Family and Education

bap. 11 July 1673, 1st surv. s. of Sir John Wittewrong, 2nd Bt., of Stantonbury by his 2nd w. Martha Seabrook, niece of Edward Backwell, goldsmith, alderman of London. m. c.1695, Mary da. of Samuel White, London merchant, 6s. 5da. suc. fa. 30 Jan. 1697.

Offices Held

Col. new regt. of Ft. [I] 1709-12; of another 1716-18.

Biography

Wittewrong was descended from a Flemish immigrant, who had settled in England in the sixteenth century, making a fortune as a brewer. His grandfather, the first baronet, fought on the parliamentary side in the civil war and sat for Hertfordshire in one of Cromwell’s Parliaments. He himself sat successively for Aylesbury and Wycombe attached to Lord Wharton, who as lord lieutenant of Ireland procured for him the command of a newly raised regiment on the Irish establishment in 1709. On the raising of new regiments to deal with the rebellion of 1715 he presented a petition to the King stating that he had

always supported the Protestant succession and his Majesty’s interest, for which he has spent great sums in the county of Bucks. Has served as a Member of Parliament for more than twelve years [actually six] and is still a Member. During the last ministry much injustice was done him and he rejected several advantageous offers as his principles prevented his entering into the measures that were then on foot. He has had the honour to serve as a colonel of infantry and he would rather be cashiered than sell out. Notwithstanding such a character and his zeal for his Majesty, he has had the misfortune to be excluded from the new levies, several colonels of less standing than him have been preferred, and many persons have had civil employments without anyone having the least regard for the petitioner. He therefore humbly prays for the command of a regiment, or to be put on the excise commission, or in such other employment as his Majesty shall think fit, so that the petitioner’s enemies cannot have occasion to say that he is entirely neglected.1

Given a commission to raise a regiment on the Irish establishment, commanded by himself, he steadily voted with the Government. He died 30 Jan. 1722, soon after making a settlement of his estates jointly with his eldest son, who had been forced to flee the country for murder and died in the Fleet of wounds received from a fellow prisoner in 1743.2 The estate was sold by Act of Parliament in 1727 to Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

• 1. HMC Townshend, 133-4.
• 2. VCH Bucks. iv. 464.