YOUNG, John (c.1639-1710), of Little Durnford, Wilts.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Mar. 1679
16 Jan. - 14 Mar. 1689

Family and Education

b. c.1639, 1st s. of John Young of Little Durnford by Jane, da. of John Penruddock of Compton Chamberlayne. educ. Queen’s, Oxf. 1657; travelled abroad (France) 1658. m. Rachel, da. of Thomas Baynard of Cliffe, Dorset, 1s. d.v.p. 2 da. suc. fa. 1660.1

Offices Held

Commr. for assessment, Wilts. 1665-80, 1689-90, j.p. 1680-June 1688, Oct. 1688-d., dep. lt. 1683-June 1688, Oct. 1688-d., lt.-col. of militia by 1685-?June 1688.2

Biography

Young’s ancestors had resided at Little Durnford, about a mile upstream from Old Sarum, for five generations, and received a grant of arms in 1572. His father was in arms for the King during the Civil War, but only for three months, and compounded with a fine of £635. Young travelled abroad with William Herbert, Lord Herbert, returning to an estate reduced by two-thirds ‘in the King’s service’. Elected for Old Sarum on the Pembroke interest at the first general election of 1679, he was marked ‘honest’ on Shaftesbury’s list. His only committee was for the habeas corpus bill, and he did not speak, but he voted for exclusion. He lost his seat to Lord Coleraine (Henry Hare) in the autumn, and probably went over to the Court, since he was added to the county bench in 1680 and to the lieutenancy three years later. In 1688, however, he would not ‘declare his mind’ on the repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws ‘until he comes into Parliament’. But the lord lieutenant (William Paston) ‘upon discourse’ found him ‘ill inclined’ to James II’s religious policy. He would not promise to support court candidates, ‘but said his life and fortune should be ever at his Majesty’s service’. He was removed from local office, but again returned as a Tory at the general election of 1689, more on the interest of Thomas Pitt than his own. According to Ailesbury’s list he voted to agree with the Lords that the throne was not vacant, but he was unseated before being appointed to any committees. He signed the Association with the Wiltshire deputy lieutenants in 1696, but does not appear to have stood again. He died on 1 Feb. 1710, aged 71, and was buried at Durnford, the only member of the family to enter Parliament.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: John. P. Ferris

Notes

  • 1. Hoare, Wilts. Ambresbury, 123, 125; Som. Wills, ii. 33; Som. and Dorset N. and Q. viii. 79.
  • 2. Wilts. RO, Radnor mss 708.
  • 3. Wilts. Arch. Mag. xxiv. 343-4; Cal. Comm. Comp. 1039; Wilts. N. and Q. vi. 350.