Family and Education

b. 1665, s. of Francis Jessop of Broomhall by Barbara, da. of Robert Eyre of Highlow, Derbys. educ. G. Inn 1683, called 1690, bencher 1715. m. (lic. 15 Jan. 1697) Mary, da. and h. of James Darcy, M.P., 1st Baron Darcy [I], of Sedbury Park, Yorks., 1s. d.v.p. 4da. suc. fa. 1691.

Offices Held

Justice of the Anglesey circuit 1707-12, c.j. 1712-29; commr. and receiver of the alienation office 1717-d.; puisne justice of Chester 1729-d.

Biography

Jessop was legal adviser to John Holles, Duke of Newcastle, who brought him into Parliament. In 1709 he fought a duel with William Levinz, the Duke’s chief opponent in Nottinghamshire.1 After the Duke’s death in 1711, when his widow disputed the will leaving his estates to his nephew, Thomas Pelham, created Duke of Newcastle 1715, Jessop sided with Pelham. He stood on Pelham’s interest for Aldborough in 1713 but was defeated by the Duchess,2 regaining his seat in 1715, after the dispute had been determined in Pelham’s favour. During the debates on the South Sea directors he was referred to (25 May 1721) as having lost money in another of Sir John Blunt’s fraudulent companies. He subsequently spoke warmly (3 July 1721) against allowing the directors to retain 15% of their estates in return for prompt payment.3 As a placeman he voted with the Government in all recorded divisions, except on the army in 1732 and the excise bill in 1733, when he was absent. He died 8 Nov. 1734. One of his daughters married Andrew Wilkinson.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

• 1. Luttrell, vi. 396.
• 2. T. Lawson-Tancred, Recs. of a Yorks. Manor, 234-66.
• 3. Chandler, vi. 248, 257.