William Handcock (Westmeath politician)

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

Life[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

^ ^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.
^ 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.
^ ^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 William Jones William Handcock
Preceded by George Peyton Robert Rochfort	Member of Parliament for County Westmeath 1703–1707 With: Robert Rochfort	Succeeded by George Rochfort Robert Rochfort

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[Dublin-1] 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.

[Burke-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.

[Debrett-3] Debrett, John (1828). Debrett's Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. II (17th ed.). London: G. Woodfall. p. 805.

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