Family and Education

bap. 11 Apr. 1619, 3rd but o. surv. s. of Sir John Bolles, 1st Bt., of Scampton by Katherine, da. and coh. of Thomas Conyers of Brodham. educ. Sidney Sussex, Camb. 1634. m. 14 Oct. 1637, Mary, da. of Sir Edward Hussey, 1st Bt., of Honington, 2s. 5da. suc. fa. 9 Mar 1648.1

Offices Held

Commr. of array, Lincs. 1642; j.p. (Lindsey) July 1660-d.; commr. for sewers, Lincs. Aug. 1660, assessment, Lindsey Aug. 1660-1, Lincs. 1661-3, Lincoln and Lindsey 1663, loyal and indigent officers, Lincs. 1662.2

Biography

Bolles came from a cadet branch of a Lincolnshire family dating back to the 15th century. His grandfather served as lord mayor of London in 1617-18 and acquired Scampton by marriage. In 1642 Bolles and his father were appointed to the Lincolnshire commission of array, and for this he was later fined £1,500 by the committee for compounding. Although Bolles claimed never to have taken up arms against Parliament, he was described as a ‘fierce, violent and active man’.3

Bolles, reportedly a great patron of the arts, was living in London at the Restoration, and served on the Middlesex grand jury for the trial of the regicides. The first of his family to enter Parliament, he was returned for Lincoln, six miles from Scampton, at the general election of 1661, probably on the Hussey interest. A moderately active Member in the opening sessions of the Cavalier Parliament, and probably a court supporter, he was appointed to 17 committees, including the committee of elections and privileges in two sessions, and those to inquire into the shortfall in the revenue, to consider proposals for draining the Lincolnshire fens and to recommend measures for the relief of loyalists. He died on 3 Aug. 1663 and was buried in St. Swithin’s, London. After deducting legacies of £11,000 to the younger children, his heir was still left with an annual income of £3,000. His grandson, the 4th baronet, sat for Lincoln as a Tory from 1690 to 1702.4

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: J. S. Crossette

Notes

• 1. Dormant and Extinct Baronetcies, 69.
• 2. HMC Buccleuch, i. 528; C181/7/76.
• 3. C. Illingworth, Parish of Scampton, 43, 47; Cal. Comm. Comp. 905, 1088.
• 4. State Trials, v. 987; Illingworth, 49; Her. and Gen. ii. 120.