Philip Bickerstaffe
Encyclopedia
Philip Bickerstaffe was an English merchant and the owner of Amble
Works. He was M.P. for Berwick-upon-Tweed
1685; and for Northumberland 1689-1698. He descended from the family of Bickerstaffes, of Bickerstaffe
, Lancashire
.Although he opposed the transfer of the Crown to the Prince of Orange
in 1668-9, he was re-elected for the next parliament of 1669-90.
He was known to be "a courtier of the Widdrington group but an unimpeachable Anglican" and a Clerk of His Majesty's Woodyard from about January 1669.Bickerstaffe was a free burgess of Newcastle, a member of one of the twelve mysteries of the same town, and was admitted to his personal freedom of the fellowship of Hostmen on 11 September 1684.
On 15 November 1692, Bickerstaffe was said to have "claimed that the actions of three men in suing Sir Francis Bland in the court of Exchequer constituted a breach of privilege".
His parents were Howard Bickerstaffe of Chelsham and Elizabeth, while his brother was Sir Charles Bickerstaffe, Kt, Cup-bearer
to Charles II
. He married Jane (d. 1694), the widow of John Clarke II
, M.P. of Cockermouth
. Through marriage , Bickerstaffe's seat became the newly built Chirton Hall
in the 1670s. Unable to meet various bonds, he lived in Fleet Prison
, as reported in 1713.
Amble
Amble is a town, civil parish and seaport on the North Sea coast, in Northumberland, England. It lies at the mouth of the River Coquet, and the nearby Coquet Island is clearly visible from its beaches and harbour. The civil parish, which has town status, is called Amble by the Sea, and has a...
Works. He was M.P. for Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
1685; and for Northumberland 1689-1698. He descended from the family of Bickerstaffes, of Bickerstaffe
Bickerstaffe
Bickerstaffe is a village and civil parish in the West Lancashire district of Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 Census the population of the civil parish was 1,196, although the population of the electoral ward was slightly greater at 2,013....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.Although he opposed the transfer of the Crown to the Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
in 1668-9, he was re-elected for the next parliament of 1669-90.
He was known to be "a courtier of the Widdrington group but an unimpeachable Anglican" and a Clerk of His Majesty's Woodyard from about January 1669.Bickerstaffe was a free burgess of Newcastle, a member of one of the twelve mysteries of the same town, and was admitted to his personal freedom of the fellowship of Hostmen on 11 September 1684.
On 15 November 1692, Bickerstaffe was said to have "claimed that the actions of three men in suing Sir Francis Bland in the court of Exchequer constituted a breach of privilege".
His parents were Howard Bickerstaffe of Chelsham and Elizabeth, while his brother was Sir Charles Bickerstaffe, Kt, Cup-bearer
Cup-bearer
A cup-bearer was an officer of high rank in royal courts, whose duty it was to serve the drinks at the royal table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this position. He must guard against poison in the king's cup, and...
to Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. He married Jane (d. 1694), the widow of John Clarke II
John Clarke II
John Clarke II was M.P. of Cockermouth. He had been an agent of Josceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland. Clarke purchased land in Chirton from Ralph Reed in 1672. He built Chirton Hall with materials from the demolished Warkworth Castle. Clarke's widow, Jane , married Philip Bickerstaffe,...
, M.P. of Cockermouth
Cockermouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Cockermouth was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England in 1295, and again from 1641, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was a parliamentary borough represented by two...
. Through marriage , Bickerstaffe's seat became the newly built Chirton Hall
Chirton Hall
Chirton Hall or Chirton House, occasionally spelled Churton and originally Cheuton, was a country house in Chirton, in what is now a western suburb of North Shields, Tyne and Wear, northeast England. Historically, the house was considered a property in the county of Northumberland.-History:Ralph...
in the 1670s. Unable to meet various bonds, he lived in Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the Fleet River in London. The prison was built in 1197 and was in use until 1844. It was demolished in 1846.- History :...
, as reported in 1713.