SELBY, George (c.1557-1625), of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumb.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Family and Education

b. c.1557, 1st s. of William Selby I of Newcastle by Elizabeth, da. and h. of Gerard Fenwick of Newcastle. m. Margaret, da. of Sir John Selby of Branxton, Northumb. and Twizell, co. Dur., 5s. 6da. suc. fa. 1614. Kntd. 23 July 1603.

Offices Held

Water-bailiff, Newcastle by 1588, freeman by 1589; alderman, sheriff 1594, mayor 1600, 1606, 1611, 1622; gov. Newcastle merchants’ co. 1600, 1606, 1611, 1622; sheriff, Northumb. 1607, co. Dur. 1617; j.p. Northumb. by 1620.

Biography

Like his father, Selby was one of the grand lessees of Newcastle who monopolized the municipal offices and exploited the controversial lease of the manors of Gateshead and Whickham. The faction on the corporation which was first to curb the power of the grand lessees (see CHAPMAN, Henry) complained that Selby’s election as sheriff in 1594 was rigged. He became a member of the hostmen’s company when it received official status in the charter of 1600, and at the same time he was confirmed as alderman and appointed sergeant-at-mace. Selby was also a considerable figure in the county palatine and in Northumberland. No mention of him has been found in the journals of his first Parliament, but he may have served on a committee about alehouses, 5 Nov.

He died in 1625, aged 68.

Surtees, Hist. Dur. ii. 274; R. Welford, Men of Mark ’twixt Tyne and Tweed, iii. 374-6; Req. 2/170/31; Arch. Ael.(ser. 4), xxiii. 136; Welford, Hist. Newcastle and Gateshead, iii. 120, 138, 142; D’Ewes, 626.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: B.D.

Notes