STOCKDALE, William (1634/5-1693), of Bilton Park, nr. Knaresborough, Yorks.

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

1660 - Mar. 1681
1685 - 1687
1689 - 3 Mar. 1693

Family and Education

bap. 3 Jan. 1634/5, o. s. of Thomas Stockdale† of Bilton Park by Margaret, da. of Sir William Parsons, 1st Bt., of Bellomont, co. Dublin.  educ. Knaresborough g.s.; St. John’s, Camb. 1652. unmsuc. fa. 1653.1

Offices Held

Biography

Stockdale, who owned a dozen burgages at Knaresborough, represented the borough for 33 years without interruption, throughout which time he acted consistently with the opposition. There was a double return at Knaresborough in March 1690, but Stockdale being in both returns was able to take his seat at once. He was classed as a Whig by Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†) at that time. However, apart from telling on 17 May against a motion that the right of election at Aldborough was not restricted to burgage-holders, Stockdale was an inactive Member, perhaps through ill-health and age. He died on 3 Mar. 1693, and was buried at Knaresborough. His heir was his nephew, Christopher Walters, who took the name of Stockdale and succeeded his uncle as MP for Knaresborough.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Eveline Cruickshanks / Ivar McGrath

Notes

  • 1. Dugdale’s Vis. Yorks. ed. Clay, i. 277–8.
  • 2. Ibid. 278.