MORLAND, George (1643-1712), of Elvet, Durham and Greystones, co. Dur.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1689 - 1695

Family and Education

b. 13 Feb. 1643, 1st s. of John Morland, attorney, of Durham by Thomasina, da. of George Martyn of Durham.  educ. Durham sch.; Magdalene, Camb. 1659, BA 1662.  m. 7 Nov. 1671, Mary (d. 1721), da. of Cuthbert Carr of Auckland St. Helen, co. Dur., wid. of Alexander Davison of Blakiston, co. Dur., 2s. (1 d.v.p.) 2da.  suc. fa. 1689.1

Offices Held

Commr. for recusants, co. Dur. 1675; freeman, Hartlepool 1680; alderman, Durham by 1684–7, 1688–d., mayor 1690–1.2

Biography

The son of a Durham alderman, Morland was blacklisted as having voted against the transfer of the crown in 1689. Returned unopposed in 1690, he was classed as a Tory by Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†) in March, and in December that year Carmarthen included him in a further list, probably of those likely to give support in the event of a Commons’ attack on his ministerial position. An analysis of the House, found among the papers of Robert Harley* and dating from April 1691, classed Morland as Country supporter. He was an inactive Member with a record of absenteeism, being granted leave of absence on 1 Jan. 1692 on health grounds for six weeks, and on 28 Dec. 1693 for a further three weeks. It is possible that he failed to return, for on 14 Mar. 1694 he was sent for in custody on being found absent at a call of the House. He was listed during the 1694–5 session as a ‘friend’ of the Treasury secretary, Henry Guy*, probably in relation to the attack that was anticipated upon Guy during this session, and was granted further leave of absence on 1 Mar. 1695. He does not appear to have stood for Parliament again. In late 1703, during the alarm caused by the Scotch Plot, Morland carried out the orders issued by Lord Nottingham (Daniel Finch†) to secure Durham, but little more is known of him before his death in 1712. He was buried on 6 Mar. at St. Oswald’s, Durham.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

  • 1. Surtees, Dur. iii. 276.
  • 2. Cal. Treas. Bks. iv. 740; C. Sharp, Hist. Hartlepool, 74; Surtees, iii. 276; iv(2), 19; Hutchinson, Dur. ii. 32; Durham RO, Durham bor. recs. Du 1/4, minute bk., 13 Mar. 1687.
  • 3. CSP Dom. 1703–4, pp. 238, 243.