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LENNARD, Sir Stephen, 2nd Bt. (1637-1709), of West Wickham, Kent.
Available from Boydell and Brewer
Family and Education
bap. 2 Mar. 1637, 3rd but 1st surv. s. of Stephen Lennard, 1st Bt., of West Wickham by 3rd w. Anne, da. of Sir John Oglander† of Nunwell, I.o.W. m. settlement 30 Dec. 1671, Elizabeth, da. of Delalyne Hussey of Shapwick, Dorset, wid. of John Roy of Woodlands, Dorset, 1s. 3da. suc. fa. Jan. 1680.1
Offices Held
Commr. for assessment, Kent and Surr. 1677-80, Kent 1689-90; dep. lt. Kent 1679-Feb. 1688, 1689-d., j.p. 1680-Feb. 1688, Oct, 1688-d., col. of militia by 1683-?Feb. 1688, ?Oct. 1688-d.2
Biography
Lennard’s great-grandfather, who was custos brevium of the court of common pleas under Elizabeth, acquired the large manor of West Wickham and other estates in Kent. His grandfather sat for Fowey in 1593 and his great-uncle for Rye in 1597. His father, who was created a baronet in 1642, was in arms for the King in both Civil Wars according to information given to the committee for the advance of money; but presumably proof was lacking, as no composition proceedings followed. At the Restoration Lennard was proposed as a knight of the Royal Oak, his income being estimated at £1,000.3
Lennard probably opposed exclusion, for he was appointed to the commission of the peace in 1680 and defeated the country candidate Robert Austen at Winchelsea in the following year. He played no known part in the short Oxford Parliament, but in August 1681 he testified to disloyal statements made by Edward Dering. He avoided answering the lord lieutenant’s questions on the repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws by a plea of illness, and was removed from local office. A county Member under William III and Anne, he was listed as a court Whig. He died suddenly on 15 Dec. 1709 and was buried at West Wickham. His son sat for Hythe as a Whig under George I.4