William Handcock (Westmeath politician)

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

Originally from Lancashire, Handcock entered the Irish House of Commons in 1661, holding his seat for 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]

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

  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.
  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. 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 Westmeath
1703–1707
With: Robert Rochfort
Succeeded by
George Rochfort
Robert Rochfort
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