WHITE, Thomas (1667-1732), of Wallingwells, Notts.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

11 Jan. - 15 Apr. 1701
1701 - 28 Nov. 1702
1708 - 11 Jan. 1711
1715 - 30 Sept. 1732

Family and Education

b. Aug. 1667, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of John White, M.P., of Tuxford, Notts. by Jane, da. of Sir Thomas Williamson, 1st Bt., of East Markham, Notts. educ. Christ’s, Camb. 1686. m. 28 July 1698, Bridget, da. and h. of Richard Taylor, M.P. for East Retford 1690-8, of Wallingwells, Notts., 2s. 3da. suc. fa. 1713.

Offices Held

Clerk of the Ordnance 1718-d.

Biography

White came of an old Nottinghamshire family, tracing their descent as landed gentry back to the beginning of the fifteenth century. Both he and his father, several times M.P. for the county, were friends and followers of John Holles, Duke of Newcastle, the leader of the Nottinghamshire Whigs, whose heir, Lord Pelham, subsequently himself Duke of Newcastle, used to refer to White as his ‘first friend’ in the county.1

In 1699 White acquired through his wife the estate of Wallingwells, carrying with it an interest in the neighbouring town of Retford, for which he was returned as a Whig at five general elections between 1701 and 1710, though three times unseated on petition. From 1715 he held the seat continuously for the rest of his life, securing a place in the Ordnance worth £600 p.a. He voted with the Government in all recorded divisions till his death, 30 Sept. 1732.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

  • 1. Newcastle to John White, 13 Oct. 1767, Add. 33003, f. 386.