Family and Education

b. aft. 1624, 1st s. of James Gould† of Dorchester by Margery, da. of George Savage of Bloxworth, Dorset.  educ. G. Inn 1646.  m. by 1675, Mary (d. 1682), da. and coh. of William Bond of South Bestwall, Dorset, 1da.  suc. fa. 1676.1

Offices Held

Alderman, Dorchester 1676, mayor 1677–8, 1696–7; sheriff, Dorset 1687–8; freeman, Poole 1689.2

Commr. drowned lands 1690.3

Biography

The Goulds had a strong local interest in Dorchester, and Gould followed his father as Member for the borough but took little part in proceedings in the House. Returned for Dorchester again in 1690, he was classed as a Whig by Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†) in a list of the new Parliament. His activities in this session cannot be distinguished from those of his cousin Nicholas, and in any case both were inactive Members. He was listed by Carmarthen in December 1690 as a probable supporter in case of an attack against him in the Commons, by Robert Harley* as a Country supporter in April 1691, and by Grascome as a placeman in 1693. The death of his cousin in 1691 allows him to be more easily identified in the Journals. He did not stand after 1695, and was buried at St. Peter’s, Dorchester on 11 Aug. 1707. His only daughter married first Charles Churchill*, brother of the Duke of Marlborough (John Churchill†), and secondly the 2nd Earl of Abingdon (Montagu Venables-Bertie*).4

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Paula Watson / Sonya Wynne

Notes

• 1. Hutchins, Dorset, ii. 842.
• 2. C. H. Mayo, Dorchester Recs. 718; Hutchins, 354.
• 3. Cal. Treas. Bks. ix. 794.
• 4. Hutchins, 387.