Thomas Vincent, MP

REIGATE 1 Mar. 1689 Family and Education b. c.1660, 4th s. of Sir Francis Vincent, 3rd Bt., being 1st s. by 2nd w.; bro. of Sir Francis Vincent, 5th Bt. educ. Christ Church, Oxf. matric. 7 May 1675, aged 15. m. (1) lic. 13 Dec. 1682, Margaret, da. and h. of William Bluck of Hadley, Mdx., 1s. d.v.p.; (2) lic. 28 Mar. 1690, Mary, da. of Arthur Onslow of West Clandon, Surr., wid. of (Sir) Robert Reeve, 2nd Bt. of Thwaite, Suff., s.p.1

Offices Held J.p. Surr. 1683-?d., commr. for assessment 1689-90; capt. of militia horse by 1697-d.2

Biography Vincent inherited Fetcham under his father’s will. He was defeated by the Tory (Sir) John Parsons at Reigate in the general election of 1689, but was awarded the seat on petition. He was probably totally inactive in the Convention. He was given leave to go into the country on 15 June, and, though doubtless a Whig, was not listed as supporting the disabling clause in the bill to restore corporations. In December the King promised him the office of comptroller of the excise ‘in consideration of his services at the King’s landing in the west’ and when the office was given to another, Vincent was compensated out of the royal bounty. He lost his seat to Parsons in 1690, and, after marrying a ‘vastly rich’ wife, sold Fetcham to Lord Howard of Effingham. He was buried there on 31 Aug. 1700.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690 Author: J. S. Crossette Notes 1. Manning and Bray, Surr. i. 481; ii. 725; Vis. Surr. (Harl. Soc. lx), 116. 2. Eg. 1626, f. 44. 3.HMC Portland, iii. 447; CSP Dom. 1694-5, p. 84; Cal. Treas. Bks. ix. 76; x. 586; VCH Surr. iii. 286.