Matthew Appleyard, MP

Family and Education b. c.1660, 3rd but 2nd surv. s. of Sir Matthew Appleyard. educ. Beverley sch.; St. John’s, Camb. adm. 27 Apr. 1677, aged 16. m. 30 May 1682, Jane, da. of William Ramsden, merchant, of Hull, 5s. (3 d.v.p.) 2da.1

Offices Held

Customer, Kingston-upon-Hull (jt.) 1661, (sole) 1670-May 1688, 1689-d.; j.p. Yorks. (E. Riding) 1686-d., commr. for assessment 1689-90, dep. lt. 1699-d.2

Biography Appleyard had been appointed joint customer at Hull with his father while still an infant and he continued to hold the office after his father’s death. This seems to have been his main source of income. In 1688 he returned the same evasive answers as James Hebblethwaite on the repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws, and lost his post in the customs. After the Revolution he was returned to the Convention for Hedon, a borough five miles from Hull and near his brother’s home at Burstwick Garth. He was not appointed to any committees and made no recorded speeches. Presumably he accepted the Revolution, for he was restored to his post in the customs, estimated to be worth £300 p.a. He died early in June 1700 and was buried at Burstwick, the last of the family to sit.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690 Author: Paula Watson Notes 1. Lincs. Peds. (Harl. Soc. 1), 32-35. 2. CSP Dom. 1661-2, p. 39; Cal. Treas. Bks. viii. 1923, 2160; xv. 376; Add. 29674, f. 161v. 3. Cal. Treas. Bks. xv. 363; Luttrell, iv. 656; G. S. Park, Hist. Hedon, 301.