Hugh Bethell (died 1679)
Encyclopedia
Hugh Bethell was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1654 and 1679.
Bethell was the eldest son of Hugh Bethell of Rise and his wife Ellen Johnston, daughter of Thomas Johnston of Bishop Burton. He was a captain of horse in the parliamentary army by 1643 and subsequently became a colonel. He commanded a regiment at Marston Moor, where he lost an eye. In 1645 he was a commissioner for the northern association for the East Riding of Yorkshire. He was commissioner for militia in 1649 and was governor of Scarborough Castle
from about 1649 to 1651. Also in 1649 he became J.P.
for the East Riding of Yorkshire until 1676 and was commissioner for assessment for the East Riding of Yorkshire. From 1650 to 1652 he was commissioner for assessment for Yorkshire. He was High Sheriff of Yorkshire
from 1652 to 1653.
In 1654, Bethell was elected Member of Parliament
for East Riding of Yorkshire
in the First Protectorate Parliament
. He was also commissioner for scandalous ministers for East Riding and Hull in 1654. In 1656 he was re-elected MP for East Riding for the Second Protectorate Parliament
. He was commissioner for assessment for the East Riding of Yorkshire and became JP for Beverley in 1657. In 1659 he succceeded to the estates on the death of his father. He was commissioner for militia in 1659 and took part in a rising against the military government. He was captain of horse from January to November 1660 when he took over the regiment of horse formerly commanded by John Lambert and was commissioner for militia in March 1669. He was commissioner for assessment for the East Riding of Yorkshire from January 1660 until his death. When Lambert escaped from the Tower of London
in April 1660, Bethell arrested the leaders in York and prevented a rising or any serious trouble.In April 1660 Bethell was elected MP for both Beverley
and Hedon
and chose to sit for Hedon in the Convention Parliament. He was knighted after 4 September 1660 and became commissioner for sewers in the same month. In 1661 he was re-elected MP for Hedon in the Cavalier Parliament
. He was commissioner for corporations for Yorkshire from 1662 to 1663. He was Deputy Lieutenant
for East Riding from 1670. In 1675 he was commissioner for recusants for Yorkshire. He was re-elected MP for Hedon at both elections in 1679 but died before the second Exclusion Parliament met.
Bethell died at the age of 64 and was buried at Rise.
Bethell married Mary Mitchellbourne, daughter of Thomas Mitchellbourne of Carleton,on 14 January 1641> he had a son and daughter. His son and grandson both predeceased him, and his estates went to his nephew, Hugh, who was also MP for Hedon.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
at various times between 1654 and 1679.
Bethell was the eldest son of Hugh Bethell of Rise and his wife Ellen Johnston, daughter of Thomas Johnston of Bishop Burton. He was a captain of horse in the parliamentary army by 1643 and subsequently became a colonel. He commanded a regiment at Marston Moor, where he lost an eye. In 1645 he was a commissioner for the northern association for the East Riding of Yorkshire. He was commissioner for militia in 1649 and was governor of Scarborough Castle
Scarborough Castle
Scarborough Castle is a former medieval Royal fortress situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the North Sea and Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England...
from about 1649 to 1651. Also in 1649 he became J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the East Riding of Yorkshire until 1676 and was commissioner for assessment for the East Riding of Yorkshire. From 1650 to 1652 he was commissioner for assessment for Yorkshire. He was High Sheriff of Yorkshire
High Sheriff of Yorkshire
The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. A list of the sheriffs from the Norman conquest onwards can be found below...
from 1652 to 1653.
In 1654, Bethell was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
East Riding of Yorkshire was a parliamentary constituency in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in the First Protectorate Parliament
First Protectorate Parliament
The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House....
. He was also commissioner for scandalous ministers for East Riding and Hull in 1654. In 1656 he was re-elected MP for East Riding for the Second Protectorate Parliament
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
. He was commissioner for assessment for the East Riding of Yorkshire and became JP for Beverley in 1657. In 1659 he succceeded to the estates on the death of his father. He was commissioner for militia in 1659 and took part in a rising against the military government. He was captain of horse from January to November 1660 when he took over the regiment of horse formerly commanded by John Lambert and was commissioner for militia in March 1669. He was commissioner for assessment for the East Riding of Yorkshire from January 1660 until his death. When Lambert escaped from the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
in April 1660, Bethell arrested the leaders in York and prevented a rising or any serious trouble.In April 1660 Bethell was elected MP for both Beverley
Beverley (UK Parliament constituency)
Beverley has been the name of a parliamentary constituency in the East Riding of Yorkshire for three separate periods. From medieval times until 1869, it was a parliamentary borough, consisting solely of the market town of Beverley, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons...
and Hedon
Hedon (UK Parliament constituency)
Hedon, sometimes spelt Heydon, was a parliamentary borough in the East Riding of Yorkshire, represented by two Members of Parliament in the House of Commons briefly in the 13th century and again from 1547 to 1832.-History:...
and chose to sit for Hedon in the Convention Parliament. He was knighted after 4 September 1660 and became commissioner for sewers in the same month. In 1661 he was re-elected MP for Hedon in the Cavalier Parliament
Cavalier Parliament
The Cavalier Parliament of England lasted from 8 May 1661 until 24 January 1679. It was the longest English Parliament, enduring for nearly 18 years of the quarter century reign of Charles II of England...
. He was commissioner for corporations for Yorkshire from 1662 to 1663. He was Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for East Riding from 1670. In 1675 he was commissioner for recusants for Yorkshire. He was re-elected MP for Hedon at both elections in 1679 but died before the second Exclusion Parliament met.
Bethell died at the age of 64 and was buried at Rise.
Bethell married Mary Mitchellbourne, daughter of Thomas Mitchellbourne of Carleton,on 14 January 1641> he had a son and daughter. His son and grandson both predeceased him, and his estates went to his nephew, Hugh, who was also MP for Hedon.