Family and Education

b. c.1651, 1st s. of Robert Burridge, merchant, of Lyme Regis, by Elizabeth, sis. of John Cogan of Bristol. educ. Wadham, Oxf. matric. 13 Mar. 1668, aged 18. unm. suc. fa. 1676.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Lyme Regis 1676, capital burgess by 1679, mayor 1680-1, 1696-7, 1712-13; j.p. Dorset June 1688-?89, commr. for assessment 1689-90.2

Biography

Burridge’s father, of Taunton origin, was granted the freedom of Lyme in 1647, but displaced by the commissioners of corporations in 1662. He prospered sufficiently to purchase the manor and advowson of Thorn Falcon near his birthplace in 1670. Burridge was chiefly engaged in the import of wine and linen; he and his partner were described by Bernard Granville as ‘the most remarkable dissenters’ of the town. But he seems to have expressed his dissent less by attending conventicles than by customs evasion. He was approved by James II’s electoral agents in 1688 as court candidate for Lyme.3

Burridge’s brother was mayor in 1689, having resumed his interrupted term of office when the old charter was restored; but he appears to have deputed ‘one Mr Edgerton, a pretended counsellor’ to hold the poll. Burridge survived a petition despite the adverse recommendation of the elections committee. But he was not very active in the Convention, sitting on a local estate bill before the petition was heard, and afterwards on three committees of mercantile interest. He supported the disabling clause in the bill to restore corporations and remained a Whig under William III and Anne. His nephew sat for Lyme from 1710 till 1728. Outliving the family interest in the borough, Burridge died on 6 Sept. 1733, aged 82, and was buried in the parish church.4

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: John. P. Ferris

Notes

• 1. Hutchins, Dorset, ii. 71; Wadham Reg. i. 271; PCC 1 Ent; information from Mrs S. Campbell.
• 2. Hutchins, ii. 49; Lyme Regis mss B1/10, ff. 159, 222.
• 3. Lyme Regis mss B6/11, f. 19; D2/1; Collinson, Som. Supp. 146; Cal. Treas. Bks. viii. 280; CSP Dom. 1683-4, pp. 179-80.
• 4. Lyme Regis mss B1/10, f. 455; CJ, x. 141; Stowe, 354, f. 161; N. and Q. cxcii. 339.