Family and Education

b. 1 Jan. 1632, posth. and o. s. of Thomas Darcy of Tiptree Priory, Essex by Mary, da. of Sir Andrew Astley of Writtle, Essex.  educ. Jesus, Camb. 1650; G. Inn 1652.  m. (1) c. 1657, Cicely (d. 1661), da. of Sir Simonds D’Ewes, 1st Bt.†, of Stowlangtoft Hall, Suff. and h. to her gdfa. Sir William Clopton of Kentwell, Suff., 1 da.; (2) lic. 12 Feb. 1663, Jane, da. and h. of Robert Cole, barrister, of the Middle Temple, 5s. (4 d.v.p.) 3 da.  suc. fa. at birth, gdfa. 1638; cr. Bt. 19 June 1660.

Offices Held

Gent. privy chamber (extraordinary) 1660.1

Freeman, Maldon 1679.2

Biography

Darcy, the ward of Sir Thomas Honywood†, was a ‘Puritan bred and born’ and was returned at the elections of 1679 and 1681 as a Country candidate for Maldon, near his estate. However, his friendship with his neighbour, the 2nd Duke of Albemarle (Christopher Monck†), moderated his views, and it was through the latter’s influence that he was re-elected for the borough in 1685. Removed from local office under James II for his unwillingness to comply with the King’s religious policy, he was returned for the town in 1689 and again in 1690. After he had been listed as a Tory in 1690 by Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†), and as one of the latter’s followers, Darcy’s most significant act in the first session was to serve as teller on a procedural motion. Classed as a Country supporter in April 1691, he served again as a teller on 8 Dec. on a report from the committee of elections in favour of a restricted franchise at Dunwich, thereby securing the return of the Tory John Bence*. He died in April 1693, and stated in his will that he had ‘assured hopes of glorious resurrection when this mortal shall put on immortality’. He left his property to his son, George, a minor who died young. The estate then passed to his three daughters, the eldest of whom married a future archbishop of York, Sir William Dawes, 2nd Bt., and the youngest married William Pierrepont*. Their provision may have tipped the family, which had sold Tiptree in 1637, further into debt. Part of the estate was sold in 1690, and a bill was pushed through Parliament in February 1699 to allow the sale of further portions after the baronetcy’s extinction.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Mark Knights

Notes

• 1. LC 3/2.
• 2. Essex RO, D/B3/1/23 Maldon bor. recs., 23 May 1679.
• 3. VCH Essex, v. 273, 294; Bramston Autobiog. (Cam. Soc. xxxii), 374; PCC 50 Coker; Morant, Essex, ii. 41, 139; F. Chancellor, Ancient and Sepulchral Mons. 159.