Thomas Vernon
Encyclopedia
Thomas Vernon was a landowner and Member of Parliament
(MP) in eighteenth century England
. He was the only son of Bowater Vernon (1683–1735), who inherited Hanbury Hall
, Worcestershire
and large estates in Hanbury
and elsewhere, from his second cousin Thomas Vernon who had died childless. He was brought up in London
in the family home in New Bond Sreet
, and was only 11 when his father died. After a spell at University College, Oxford
, he was elected as an MP for the Worcester constituency
in 1746 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Thomas Winnington. He continued to represent Worcester till 1761.
Vernon married Emma (1711-77), daughter of Vice Admiral Charles Cornwall of Berrington
in Herefordshire
. It seems he first married her in the Mayfair Chapel, notorious for conducting clandestine marriages, and perhaps went through a second marriage when it became clear that a record of the first was not properly kept. No record of either marriage, of the christening of either of his children, Emma (1756–1818) or Thomas (born and died 1754), survives.
Thomas was regarded as more sensible than his profligate father Bowater, and spent the last part of his life managing the family estates which stretched to nearly 10,000 acres (40 km²) in Hanbury
, Dodderhill
, Feckenham
and Shrawley in Worcestershire, and in Shropshire and Warwickshire. He died suddenly in December 1771, and left as his heir his only surviving child Emma, who, in 1776, married Henry Cecil
, later Earl, then Marquis, of Exeter
.
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,...
(MP) in eighteenth century England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was the only son of Bowater Vernon (1683–1735), who inherited Hanbury Hall
Hanbury Hall
Hanbury Hall was built by the chancery lawyer Thomas Vernon in the early 18th century. Thomas Vernon was the great grandson of the first Vernon to come to Hanbury, Worcestershire, Rev Richard Vernon...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
and large estates in Hanbury
Hanbury, Worcestershire
Hanbury is a small rural village in Worcestershire, England near Droitwich Spa and the M5 motorway.- History :Although some flint tools of indeterminate date have been found in the parish the main feature surviving from prehistory is the iron age hill fort on Church Hill...
and elsewhere, from his second cousin Thomas Vernon who had died childless. He was brought up in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the family home in New Bond Sreet
Bond Street
Bond Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London that runs north-south through Mayfair between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. It has been a fashionable shopping street since the 18th century and is currently the home of many high price fashion shops...
, and was only 11 when his father died. After a spell at University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, he was elected as an MP for the Worcester constituency
Worcester (UK Parliament constituency)
Worcester is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since 1885 it has elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election; from 1295 to 1885 it elected two MPs....
in 1746 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Thomas Winnington. He continued to represent Worcester till 1761.
Vernon married Emma (1711-77), daughter of Vice Admiral Charles Cornwall of Berrington
Berrington, Herefordshire
Berrington is a village in Worcestershire, England....
in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
. It seems he first married her in the Mayfair Chapel, notorious for conducting clandestine marriages, and perhaps went through a second marriage when it became clear that a record of the first was not properly kept. No record of either marriage, of the christening of either of his children, Emma (1756–1818) or Thomas (born and died 1754), survives.
Thomas was regarded as more sensible than his profligate father Bowater, and spent the last part of his life managing the family estates which stretched to nearly 10,000 acres (40 km²) in Hanbury
Hanbury, Worcestershire
Hanbury is a small rural village in Worcestershire, England near Droitwich Spa and the M5 motorway.- History :Although some flint tools of indeterminate date have been found in the parish the main feature surviving from prehistory is the iron age hill fort on Church Hill...
, Dodderhill
Dodderhill
Dodderhill is a village and civil parish, near Droitwich, Worcestershire, England, located on the River Salwarpe. The parish is bisected by the M5 motorway, constructed in 1962...
, Feckenham
Feckenham
Feckenham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Redditch in Worcestershire, England. It lies some three miles south-west of the town of Redditch and is around twelve miles north-east of the ancient city of Worcester...
and Shrawley in Worcestershire, and in Shropshire and Warwickshire. He died suddenly in December 1771, and left as his heir his only surviving child Emma, who, in 1776, married Henry Cecil
Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter
Henry Cecil, 1st Marquess of Exeter , known as Henry Cecil from 1754 to 1793 and as The Earl of Exeter from 1793 to 1801, was a British peer and Member of Parliament.-Background:...
, later Earl, then Marquis, of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1525 for Henry Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon...
.