Sir Charles Hussey, MP, 1st Baronet of Caythorpe

bap. 30 Oct. 1626, 3rd but 1st surv. s. of Sir Edward Hussey, 1st Bt., (d.1648), of Honington by Elizabeth, da. of George Anton of Lincoln; bro. of Thomas Hussey. educ. G. Inn 1646. m. lic. 10 Apr. 1649, Elizabeth, da. of Sir William Brownlow, 1st Bt., of Humby, 3s. 6da. cr. Bt. 21 July 1661.1

Offices Held

Commr. for assessment, Lincs. 1652, 1657, Jan. 1660, 1661-3, (Kesteven) Aug. 1660-1, 1663-d., militia, Lincs. 1659, Mar. 1660; j.p. (Kesteven) Mar. 1660-d., commr. for sewers, Lincs. Aug. 1660, loyal and indigent officers, 1662, complaints, Bedford level 1663.2

Biography Hussey’s family had held property in Lincolnshire since at least the reign of Henry VI, first entering Parliament in 1467. The whole family was royalist in the Civil War. His father was fined £8,750 as a commissioner of array, his uncle died in the Newark garrison, and his brother John was killed at Gainsborough. Hussey, too young to have committed himself, was appointed to local office during the Interregnum, and represented the county in the second Protectorate Parliament. As the son of a Royalist, he may have been considered ineligible at the general election of 1660.3

Hussey regained his seat at the general election of 1661, and was created a baronet shortly afterwards. An active Member in the opening sessions of the Cavalier Parliament, he was appointed to 82 committees and acted as teller in five divisions. In the first session he was named to the committees to examine the Journals of the Long Parliament and to consider the security and schismatics bills, but he took no part in the principal measures of the Clarendon Code, though he was added to the revived committee for the execution of those under attainder and appointed to that for the additional corporations bill. With Lord Herbert of Raglan (Henry Somerset), Sir Anthony Irby and Robert Long he was given leave on 29 Nov. to bring in a bill for the more effectual draining of the Lincolnshire fens. He introduced a petition from the commoners in the soke of Bolingbroke and East Holland as one of their friends and patrons on 28 Jan. 1662, and with Lord Willoughby de Eresby (Robert Bertie I) acted as teller for its committal. His interest in the Lindsey level was questioned by the Adventurers, and he appears to have been unable to prove his title at the bar of the House.4

When Parliament met again in 1663, Hussey was among the leaders of the opposition. He was appointed to the committees to consider the defects in the Corporations Act and the petition from the loyal and indigent officers. He took the chair for the bill to prevent abuses in the sale of offices, and on 12 June acted as teller against supply with Sir Richard Temple. When the King denounced Temple as an ‘undertaker’, Hussey produced a politely incredulous report from the committee of inquiry. Meanwhile the Lindsey level bill had been revived. Hussey acted as teller against the recompense proposed for the Adventurers on 4 July, and against the adjournment of the debate on 22 July. In the third session he was teller for an unsuccessful proviso to the repeal of the Triennial Act. He was one of the opposition speakers in the debate of 21 Apr. 1664 ‘pretending as great a fervency’ to war with the Dutch as any in the House, but urging the appointment of a council of war (see John Vaughan). He was appointed to the committee of elections and privileges in the fourth session, but died in London on 2 Dec., and was buried at Caythorpe, leaving an estate valued at some £2,500 p.a. His early death and the scanty records of these sessions prevent any conclusion on his politics. His opposition to the Clarendon administration may have been based on principle, or he may have been a mere frondeur eager to avenge his defeat over the Lindsey level drainage bill.5

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690 Authors: J. S. Crossette / John. P. Ferris Notes 1. R. E. G. Cole, Hist. Doddington, 97. 2. C181/7/76. 3. Lincs. Peds. (Harl. Soc. li), 526-31; Cole, 90-95. 4. CJ, viii. 352, 402, 418; W. B. Stonehouse, Isle of Axholme, 103-4. 5. CJ, viii. 496, 507, 538; Bodl. Carte 215, f. 30; Her. and Gen. ii. 222

Charles Hussey, son of Edward Hussey and Elizabeth Anton Hussey, was born about 1627 at Honington, Lincolnshire. He was listed as "third son" in the inheritance of his father in March 1648. He entered law school at Gray's Inn October 31, 1646, following in the footsteps of his brother, Thomas Hussey who also studied there.

He was married April 12, 1649 to Elizabelth Brownlow, eldest daughter of Sir William Brownlow and Elizabeth Duncombe Brownlow of Belton manor and Humby manor, Lincolnshire, according to St. James Parish Register. A marriage license was issued to "Charles Hussey, of Somerton, County Lincolnshire, Esquire, bachelor, 22, and Mrs. Elizabeth Brownlowe, Spinster, 17, daughter of Sir William Brownlowe, of Hamby, said county, Knight and Baronet, who consents, at St. Bartholomew the Less," according to "Marriage Licenses of the Archbishop of Canterbury at London." Elizabeth Brownlow was born August 9, 1630, according to "Lincolnshire Pedigrees."

Charles Hussey proved the will of his brother, Edward Hussey January 26, 1658-59. He was made a baronet July 2l, 1661 by King Charles II and held Caythorpe manor, Lincolnshire, according to "Calendar of State Papers." He was made a member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in 1663. He was a "gentleman of the privy council and privy councillor" to King Charles II," according to "Lincolnshire Pedigrees." He died in London December 2, 1664 at the age of 39 and was buried at Caythorpe manor December 16, 1664. Elizabeth Brownlow Hussey died in London in December 1698 and was buried beside her husband at Caythorpe manor on Christmas day.

William John Monson in his "Lincolnshire Church Notes" describes a memorial to them erected in the church at Caythorpe as "a handsome white marble monument against the east wall of the south aisle." The inscription reads:

"Here lyeth waiting for the Resurrection the body of the Hon. Sir Charles Hussey of Caythorpe in the county of Lincoln, Bart., Lord of this Mannour and one of the Gentlemen of his Majestys most Honorable Privy chamber in extra-ordinary, and dear husband of Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir William Brownlow of Humby in the said county, Bart., by whom he had seven sons and eight daughters who, serving his country in Parliament Anno XIII of King Charles the II as Knight of the Shire for said county, departed this life at London, December 11 in the XXXIX year of his age, and was interred here December XVI, A.D. MCDLXIV. And near him lye the bodye of his said wife Elizabeth who was born August IX, MDCSSS and dyed at London, December XXV, A.D. MDCLSSSVIII, whose extensive charity and affection to her children nothing could exceed. And of Mrs. Anne Brownlow XIX child of the same Sir William Brownlow, Bart, who died August VI, MDCCSS, aged LSVIII, whose whole life was employed in doing good to the afflicted and distressed. And of Mrs. Anne Hussey, a maiden daughter of the said Sir Charles Hussey who died August VI, MDCCXXVII, aged LXXII. She was steadfast in the Religion of the Church of England, a true lover of her family, and her sincere friendship and goodness made her justly valued by all that knew her."

A brass plate in the floor of the pew below, read:

"A. H. [Anne Hussey] ob. Aug. 6th, 1727. She was a daughter to Sir Charles Hussey of Caythorp, knight and baronet. He was one of the Bed Chamber and Privy Councellor to his sacred Majesty King Charles ye second. He married Elizabeth ye eldest daughter of Sir William Brownlowe, baronet, of Humby in the county Lincoln, by whom he had seven sons and eight daughters."

The 15 children born to Charles Hussey and Elizabeth Brownlow Hussey include:

Charles Hussey    born about 1651

Mary Hussey     born in 1653

Anne Hussey     born in 1655

Jane Hussey     born about 1656

Elizabeth Hussey    born about 1658

Edward Hussey    born in 1659

John Hussey     born about 1662

Bridget Hussey    born about 1663

Catherine Jabez Hussey  born about 1664