• Born: 1680, Southcote, Reading St. Mary, Berkshire, England
• Christened: 21 Sep 1680, St. Mary's, Reading, Berkshire, England ¹
• Married: Before 1706
• Buried: 19 Dec 1744, St. Mary's, Reading, Berkshire, England ²

  Research Notes:

Anthony Blagrave, son of John, of South Court, Berks, arm. St. John's College, matriculated 30 June, 1696, aged 15; of Southcot, Berks, M.P. Reading 1701-2, 1708-10, 1722-7, died in Dec., 1744, aged 64. ³

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Biography. ⁴

Blagrave came from a Whiggish family. His father, a Member of the Exclusion Parliaments, had been perceived as a possible collaborator of James II, and later was probably an investor in the Bank of England. Active after the Revolution as a justice and deputy-lieutenant in Berkshire, he was also consulted on county elections and by Reading corporation on some internal affairs. The basis of the Blagrave interest in Reading was property. Apart from Southcote, the family held a large number of houses (described unfavourably by Hearne in 1714), as well as other property leased from the crown in partnership with the Dalbys. Blagrave himself was admitted to the freedom of the borough on 13 Nov. 1701, just a few days prior to his election to the Commons. Lord Spencer (Charles) failed to realize that Blagrave's victory over Sir Owen Buckingham represented a loss for the Whigs, possibly because of the traditional political views of the Blagrave family. Robert Harley was better informed, listing Blagrave with the Tories in an analysis of the newly elected Parliament. Blagrave was appointed to a single drafting committee in January 1702 and his name also appeared on the 'white list' of those who favoured the motion of 26 Feb. vindicating the proceedings of the Commons in the impeachment of William III's Whig ministers.

Blagrave stood down at the 1702 election, for some unknown reason. His father died in March 1704 and it is likely that around this time he married his first cousin once removed, thereby acquiring considerable property in Somerset. He regained his seat in 1708, being classed as a Tory on a list of early 1708 with the returns added, an analysis confirmed by the Earl of Sunderland (Charles Spencer), who this time accounted his election a loss for the Whigs. His only recorded tellership occurred on 14 Apr. 1709, a vain effort to keep some words in the Lords' bill preserving the rights of patrons to advowsons. The tellers involved suggest that this view was held by Tory Churchmen. Not surprisingly, Blagrave voted in 1710 against the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell. He stood down again at the 1710 election, probably in favour of John Dalby. He did not return to the Commons until 1722, by which time the Jacobites seem to have entertained hopes of his commitment to their cause, his name appearing on a list sent to the Pretender in 1721. After retiring from the Commons again in 1727 he had the pleasure of seeing his eldest son, John, returned for Reading in a by-election in 1739. By the time Blagrave was buried in December 1744 he had become a wealthy man, able to bequeath his estates in Berkshire and Somerset to John, £5,000 to his second son, and £4,000 apiece to his three surviving daughters.

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Abstract of the Will of Anthony Blagrave of Southcott in the Parish of Reading St. Mary in the County of Berks, Esquire, written 11 Oct 1742, proved 12 Jan 1744/5. ⁵

To be buried in the parish church of Sonning in co. Berks.

Gives £5,000 to his son Anthony Blagrave.

Gives £4,000 each to his daughters Mary, Jane and Dorothy.

Gives to his eldest son John Blagrave Esq^r. his manors, lands, tenements and hereditaments within the several parishes of St. Mary, St. Lawrence and St. Giles in Reading, Windford, Dundrey, Blackwell, Palbury, Rapell and Clifton in co. Somerset or within the city of Bristol.

Gives 20 guineas to his son Anthony, to his said three daughters, and to his brother(-in-law) William Gore Esq^r., to buy them mourning.

Gives 10 guineas each to his servants John Turner, John Deane, James Chamberlain and Katherine Goodgame.

All the rest of his real and personal estate he gives to his said son John Blagrave, appointing him executor of his will.

(Signed)

In a codicil dated 20 Apr 1744, he revoked the legacy of £4,000 to be given to his daughter Mary, and instead gives her an annuity of £160. If Mary should marry before arriving at the age of fifty years, with the consent of her brothers John and Anthony, then she shall receive £4,000.

In a codicil dated 1 Dec 1744, he revoked his previous codicil, stating that his daughter Mary will not be entitled to both an annuity and the legacy originally given her.

Gives 10 guineas to his servant Mary Palmer.

Witnesses: Charles Smither, John Turner, Harry Austin Deane