ALLIN, alias ANGUISH, Sir Richard, 1st Bt. (c.1659-1725), of Somerleyton Hall, Suff.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

5 Feb. 1709 - 1710

Family and Education

b. c.1659, ?2nd but 1st surv. s. of Edmund Anguish of Moulton, Norf. by Alice, da. of Sir Thomas Allin, 1st Bt., of Olderings House, Lowestoft, Suff. and Mark Lane, London, sis. (and in her issue h.) of Sir Thomas Allin, 2nd Bt.†, of Somerleyton.  educ. Great Yarmouth; St. John’s, Camb. 30 Apr. 1695, aged 15.  m. settlement c.19 Sept. 1699, Frances (d.1743), da. of Sir Henry Ashurst, 1st Bt.*, 5s. (2 d.v.p.) 1da.  suc. uncle Sir Thomas Allin and assumed name of Allin 1696; fa. 1699; cr. Bt. as Sir Richard Allin 14 Dec. 1699.1

Offices Held

Jt.-customer, Great Yarmouth 1685–1708; customer 1708–9.2

Sheriff, Suff. 3–14 Dec. 1702; freeman, Dunwich 1709.3

Biography

Richard Anguish came of a family established in Norfolk since at least the early 16th century. Although the Somerleyton estate of the Allins, which he inherited in 1696, was somewhat encumbered, it was substantial enough for its acquisition to pitchfork him into the first rank of county society in Suffolk, and it also carried considerable electoral interest at Dunwich, where, under the influence of Sir Robert Rich, 2nd Bt.*, Allin (as he now for the most part called himself) acted with the Whig faction. After succeeding his father and marrying well, he was created a baronet in December 1699, but despite his new status he was reluctant to put up at Dunwich in a by-election the following month caused by Rich’s death. Humphrey Prideaux reported that he was making

all the steps he can to get out of the [fanatic] interest now Sir R. Rich is dead, and his lady is as earnest in it as he. He hath refused to stand at Dunwich on the fanatic interest, and yet I do not find the gentry are very forward to give any regard to him.

In 1701 the young Sir John Perceval, 5th Bt.† (later 1st Earl of Egmont), found, on visiting Allin and his wife, a picture of domestic contentment: ‘both have very good accomplishments and live happily together’.4

It may have been Allin’s pressing debts that induced him to stand at Dunwich, as a Whig, in 1708. Seated on petition on 5 Feb. 1709, he was obliged to surrender his patent office in the customs in order to qualify himself, leaving his resignation until after a decision had been given on his return. On 9 Feb. the House was called upon to judge the legality of this manoeuvre, and resolved that he be admitted. He was among those listed as having supported in 1709 the naturalization of the Palatines, and a year later also voted in favour of the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell. He was defeated at Dunwich in 1710, and did not stand for Parliament again. His debts now totalled some £11,775, over £3,600 of which was due to the Treasury as part of the arrears owed by Samuel Pacy, a former receiver-general for Suffolk, for whom Allin had stood surety. In June 1710 and again at the end of the year he petitioned for time to pay, ‘by reason he is only tenant for life and therefore can raise no money’, a consequence of his marriage settlement, and eventually he was obliged to obtain in 1711 a private Act to enable him to sell off part of his estate. Allin died on 19 Oct. 1725. The baronetcy became extinct two generations later.5

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: D. W. Hayton

Notes

  • 1. Carthew, Hundred of Launditch, iii. 318; Copinger, Suff. Manors, v. 6; HMC Egmont, ii. 198–9; HMC Lords, n.s. ix. 90.
  • 2. Cal. Treas. Bks. viii. 198; xxiv. 275.
  • 3. HMC Var. vii. 107.
  • 4. HMC Lords, 90; CSP Dom. 1698, p. 342; Prideaux Letters (Cam. Soc. n.s. xv), 193–4; Add. 47057, f. 6.
  • 5. CJ, xvi. 532, 593, 607, 669; HMC Lords, 90; Cal. Treas. Bks. xxiv. 342, 564; xxv. 146.