NORRIS, John (c.1685-1752), of Nonsuch House, Bromham, Wilts.; Batheaston, Som. and The Ivy House, Chippenham

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

1713 - 1715

Family and Education

b. c.1685, 1st s. of William Norris of Nonsuch House and Lincoln’s Inn, London by Elizabeth, da. of Jacob Selfe of Beanacre, Melksham, Wilts.  educ. Trinity, Oxf. matric. 29 Nov. 1700, aged 15; L. Inn 1703, called 1710.  m. 1716, Elizabeth (d. 1750), prob. da. of John Thresher of Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts., at least 1s.  suc. fa. 1730.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Chippenham 1740.2

Biography

Norris’ grandfather claimed descent from the Norrises of Speke, Lancashire, but the connexion has not been traced. In 1710 his father purchased the manor of Chippenham, Sheldon and Lowdon, which included property within the boundary of the parliamentary borough, and in the 1713 election Norris topped the poll. He is not known to have made a speech in Parliament. The Worsley list classed him as a Tory. Defeated in 1715, when he put up on the Tory interest, he did not stand again himself, but was involved much later in the Chippenham election of 1741, when he canvassed for the opposition candidates.3

Little has been ascertained of Norris’ later life. He was living in Batheaston, Somerset, from at least 1721 and had moved to Chippenham by 1730, when he inherited unspecified land from his father. His mother, the daughter of a prominent local Quaker, continued to live at Nonsuch House, the principal residence. Norris died in 1752, and although no will has been found a valuation of his estate shows that he owned 978 acres in Sheldon alone, which was left to his eldest son, William.4

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: D. W. Hayton / Henry Lancaster

Notes

  • 1. Wilts. N. and Q. ii. 191–7.
  • 2. F. H. Goldney, Chippenham Recs. 81.
  • 3. Goldney, 241; J. J. Daniell, Hist. Chippenham, 72–73.
  • 4. Wilts. RO, A1/110, E1671, f. 158; E1680, f. 80; 740/2/2; PCC 158 Isham; Wilts. Arch. Mag. xi. 95, 99; Wilts. N. and Q. 196–7.