summons to them till that year, in which, as may be seen by the writs directed to the sheriff, two or three knights were to be chosen for each county, but no citizens or burgesses are mentioned till the 23d year of that reign,

In the time of King Edward I.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
23d. Parliament at Westminster. Henry Daniel, Reginald Hurell.
26th. At York. Henry Daniel, Simon Vertiler.
28th. At Westmin. Nullum responsum Balivi dederunt.
29th. At Lincoln. Roger Manniant, Thomas de Maddingley.
33d. At Westminster Stephen le Spicer, John Payable.
34th. Council at Westminster. Adam de Bishopsgate, John Payable.
35th. Parliament at Carlisle. Stephen Bishop, John Fierne.

In the time of King Edward II.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. Parliament at Northampton. John Payable, Stephen le Spicer.
2d. At Westminster Stephen Boteler, John Payable.
4th. — John de Pickering, Edmond le Spicer.
5th. — The same.
6th. — Clement Ampellor, John de Uffington.
6th .— William Botelure, Thomas Penkell.
7th. — Ralph Pissonger, John Maynard.
8th. — Simon Bartlet, Bartholomew Hertford.
12th. At York. John de Ramsey, John de Uffington.
12th. — Cedula amissa.
15th. — John de Bishopsgate, Henry Starchy.
16th. — Roger de St. Martin, Richard de Hadley.
19th. At Westmin. Thomas Chiche, Elias de St. Martin.
20th. Parliament at Westminster. William Gilenyn, Thomas Dureham.

In the time of King Edward III.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. At Lincoln. Stephen de Hoo, Thomas Puilli.
1st. At Westmin. William Golemyn, Thomas de Aurcham.
1st. At York. Theohald Godington, Thomas Everard.
2d. At New Sarum. Lapicius Rogers, Thomas Pokell.
4th. At Winchester. Richard de Morton, William Christmasse.
4th. At Westmin. Edmund de Pouche, Thomas Pankell.
6th. At York. John Pankell, Richard Spicer.
7th. — Lapicius Rogers, John Harleberg.
8th.— Lapicius Rogers,
9th.— John de Morton, William de Waure.
9th. At Westmin. Thomas Cobeham, William Waure.
10th. Council at Nottingham. William atte Gayle, William Distinton.
11th. Parliament at Westminster. Geoffry Barsham, William Barham.
11th. — Robert Lappyng, Richard Chellesfeld.
11 th. Council at Westminster. Richard de Chellesfeld, William de Dustynton.
John Wilde.
12th At York. John de Rumsey, John de Uffington.
12th. At Northampton. Robert Lappyng, Richard de Morton.
13th. Parliament at Westminster. Edmund Cokyn, John Ellys.
13th. — Richard Frogenall, Robert Chilton.
14th. — Richard Morton, John de Hoke.
14th. — Simon Bartlet, John Bishopsgate.
15th. — Edmund Cockayne, John Ellis.
17th. — Thomas Chircke, Elias Mercer.
18th. — John de Hoke, Thomas Darent.
20th. — Edmund Cockayne, John Ellis.
21st. — John Ellis, Elias Everard.
22d. — John Ellis, Thomas Everard.
25th. — John Sk—k, William de Maydestan.
25th. — John de Wye, William de Goldsmyth.
26th. — John Monk, William de Maydestan.
27th. Council at Westminster. Simon atte Bourne, John de Chaning.
29th. Parliament at Westminster. John Wyn, Roger Digg.
31st. — Thomas' Everard, Roger Digg.
34th. — The same.
34th. — John Ellis, Richard de Morton.
36th. — Nicholas Crouch, Thomas Everard.
37th. — Thomas Everard, Stephen Hoo.
38th. — Thomas Everard, William Broome.
39th. — Thomas Seldwich, Thomas Everard.
42d. — Thomas Everard, Richard de Hoo.
43d. — John Dece, William Broune.
45th. Council at Winchester. Edmund Horne, — —
46th. Parliament at Westminster. Thomas Perral, William Brown.
47th. — Andrew Oswell, John Tebbe.
50th. — William Welles, John Tebbe.

In the time of King Richard II.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. — William Hardres, John Crekynge.
2d. Parliament at Gloucester. John Crekynge, John Pyryton.
3d. At Westmin. John Tebbe, William Hardres.
7th. At New Sarum. William Hardres, John Swimme.
8th. At Westmin. William Ellis, Edmund Horne.
9th. — Henry Lincolne, John Crykyng.
10th. — Thomas Holt, John Swimme.
11th. — John Mendham, William Ellis.
12th. At Cambridge. John Crykyng, John Winrupole.
13th. At Westmin. Henry Lincolne, Thomas Ikham.
16th. — John Sextayne, Richard Sernaye.
17th. — John Proud, Robert Farthing.
18th. — William Ellis, William Hickham.
20th. — Edmund Horne, John Proud.
21st. — Edmund Horne, Robert Farthing.

In the time of King Henry IV.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st.— John Sheldwich, Thomas Lane.
3d. Parliament at Westminster. John Sheldwich, Thomas Cowper.
5th. — Thomas Chute de Borton, John Sextane.
8th. — Edmund Horne, Richard Walter.
8th. At Glocester. John Sextane, Richard Walter.
12th. At Westmin. William Ikham, William Rose.

In the time of King Henry V.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. — John Lane, William Emery.
2d. — Thomas Lane, John Sheldwich.
3d. — Henry Lynde, John Sheldwich.
5th. — John Sheldwich, Henry Lynde.
7th. At Glocester. Edward Horne, Richard Walter.
8th. At Westmin. William Bennet, William Ikham.
9th. — Thomas Langedon, Thomas Norman.

In the time of King Henry. VI.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. — Robert Bartlet, William Chilton.
2d. — John Dykman, Henry Cottenham.
3d. Parliament at Westminster. John Sheldwich, William Rose.
4th. — John Dunington, Robert Bartill, esq.
6th. At Leicester. John Sheldwich, Henry Lyndy.
8th. At Westmin. John Fowler, Richard Everton.
9th. — John Sheldwich, Richard Pratt.
11th. — Walter Sergeant, William Stirrop,
11th. — John Sheldwich, John Dunington.
14th. — Walter Sergeant, William Stirrop.
20th. — John Sheldwich, John Dunington.
25th. At Cambridge. William Oseburn, William Sey.
27th. At Westmin. Thomas Walter, William Bold.
28th. — John Winter, John Mulling.
29th. — William Bennet, John Mulling.
31st. At Reading. Thomas Walter, William Selowe.
38th. At Westmin. Roger Ridley, Nicholas Fraunke.

In the time of King Edward IV.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
7th. Parliament at Westminster. John Fogg, Roger Brent.
12th. — Roger Brent, John Rotheram.
17th. — Richard Haute, Roger Brent.

All the writs, indentures, and returns from the 17th year of king Edward IV. to the 1st year of king Edward VI. are lost, except one imperfect bundle, No. 33 Henry VIII. in which Colchester, Canterbury, and Rochester, are missing, and those of Canterbury are missing afterwards, till the 7th year of king Edward VI.

In the time of King Edward VI.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
7th. At Westmin. John Twine, William Copyn.

In the time of Queen Mary.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. At Westmin. The same.
1st. At Oxford. John Twine, William Copyn.

In the time of King Philip and Q. Mary.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st and 2d. At Westminster. Robert Boxton,—
2d and 3d. — William Roper, esq. William Rastal.
4th and 5th. — Henry Cryspe, William Roper, esq.

In the time of Queen Elizabeth.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. Parliament at Westminster. William Lovelace, esq.——
5th. — William Lovelace, esq. Robert Alcock, gent.
13th. — W. Lovelace, sergt. at law, Robert Alcock, esq.
14th. — Anthony Webb, mayor, W. Lovelace, sergt. at law.
27th. — John Rose, Simon Browne, aldermen.
28th. — Simon Brome, John Rose, aldermen.
31st. — Simon Brome, Barth. Brome, aldermen.
35th. — Richard Lee, esq. Henry Finch, esq.
39th. — John Rowe, esq. Henry Finch, esq.
43d. — John Boys, esq. John Rogers, gent.

In the time of King James I.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. — John Boys, Matthew Hadd, esq.
12th.— John Finch,— —
18th. — John Finch, esq. recorder, Robert Newington, esq.
21st. — Thomas Scot, esq. Thomas Denn, esq.

In the time of King Charles I.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. Parliament at Westminster. (fn. 2) John Finsher, esq. Thomas Wilsford.
1st. — John Finch, James Palmer, esq.
3d. — J. Finch, recorder, speaker, Thomas Scott, esq.
15th. — Edward Master, esq. John Nutt, esq.
16th. At Westmin. (fn. 3) Edward Master, (fn. 4) John Nutt, esq.

In the time of King Charles II.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
12th. — 1660. (fn. 5) Anthony Aucher, Heneage Finch, esq.
13th. — 1661. F. Lovelace, esq. recorder, (fn. 6) Edward Master.
31st. — 1678. Edward Hales, esq. William Jacob, M. D.
31st. — 1679. Thomas Hardres, Edward Hales, esq.
32d. At Oxford, 1681. Lewis Watson, esq. (fn. 7) Vincent Denn, esq.

In the time of King James II.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. At Westminster, 1685. William Honywood, bart. Henry Lee, esq.

In the time of King William and Q. Mary.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. — 1688. Sir Wm. Honywood, bart. Henry Lee, esq.
2d. — 1690. The same.
7th. — 1695. (fn. 8) Sir Wm. Honywood, bart. George Sayer, esq.
10th— 1698. George Sayer, esq. Henry Lee, esq.,
12th. — 1700. The same.
13th. — 1701. The same.

In the time of Queen Anne.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. — 1702. Henry Lee, esq. George Sayer, esq.
4th. — 1705. Henry Lee, esq. John Hardres, esq. (fn. 9)
7th — 1708. Hon.Edward Watson, Thomas D'Aeth, jun.esq.
9th. — 1710. John Hardres, esq. Henry Lee, esq.
12th. At Westminster, 1713. Henry Lee, esq. (fn. 10) John Hardres, esq.

In the time of King George I.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. — 1714. (fn. 11) Sir Thomas Hales, bart. John Hardres, esq.
7th. — 1722. Sir Thomas Hales, bart. Samuel Milles, esq.

In the time of King George II.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. — 1727. Sir Thomas Hales, bart. Sir William Hardres, bart.
7th. — 1734. Sir William Hardres, bart. (fn. 12) Thomas May, esq. (fn. 13)
14th. — 1741. Hon. Thomas Watson, (fn. 14) Thomas Best, esq.
21st. — 1747. Thomas Best, esq. Mathew Robinson, esq.
28th. — 1754. Sir James Creed, Matthew Robinson, esq.

In the time of King George III.

Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Citizens in Parliament.
1st. Parliament at Westmin. 1761. Thomas Best, esq. (fn. 15) Richard Milles, esq.
7th. — 1768. Richard Milles, esq. William Lynch, esq. (fn. 16)
14th. — 1774. Richard Milles, esq. Sir William Mayne, bart. (fn. 17)
20th. — 1780. C. Robinson, esq. recorder, Geo. Gipps, esq. alderman. (fn. 18)
24th. — 1784. The same.
30th. — 1790. Sir John Honywood, bart. George Gipps, esq.
36th. — 1796. The same. (fn. 19)

The number of freemen is about 1560, viz, resident about 892, non-resident about 662.

Footnotes

  • 1. See vol. i. p. 234, of this History.
  • 2. This parliament was afterwards adjourned to Oxford.
  • 3. During the usurpation.
    Parliament at Westminster. 1654. Thomas Scot, esq. Francis Butcher.
    1656. Tho. St. Nicholas, Vincent Denne, esq.
    1659. T. St. Nicholas, esq. Robt. Gibbon, esq.
  • 4. In 1648, a new writ was ordered for Canterbury in the room of Sir Edward Master, deceased. Journal of the House of Commons, vol. vi.
  • 5. Whitworth, in his succession of parliaments, gives different returns, viz. in 1660, Sir Edward Master, Thomas Lovelace.— 1666, the same.
  • 6. A new writ ordered in the room of Mr. Lovelace, deceased. Journals, vol. viii.
  • 7. Whitworth, Sir Thomas Watson.
  • 8. Henry Lee, esq, presented a petition, but had leave to withdraw it. Journals, vol. xi.
  • 9. He was a major of the militia, and governor of Sandown castle.
  • 10. A new writ in 1711, ordered in the room of Henry Lee, made a commissioner of the Victualling-office. See Journals, vol. xvii.
  • 11. 1715, Sir Francis Head presented a petition on this election, referred. Journals, vol. xviii.
  • 12. Sir William Hardres, bart. was returned, but on petition, Sir Thomas Hales was declared duly elected, as was Tho. May. Journals, vol. xxii. The numbers on the poll were,
    For Sir William Hardres, 711
    Sir Thomas Hales, 701
    Samuel Milles, 575
  • 13. He afterwards took the name of Knight.
  • 14. On his succeeding to the earldom of Rockingham, on his brother's death in 1745, a new writ ordered, and Sir Thomas Hales, bart. was elected in his room. Journals, vol. xxv.
  • 15. The numbers on the poll were,
    For Richard Miles, esq. 806
    Thomas Best 788
    Sir James Creed 691
    Sir William Mayne 686
  • 16. Afterwards made K. B. and envoy extraordinary to the court of Turin.
  • 17. Afterwards lord Newhaven.
  • 18. The numbers on the poll were,
    For George Gipps 634
    Charles Robinson 617
    Lord Newhaven 560
    Sir H. Dash wood 150
    Michael Lade 28
  • 19. The numbers on the poll were,
    For John Baker 777
    Samuel E. Sawbridge 754
    George Gipps 739
    Sir John Honywood 716
    But upon a petition from the electors, against Baker and Sawbridge, for bribery, a committee of the house of commons, after eight days investigation, declared the election void. In consequence a new writ was issued; when on a fresh election the numbers at the close of the poll were,
    For John Baker 485
    S. Elias Sawbridge, 470
    Sir John Honywood 195
    George Gipps 185
    and the two former again returned; but a protest being delivered against their eligibility under the above declaration of the committee, and another petition to the house of commons from the electors, the second committee confirmed the ineligibility of Baker and Sawbridge, and resolved that Honywood and Gipps ought to have been returned-they accordingly took their seats.