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PAYLOR, Sir Watkinson, 2nd Bt. (c.1634-1705), of Thoralby, Yorks.
Available from Boydell and Brewer
Biography Detail
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Family and Education
b. c.1634, o.s. of Watkinson Paylor (d. by 1636) of Thoralby by Margaret, da. of Thomas Fairfax†, 1st Visct. Fairfax of Emley [I]. educ. Clare, Camb. 1651; G. Inn 1652. m. 8 July 1662, Alathea, da. of Sir Thomas Norcliffe of Langton, 2s. d.v.p. 2da. suc. gdfa. c.1647.1
Offices Held
Commr. for militia, Yorks. Mar. 1660; j.p. Yorks (E. Riding) July 1660-6, (W. Riding) 1674-bef. 1683; commr. for assessment (E. Riding) Aug. 1660-80, (E. and N. Ridings) 1689-90, sewers (E. Riding) Sept. 1660, recusants (E. and N. Ridings) 1675; dep. lt. (E. Riding) Mar. 1688-d.2
Biography
Paylor’s grandfather acquired Thoralby early in the 17th century, but took no part in the Civil War. A cousin, George Paylor of Nun Monkton represented Berwick in Richard Cromwell’s Parliament. Paylor sat for Malton in the Exclusion Parliaments, probably on the interest of William Palmes. Classed as ‘honest’ by Shaftesbury, he was not an active Member. In 1679 he was named to the committees to report on expiring laws and to consider extending the prohibition on importing Irish cattle, but he was absent from the division on the first exclusion bill and played no further part in the House. Nevertheless his name was deleted from the West Riding commission of the peace. Palmes and Paylor were defeated in the Malton election of 1685 by two court candidates, and on the Duke of Monmouth’s invasion orders were given for his arrest as ‘disaffected’ to the Government. He may have become a Whig collaborator under James II, since he was appointed to the lieutenancy in March 1688. The royal electoral agents expected him to be elected at Malton and presumed him ‘right’ on the repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws. In fact he did not stand again, and was buried on 30 Sept. 1705 at St. Anne’s, Soho. He was the last of his family to sit in Parliament.3
