William MOLESWORTH [24775]

  General Notes:

England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
Name:Walter Molesworth
Spouse:Sarah Maria
Child:William Molesworth.

William (called Will, Willy)
Born 9th August (OS) or 20th August (NS) 1688²⁹. A captain in the wars with Spain. Appointed Supervisor and Valuer of his Majesty's Honours, Manors, Messuages etc. and Surveyor of Lands on 11th December 1714, which appointment was renewed by George II on 26th October 1727. A Commissioner of Trades and Plantations in 1714. He was appointed on 1st August 1717 as Alnager, Seal Master, and Collector of the Subsidy and Alnage "on all saleable and vendible cloths, Kerseys, Cottons, Ruggs, & Cloths called the Old Drapery, made in Ireland, and offer'd to sale, shipt, or embarked throughout the Kingdom, for the term of 31 years, at the Rent of £10. a year³⁰.' As the next senior son after John and Richard, he seems to have assumed the role of family caretaker, liaising with his brothers as 2nd and 3rd Viscounts on matters of their estate, including arrangements after their mother's death in 1730³¹. He was MP for Philipstown from 1717 to the end of George l's reign in 1727, and again throughout the reign of George II till the latter king's death in 1760. He married on 25th July 1726 Anne, who died June 1767, eldest daughter of Robert Adair Esq, of Holybrook, Co Wicklow, MP³². Upon the succession of his brother, Richard, as 3rd Viscount in 1726, until the birth of Richard's heir, Richard Nassau (later 4th Viscount) in 1748³³, William was heir-presumptive. Upon the 4th Viscount's succession in 1758, he was again heir-presumptive for the remainder of his life³⁴. He had three sons, viz Robert, born 1729, who succeeded as 5th Viscount and was father of the 6th Viscount³⁵; John, born 1736³⁶: Richard, born 1737, who was father of the 7th and grandfather of the 8th Viscount³⁷; and six daughters, viz Letitia³⁸; Elizabeth³⁹; Juliana⁴⁰; Jane⁴¹; Amelia-Charlotte⁴²; and Isabella⁴³. Foster's states he lived in Bath and died 5th March 1770.