John Henley, MP

Family and Education b. 1677, 2nd s. of Sir Robert Henley, M.P., of the Grange, Northington, Hants, being 1st s. by his 2nd w. Barbara, da. of John Every of Cothay, in Kittisford, Som., sis. and coh. of John Every of Cothay; bro. of Robert Henley. educ. Winchester; M. Temple 1695; Trinity, Camb. 17 June 1695, aged 17; Ch. Ch. Oxf. 22 Oct. 1695, aged 18. m. Hester, da. of James Bagwell, 3s.

Offices Held

Biography John Henley, who inherited Wootton Abbots from his mother’s family, was the grandson of Sir Robert Henley, master of the King’s bench, and kinsman to the Henleys of Lyme Regis.1 His elder brother, the well known Anthony Henley, M.P., was father of another Anthony and of Robert Henley, 1st Earl of Northington. After unsuccessfully contesting Milborne Port in 1702, he was returned unopposed as a Whig on his family’s interest at Lyme Regis in 1715. He voted for the Administration in all recorded divisions but did not stand again. On his death on 25 Apr. 1732 he left Wootton Abbots away from his wife and sons to his ‘dear and only friend and brother Robert Henley of Glanville Wootton ... begging him for God’s sake not to refuse the care of his unfortunate brother’s children.’2

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754 Author: R. S. Lea Notes 1. Hutchins, Dorset, ii. 264; iii. 742-4; Cal. Treas. Bks. xiii. 365; Cal. Treas. Bks. and Pprs. 1731-4, p. 546. 2. PCC 139 Bedford.