KYNASTON, Edward I (1641-93), of Albrightlee, nr. Shrewsbury, Salop.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Mar. 1679
Oct. 1679

Family and Education

b. 25 Mar. 1641, 1st s. of Roger Kynaston of Hordley by Rebecca, da. of Sir John Weld, town clerk of London 1613-41, of Willey. educ. Jesus, Oxf. 1659. m. by 1664, Amy, da. and h. of Thomas Barker of Haughmond Abbey, Salop, 6s. (2 d.v.p.) 2da. suc. fa. 1684.

Offices Held

Alderman, Shrewsbury 1664-Jan. 1688, Oct. 1688-d., mayor 1664-5; sheriff, Mont. 1665-6, Salop 1682-3; commr. for assessment, Salop 1673-80, 1689-90, j.p. 1680-June 1688, Nov. 1688-d.1

Biography

Settled in Shropshire since the 14th century, Kynaston’s family acquired Hordley in the reign of Henry VI. His father, who was sheriff of Shropshire in 1640, took the side of the King in the Civil War, and compounded in March 1647 on a fine of £921 at one-sixth. Kynaston acquired by marriage very extensive property in and around Shrewsbury, and fixed his residence at Albrightlee, one of his wife’s properties lying within the liberties of the town. He became an alderman under the 1664 charter, and was prominent in local affairs.2

Kynaston stood unsuccessfully for Shrewsbury at a by-election in March 1677. Returned for the borough to all three Exclusion Parliaments, he was classed as ‘doubtful’ by Shaftesbury. In 1679 he was appointed to only two committees, the first to bring in a new poor law (30 Apr.), the other for a naturalization bill (17 May). He was absent from the division on the exclusion bill. In the second and third Exclusion Parliaments he was appointed to no committees, but was given leave of absence for the recovery of his health on 2 Dec. 1680. He was active in securing the surrender of the Shrewsbury charter in June 1684 and was reappointed alderman under the new charter in 1685. Returned to James II’s Parliament, and listed by Danby among the Opposition, he was appointed to no committees, but probably acted as teller against the clandestine marriages bill with Francis Gwyn. In reply to Lord Chancellor Jeffreys, he wrote: ‘I cannot in conscience comply with Your Lordship’s proposals in taking off the Penal Laws or Tests. I shall always continue my allegiance to my King and live peaceably with my neighbours.’ He was removed from municipal and county office, but his attitude to the Revolution has not been ascertained. He was buried at Hordley on 15 Aug. 1693. His son John represented Shrewsbury and Shropshire as a Tory in the next four reigns.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

  • 1. Trans. Salop. Arch. Soc. (ser. 4), xii. 218; Mont. Colls. xv. 6; Owen and Blakeway, Shrewsbury, i. 487.
  • 2. Burke, Gentry (1937); Mont. Colls. xv. 5; Cal. Comm. Comp. 1024; Owen and Blakeway, i. 487, 493.
  • 3. Owen and Blakeway, i. 493-4; Trans. Salop Arch. Soc. (ser. 1), ii. 397; (ser. 4), xii. 218; PC2/72/567.