Family and Education

b. 12 July 1675, 2nd but o. surv. s. of Sir Philip Skippon* by his 1st w.  educ. Jesus, Camb. 1692; M. Temple 1695. unm.  suc. fa. 1691.1

Offices Held

Biography

Skippon sold off the bulk of his father’s estate, including the lease of Wrentham, which had been the basis of the family’s electoral influence at Dunwich. He was returned instead in 1705 for Sudbury, less than five miles from his home. He was described as ‘Low Church’ in a list of the new Parliament, and his election was marked as a ‘gain’ by Lord Sunderland (Charles, Lord Spencer*). He voted on 25 Oct. 1705 for the Court candidate as Speaker, and on 14 Dec. was a teller on the Whig side against a proposed amendment to the ‘Church in danger’ address. During his first session he managed the Stour navigation bill, carrying it up to the Lords on 5 Feb. 1706. Listed as having supported the Court in the proceedings on 18 Feb. 1706 over the regency bill, he told on 6 Mar. in favour of a rider to the bill to prevent frauds by bankrupts. He was granted leave of absence for one month on 22 Dec. 1707. Classed as a Whig in two lists of 1708, he was a teller on 5 Feb. 1709 in the disputed election for Dunwich. Although given leave of absence for a fortnight on 21 Jan. 1710, he was listed as having voted for the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell. Defeated in 1710, he did not stand again for Parliament.2

Skippon was buried on 10 Sept. 1716, at Edwardstone, having in his will directed that the funeral should be ‘without any vain pomp or show’. His property passed to a sister.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: D. W. Hayton

Notes

• 1. PCC 17 Whitfield; Misc. Gen. et Her. n.s. i. 37, 39; Carthew, Hundred of Launditch, iii. 44.
• 2. PCC 220 Vere; Norf. Arch. xxii. 150; Misc. Gen. et Her. 37; Copinger, Suff. Manors, vi. 95.
• 3. Misc. Gen. et Her. 37; PCC 17 Whitfield.