William Handcock was an Irish politician.

Originally from 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...

, Handcock entered the Irish House of Commons

Irish House of Commons

The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...

 in 1661, holding his seat for Westmeath

Westmeath (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Westmeath was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1611 to 1800. Between 1725 and 1793 Catholics and those married to Catholics could not vote...

 until 1666. He was then appointed to the Council of Connaught and in 1680, he received a grant to erect a manor in Twyford, Westmeath. Handcock represented Athlone

Athlone (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Athlone was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800. Between 1725 and 1793 Catholics and those married to Catholics could not vote...

 from 1692 until 1699 and sat in the following parliament again for Westmeath from 1703 until his death in 1707.

On 25 July 1652, he married Abigail Stanley, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley and sister of Thomas Stanley

Thomas Stanley (author)

Sir Thomas Stanley was an English author and translator.-Life:He was born in Cumberlow, Hertfordshire, the son of Sir Thomas Stanley of Cumberlow, Hertfordshire and his wife, Mary Hammond. Mary was the cousin of Richard Lovelace, and Stanley was educated in company with the son of Edward Fairfax,...

. His sons William

William Handcock (1654–1701)

Sir William Handcock was an Irish politician and judge.Born in County Westmeath, he was the second son of William Handcock and his wife Abigail, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley and sister of Thomas Stanley. His older brother was Thomas Handcock...

 and Thomas

Thomas Handcock

Thomas Handcock was an Irish politician.He was the eldest son of William Handcock and his wife Abigail, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley and sister of Thomas Stanley. His younger brother was Sir William Handcock...

 sat also in the Parliament of Ireland

Parliament of Ireland

The Parliament of Ireland was a legislature that existed in Dublin from 1297 until 1800. In its early mediaeval period during the Lordship of Ireland it consisted of either two or three chambers: the House of Commons, elected by a very restricted suffrage, the House of Lords in which the lords...

.