FAWKES, Thomas (c.1640-1707), of Farnley, Yorks.

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

21 Mar. 1689 - 1690
17 May 1690 - 1695

Family and Education

b. c.1640, 1st s. of Michael Fawkes of Farnley by his 3rd w. Mary, da. of Sir John Molyneux, 1st Bt., of Teversall, Notts.  educ. G. Inn 1659.  m. (1) by 1669, Sarah (d. 1674), da. and h. of Francis Mitchell of Arthington Grange, Yorks., 2s. (1 d.v.p.) 1da.; (2) lic. 25 Dec. 1677, Mary, da. of William Welby of Denton, Lincs., 1s. d.v.psuc. fa. 1647.1

Offices Held

Biography

A captain in the West Riding militia, Fawkes had given evasive answers to James II’s ‘three questions’, on the repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws, and at the Revolution acted locally with Lord Fairfax (Thomas*) on behalf of the Prince of Orange. Involved in a double return for Knaresborough in 1690 with Sir Henry Slingsby, 3rd Bt.†, he petitioned on the grounds of bias on the part of the bailiff, and on 17 May, on the report of the merits of the double return and election, was agreed to have had ‘most qualified voices’ and was declared duly elected. Classed in March as a Tory and probable Court supporter by Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†), Fawkes was included in another list in December as a likely supporter of Carmarthen in case of an attack on the minister in the Commons. In April 1691 Robert Harley* noted him as a Country supporter. However, he was not an active Member, and was twice given leave of absence, on 31 Mar. 1694 and 9 Mar. 1695. Although standing down at Knaresborough in the general election of 1695, he remained active in local affairs, especially in charitable work towards church restoration, as a friend and correspondent of John Killingbeck, the celebrated preacher and vicar of Leeds. Fawkes died on 7 Aug. 1707.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Eveline Cruickshanks / Ivar McGrath

Notes

  • 1. Dugdale’s Vis. Yorks. ed. Clay, i. 206–7.
  • 2. Add. 15587, ff. 232–4; Stowe 747, ff. 114, 127.