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I AM now to treat of HENEAGE Finch, Lord Guernsey, Earl of Ailesford, second son of Heneage, Earl of Nottingham: which Heneage, Earl of Ailesford,a after his education in Christ church, in Oxford, was entered in the Inner-Temple, for the study of the laws; wherein he was such a proficient, that, on Jan. 13th, 1678, heb was constituted his Majesty's Solicitor-general; from which office he was removed by James II. on April 21st, 1686.

C

He was afterwards the principal of those eminent counsel who pleaded in behalf of the seven Bishops, who were tried on June 29th, in Trinity term, 1688, for refusing to authorise the reading King James's declaration for abrogating the test and penal laws, and on that account were committed to the Tower. On which occasion Mr. Finch argued strenuously against their commitment, and the power of the King in dispensing with the laws mentioned in that declaration: and that the Lords the Bishops could not in prudence, honour, or conscience, so far make themselves parties to it, as the solemn publication thereof in the time of divine service (as they were commanded), must amount to.

He was elected, for the University of Oxford, to that Parlia ment which met at Westminster, on March 6th, 1678-9; and returned a member for the borough of Guilford, in Surry, to that which met on May 19th, 1685. Also chosen for the University of Oxford, in the Convention Parliament; and in all the subsequent Parliaments whilst he continued a Commoner, except in the 10th of Will. III. when, by reason of his ill state of health, he declined being elected.

• Wood's Athenæ Oxon. Vol. II. p. 540.

Trial of the seven Bishops.

b Dugdale's Chron. Series. 4 Willis's Notitia Parl. M.S.

In August, 1702, the 1st of Queen Anne,e he was chosen to compliment her Majesty on the part of the University, on her coming to the city of Oxford; and in consideration of his great merits and abilities,f was created BARON OF GUERNSEY (an island on the French coast belonging to the county of Southampton), by letters patent dated on March 15th, 1702-3, and was sworn of the Privy-council, on the 20th.

On the accession of George I. he was created EARL OF AILESFORD, by letters patent, dated Oct. 19th, 1714; being the same year constituted Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and sworn of the Privy council. Which office his Lordship resigned on Feb. 29th, 1715-16. And departing this life on July 22d, 1719, was buried at Ailesford in Kent.

His Lordship married Elizabeth, daughter and one of the coheirs of Sir John Banks, of Ailesford, in the county of Kent, Bart. By her Ladyship, who died Sept. 1st, 1743, he had issue nine children.

1. Lady Elizabeth, who was married to Robert Benson, Lord Bingley, and died on Feb. 26th, 1757, aged eighty.

2. Lady Mary, who died unmarried in Feb. 1734 5.

3. Lady Anne, married to William Earl of Dartmouth, died 30th Nov. 1751.

4. Heneage, second Earl of Ailesford.

5. The hon. John Finch, who was returned member for the borough of Maidstone, to the Parliament summoned to meet on May 10th, 1722; also chosen in the succeeding Parliaments to the time of his decease. On April 30th, 1726, he married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of John Savile, of Methley-hall, in Yorkshire, Esq. and deceasing on Jan. 1st, 1739 40, left issue (by her, who died Oct. 28th, 1767), a daughter Mary, and one son, Savile Finch, Esq. married to Judith, daughter of John Fullerton, of Dorsetshire, Esq. He was member of Parliament for Maidstone, 1755, and for Malton, 1761, 1768, 1774, 1780; which he vacated immediately after, to make way for Edmund Burke.

6. Lady Martha died unmarried in Jan. 1760.

7. Lady Frances, married, on Oct. 16th, 1716, to Sir John Bland, of Kippax-park, in com. Ebor. Bart. and died 1759. 8. The hon. Henry Finch, who died on July 15th, 1757, unmarried.

e Anna's of Queen Anne.

g See Burnet's O. T. II. 344.

f Pat. 2 Queen Anne.

h Pointer's Chron. p. 485.

9. Lady Essex dece sed, unmarried, 1744.

HENEAGE, SECOND EARL OF AILESFORD, was constituted Master of the Jewel-office, on June 11th, 1711, and continued in the same place under George I. till he voluntarily resigned it, when his father quitted his place of Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. His Lordship, whilst a Commoner, was elected one of the Knights for the county of Surry, in the 9th and 12th years of Queen Anne; also in the first year of her successor, till he succeeded his father in 1719. And having married Mary, daughter and heir of Sir Clement Fisher, of Packington, in com. Warw. Bart. had issue one son, and four daughters; Henenge, late Earl of Ailesford; Lady Anne; Lady Mary, married to William, Lord Viscount Andover, son and heir of Henry Bowes, Earl of Suffolk and of Berkshire; Lady Elizabeth; and Lady Frances, married, on April 2d, 1741, to Sir William Courtenay, of Powderham-castle, in Devonshire, afterwards created Viscount Courtenay, and died December 19th, 1751. His Lady, the Countess of Ailesford, died at Bath, in May, 1740; and he himself, on June 29th, 1757.

His Lordship's son and successor, HENEAGE, THIRD EARL OF AILESFORD, was born November, 1715, elected, in 1739, one of the Knights for the county of Leicester; and in the succeeding Parliament, 1741, and in 1754, was chosen for Maidstone in Kent. His Lordship was LL.D. He married, on October 6th, 1750, Lady Charlotte Seymour, youngest daughter of Charles Duke of Somerset, by his second wife, the Lady Charlotte Finch, daughter of Daniel Earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham; and by her was father of eight sons.

1. Heneage, his successor.

2. Charles, born June 4, 1752, of Voylas, Derbyshire, elected M. P. for Castle Rising, 1774, and for Maidstone, 1777; married, December 28th, 1778, eldest daughter and coheir of Watkin Wynne, Esq. of Denbighshire, by whom he has a son, born February, 1780,

3. William Clement, born May 27th, 1758, an Admiral in the Navy, seated at Albury, in Surry, elected M. P. for that county, 1790; and died in September, 1794; married, August 2d, 1789, Miss Brouncker of St. Christopher's, by whom he had five children; viz. a son, who died an infant, in February, 1791;

i Lately deceased.

William; Mary; Heneage; and a daughter, born September, 1794. His widow is remarried.

4. Lady Charlotte, born May 13th, 1754; married, August 14th, 1777, Henry Howard, twelfth Earl of Suffolk and Berks.

5. Edward, born April 26th, 1756, who has represented the town of Cambridge in six Parliaments; is a Groom of the King's Bedchamber, and a Lieutenant General in the Army, and Major of the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards.

6. Daniel, B. D. Prebendary of Gloucester, born April 3d, 1757.

7. Seymour, born June 11th, 1758, died February 2d, 1794. 8. Henry-Allington, born February 26th, 1761, died November 19th, 1780.

9. Lady Frances, born February 9th, 1761; married, September 24th, 1782, George, present Earl of Dartmouth.

10. Lady Maria Elizabeth, born October 7th, 1766; and died December 19th, 1793.

11. Lady Henrietta Constantia, born June 3d, 1769. His Lordship died at his house in Grosvenor Square, May 9th, 1777; and his Countess on and was succeeded by his

eldest son,

HENEAGE, present and FOURTH EARL OF AILESFORD, born July 15th, 1751. While a Commoner, he represented the borough of Maidstone in Parliament. In December 1777, he was appointed a Lord of the Bedchamber, which he resigned in 1783, when he was appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard. Which office he retained till 1804; when he was nominated Lord Steward of the Household. He is also Judge of the Marshalsea Court, and a Trustee of the Brtish Museum.

He married, November 18th,1781, Louisa Thynne, daughter of the late Marquis of Bath; by whom (who died Jan. 16th, 1797) he has had issue two daughters, who died infants.

3. Charles Lord Guernsey, died July 18th, 1784.

4. A daughter, born January 31st, 1785.

5.

Weobley.

Lord Guernsey, born February 23d, 1789, M. P. for

6. A son, born 1792.

7. A son, born 1795; a Midshipman on board the Tigre man of War, &c. &c.

Titles. Heneage Finch, Earl of Ailesford, and Baron of Guernsey.

Creations. Baron of Guernsey, in com. Southampt. by letters patent, bearing date on March 15th, 1702-3, and Earl of Ailesford, in Kent, October 19th, 1714, 1 George I.

Arms. Argent, a chevron between three griphons passant sable. Crest. On a Wreath, a Griphon passant, Sable.

Supporters. On the dexter side, a Griphon, Sable, gorged with a ducal Collar, Or; and on the sinister, a Lion of the second, ducally gorged, Azure.

Motto. APERTO VIVERE VOTO.

Chief Seats. At Ailesford, in the county of Kent; at Albury, in the county of Surry; and at Packington, in the county of Warwick.

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