Family and Education

b. c.1678, 3rd but 2nd surv. s. of George Weld I*; bro. of George Weld II*.  educ. Christ Church, Oxf. matric. 10 Dec. 1695, aged 17. unm.  suc. sis. Elizabeth, wid. of Sir Thomas Wolryche, 3rd Bt., and h. of her s. Sir John Wolryche, 4th Bt. (d. 1723) of Dudmaston Hall, nr. Bridgnorth, Salop 1765.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Much Wenlock 1695.2

Capt. Sir Richard Temple’s Ft. 1705, maj. 1708, lt.-col. 1710–13, half-pay 1713–July 1715; lt.-col. Stanwix’s Ft. July 1715–Sept. 1717, 12 Ft. Sept. 1717.

Biography

Commissioned in March 1705, Weld served several campaigns under the Duke of Marlborough (John Churchill†) in the Low Countries, and in five years had attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was brought in at Much Wenlock in 1708 by his brother, George Weld II*. Classed as a Whig in an analysis of the new Parliament, he supported the naturalization of the Palatines in 1709. Later that year he fought at Malplaquet. He subsequently voted for the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell. Although included as a Whig in a list of the new Parliament in 1710, he did not in fact stand again. The Weld interest at Much Wenlock was challenged in 1710 for the first time in 25 years, and George Weld II decided to stand himself: he had been advised by the other outgoing Member, Sir William Forester, with whom he had for many years joined his interest: ‘my agents as well as other correspondents are clear of opinion, this is not a time for you to set up your brother again.’3

After an active career as a soldier, including a number of further campaigns, Weld retired to live with his sister at Dudmaston, where, according to the inscription on his monument, ‘his polite and cheerful conversation procured him the love and esteem of an extensive acquaintance, and his beneficence the good wishes and prayers of all the poor of the neighbourhood’. He died on 9 Sept. 1774, whereupon the Dudmaston estate passed to William Whitmore, the grandson of Weld’s cousin William Whitmore*.4

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: D. W. Hayton

Notes

• 1. Trans. Salop Arch. Soc. ser. 3, ii. 336.
• 2. Salop RO, Forester mss, copy of Much Wenlock corp. bk.
• 3. Forester mss, Sir William Forester to George Weld, 20 July 1710.
• 4. Trans. Salop Arch. Soc. 336; N. and Q. ser. 10, vi. 97–98.