BERTIE, Hon. Charles II (1683-1727), of Chelsea, Mdx.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1705 - 1708

Family and Education

b. 1683, 6th s. of Robert Bertie†, 3rd Earl of Lindsey, being o. s. by his 3rd w. Elizabeth, da. and coh. of Thomas Pope, 2nd Earl of Downe [I], wid. of Sir Francis Henry Lee, 4th Bt.*, of Quarrendon, Bucks. and Ditchley, Oxon.; half-bro. of Hon. Albemarle*, Hon. Peregrine II*, Hon. Philip* and Robert Bertie*, Lord Willoughby de Eresby.  m. (1) 29 Apr. 1714, Mary (d. 1725), da. of Thomas Browne of Addlethorpe, Lincs., and wid. of Nicholas Newcomen of Theddlethorpe, s.p.; (2) 13 Feb. 1726, Mary, da. of Henry Marshall, rector of Orby and Salmonby, Lincs. s.p.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Appleby 1698.2

Biography

Bertie was successful for New Woodstock in 1705 on the interest of his kinsman the 2nd Earl of Abingdon (Montagu Venables-Bertie*). Not surprisingly he espoused Abingdon’s Tory principles, and voted against the Court candidate for Speaker on 25 Oct. 1705. Unfortunately, the presence of seven Berties in the House at this time makes it impossible to delineate his parliamentary activity. However, he appears to have maintained the party line, since in early 1708 two analysts identified him as a Tory. He did not stand in 1708, but at the next general election Lord Abingdon may well have made interest for him to contest Oxfordshire, although to no avail. Under Lord Oxford’s (Robert Harley*) ministry he was keen for a captaincy in the foot guards, his mother reminding the treasurer that ‘his principles are agreeable with yours’. He did not gain a commission, but his finances were improved by marriage to a rich widow, Mary Newcomen, on which occasion he was described as ‘a gentleman remarkable for his adhesion to the loyal principles of his noble ancestors, both by father and mother, and [for] affection to her Majesty and the happy constitution in Church and state’. Neither of his wives produced an heir, and after his death on 15 Aug. 1727, his estates passed to Lord Albemarle Bertie, grandson of his half-brother Robert who was subsequently 1st Duke of Ancaster. He was buried ‘decently but not pompously’ at Theddlethorpe, near the resting-place of his first wife.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Paula Watson / Perry Gauci

Notes

  • 1. PCC 86 Auber; IGI, Lincs.; HMC Portland, v. 446; Lincs. Peds. (Harl. Soc. 51), 646, 719.
  • 2. Cumbria RO (Kendal), Appleby bor. recs. WSMB/A min. bk. 3, 12 Sept. 1698.
  • 3. BL, Trumbull Alphab. mss 54, Ralph Bridges to Sir William Trumbull*, 3 Apr. 1710; Add. 70177, Countess of Lindsey to Ld. Oxford, 18 Apr. [?1713]; HMC Portland, 446; Hist. Reg. Chron. 1727, p. 33; PCC 86 Auber; Lincs. Peds. 646.