Family and Education

b. c.1628, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Maximilian Mohun of Fleet by Elizabeth, da. of Francis Chaldecot of East Whiteway, Church Knowle. m. by 1668, Eleanor, da. of Ralph Sheldon of Wadley, Derbys., 3s. 2da. suc. fa. 1673.1

Offices Held

Capt. of militia ft. Dorset by 1670, maj. by 1680-?May 1688, commr. for assessment 1673-80, 1689-90, dep. lt. 1676-May 1688, Oct. 1688-1702, j.p. 1683-June 1688, Nov. 1688-?d., commr. for rebels’ estates 1686.2

Biography

Mohun’s ancestors were Bridport merchants in Tudor times, and represented that borough in four Parliaments. They were content to spell their name Moone till a series of fortunate marriages and land purchases inspired them to claim descent from the medieval Cornish lords. They established themselves at Fleet, three miles from Weymouth, about 1565. In spite of his youth Mohun, like his father, uncle, and brothers, was an active Cavalier in the Civil War. His father, after a long imprisonment, compounded for an estate valued at £300 p.a. and heavily encumbered with debts. Mohun, a Churchman and a Tory, continued the family tradition by espousing the niece of Archbishop Sheldon.3

Nothing is known of the election of 1685 in which Mohun and George Strangways broke the Whig monopoly at Weymouth by defeating Michael Harvey. Mohun was named only to the committee to examine the disbandment accounts in James II’s Parliament. He returned negative answers to the lord lieutenant’s questions on the repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws, and was dropped from the commission and the lieutenancy. He was restored, but is not known to have taken any further part in political life. He died on 25 Feb. 1712, aged 84, and was buried at Fleet. His epitaph has been translated: ‘The good faith of a day gone by, the worship of his God and loyalty to a country in jeopardy made up a character of pristine excellence’. He was succeeded by his son, named Gilbert after the archbishop, but no later member of his family entered Parliament.4

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: John. P. Ferris

Notes

• 1. Vis. Dorset (Harl. Soc. cxvii), 46-47.
• 2. PRO 30/24, bdle. 30, no. 63; CSP Dom. 1676-7, p. 323; Cal. Treas. Bks. viii. 546.
• 3. Hutchins, ii. 741; SP23/101/579, 677.
• 4. Procs. Dorset Nat. Hist. and Arch. Soc. xxxvii. 126.