Family and Education

bap. 5 Aug. 1624, 4th s. of William Lascelles alias Jackson of Stank Hall, and bro. of Francis Lascelles. m. Ruth, 3s. (1 d.v.p.) 4da.1

Offices Held

Capt. of ft. (parliamentary) 1644-at least 1652.2

J.p. Yorks. (N. and E. Ridings) 1652-Oct. 1660, (N. Riding) 1690-?d.; commr. for assessment (N. Riding) 1657, Aug. 1660-1, 1673-80, 1689-90, militia, Yorks. Mar. 1660, maj. of militia ft. ?1689-d.; bailiff, Northallerton by 1679-c.1685.3

Housekeeper, Excise Office 1693-d.4

Biography

Lascelles was in arms for the Parliament like his elder brother. He bought the bishop of Durham’s manor of Northallerton in 1649 and Mount Grace four years later from the royalist Conyers Darcy. These purchases seem to have crippled his financial resources, especially after the return of episcopal estates at the Restoration. He was returned with his brother for Northallerton, six miles from his home, at the general election of 1660, and classed as a friend by Lord Wharton, but played no known part in the Convention. He was cognisant of the Anabaptist plot in 1663, and was imprisoned in York Castle. He was again arrested during the second Dutch war on a charge of ‘turbulent and seditious practices’. Though he did not stand himself during the exclusion crisis, his interest returned two opponents of the Court at Northallerton and he acted as returning officer in all three elections. After the Rye House Plot arms were found in his house. He may have become a Whig collaborator, for in September 1688 the King’s electoral agents reported that ‘Mr Thomas Lascelles, that hath the interest of the place, will take care another good man shall be chosen’ at Northallerton. But in fact he was himself elected to the Convention, resuming his seat after a lapse of 28 years. He was not an active Member, being appointed only to the committees to inquire into the charges against William Harbord, to settle a maintenance on the children of Sidney Wortley Montagu, and to inspect the Poor Laws. Although doubtless a Whig, he was not listed among the supporters of the disabling clause in the bill to restore corporations. He continued to represent the family borough as a court Whig for the rest of his life, becoming a placeman in 1693. He was buried at Northallerton on 4 Nov. 1697. None of his descendants sat in Parliament.5

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: P. A. Bolton / Paula Watson

Notes

• 1. T. D. Whitaker, Loidis and Elmete, 167-8; Yorks. Arch. Jnl. vii. 481.
• 2. Cal. Comm. Comp. 2872.
• 3. Add. 29674, f. 161; Eg. 1626, f. 53.
• 4. Cal. Treas. Bks. x. 182; xiii. 158.
• 5. Cosin Corresp. (Surtees Soc. lv), 18-19; VCH Yorks. N. Riding, ii. 29; Yorks. Arch. Jnl. vii. 480; CSP Dom. 1663-4, p. 16; 1664-5, p. 201; 1667-8, p. 273; SP29/86/68; HMC Astley, 38; HMC Var. ii. 117; Cal. Treas. Bks. xiii. 158.