Family and Education

b. 14 June 1634, 4th s. of Dennis Bond†, linen draper, of Dorchester and Lutton, Dorset, being 3rd s. by his 2nd w. Lucy, da. of William Lawrence of Winterbourne Steepleton, wid. of John Fley, vicar of Buckerell, Devon; half-bro. of John Bond† and bro. of Samuel Bond†.  educ. Wadham, Oxf. 1650, BCL 1654, fellow, All Souls Oxf. 1648; incorp. Camb. 1659; I. Temple 1653, called 1661, bencher 1687.  m. (1) 21 Dec. 1667, Elizabeth (d. 1674), da. and coh. of John Churchill, rector of Steeple, s.p.; (2) 3 Aug. 1675, Mary, da. of Lewis Williams of Bere Regis, Dorset, wid. of Thomas Browne of Frampton, Dorset, 2s.1

Offices Held

Recorder, Weymouth 1683–d., Poole 1699–d.2

Serjeant-at-law 1689–d.; King’s serjeant 1693–1702.

Biography

A Whig lawyer, Bond had failed to get a seat in the Convention and did not stand in 1690; but he was returned in 1695 for Dorchester, where he had property and family connexions. An interest in matters of trade and finance is indicated by his committee nominations. He was forecast as likely to support the Court in the divisions of 31 Jan. 1696 on the proposed council of trade and signed the Association promptly. Granted three weeks’ leave of absence on 14 Feb., he returned to Westminster in March and voted for fixing the price of guineas at 22s. In October he assisted in the management of the bill for further remedying the ill state of the coinage. On 25 Nov. he was one of the Whigs who voted against the attainder of Sir John Fenwick†, possibly out of professional scruple. The remainder of Bond’s parliamentary career as recorded in the Journals comprised nothing more than an occasional appointment to committee and two leaves of absence (5 Feb. 1697 and 1 Feb. 1698). Listed as a placeman in July, he was also noted in September as a courtier who had been ‘left out’ of the 1698 Parliament. Indeed, Bond had made no attempt to retain his seat. Although never returning to Parliament, he continued to play some part in local politics, particularly at Poole where he had been chosen recorder in 1699. At Queen Anne’s accession he lost his place as King’s serjeant. Bond died on 31 Aug. 1707 and was buried at Steeple. His eldest son Denis later sat for several Dorset boroughs.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

• 1. Hutchins, Dorset, i. 602–3.
• 2. Ibid. i. 36; ii. 440; CSP Dom. 1699–1700, p.278.
• 3. Hutchins, i. 603.