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William Handcock (Westmeath politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Handcock (c. 1631 – c. 1 July 1707)[1] was an Irish politician.

Life

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Originally from Lancashire, son of Christopher Handcock and Mary Browne, Handcock entered the Irish House of Commons in 1661, holding his seat for County Westmeath until 1666.[1] He was then appointed to the Council of the Lord President of Connaught and in 1680, he received a grant to erect a manor in Twyford, County Westmeath.[2] Handcock represented Athlone in the Commons from 1692 until 1699 and sat in the following parliament again for Westmeath from 1703 until his death in 1707.[1]

Personal life

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On 25 July 1652, he married Abigail Stanley, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley and Mary Hammond, and sister of the writer Thomas Stanley.[3] They had eight children. His sons William and Thomas sat also in the Parliament of Ireland.[3] Two other sons, Matthew and Stephen, were senior Church of Ireland clergymen. One of their daughters Hannah married the leading politician and judge Robert Rochfort: their descendants held the title Earl of Belvedere. Her sister Sarah married Captain Chichester Phillips of Drumcondra Castle, MP for Askeaton. A third daughter Elizabeth married Duke Gifford of Castlejordan, County Meath. Duke was the heir, most likely the nephew, of Sir Thomas Gifford, first and last of the Gifford baronets.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Johnston-Liik, Edith Mary (2006). MPs in Dublin: Companion to History of the Irish Parliament 1692–1800. Ulster Historical Foundation. p. 94. ISBN 1-903688-60-4.
  2. ^ Burke, John (1832). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. Vol. I (4th ed.). London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley. p. 216.
  3. ^ a b Debrett, John (1828). Debrett's Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. II (17th ed.). London: G. Woodfall. p. 805.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by
Patriot Parliament
Member of Parliament for Athlone
1692–1699
With: Arthur St George
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for County Westmeath
1703–1707
With: Robert Rochfort
Succeeded by