Go To Section
LONG, Walter (c.1648-1731), of Bristol, Glos. and South Wraxhall, Wilts.
Available from Boydell and Brewer
Biography Detail
Related Resources
Constituency
Dates
Family and Education
b. c.1648, o. s. of Walter Long of Bristol and South Wraxhall by his w. Barbara. educ. Trinity, Oxf. matric. 1 Apr. 1664, aged 15. unm. suc. fa. 1669, cos. Hope Long 1715.1
Offices Held
Sheriff, Wilts. 1703–4.
Biography
The Longs of South Wraxhall were the elder branch of the extensive Wiltshire family. In 1610 Long’s ancestor, Sir Walter Long†, divided his estates into the Draycot Cerne and Wraxhall properties in order to accommodate his children from two marriages. In 1593 he had arranged for the Wraxhall property to go to those from his second marriage, although in his will they were settled with the Draycot estate. Long eventually inherited the Wraxhall estate from his father even though the latter, a cousin of Sir James Long, 2nd Bt.*, was himself only a third son.2
Although Long was based in Bristol, he could put himself forward as a candidate at Calne on the strength of these local properties. Nevertheless, he was returned in January 1701 only after a contest in which he may have been assisted by Henry Blaake, one of the outgoing Members who also had close connexions with Bristol. Long signed the Association, but was otherwise inactive in the House. On 10 May he was granted leave of absence for an unspecified period. He withdrew at the general election in November, when Blaake reappeared as a candidate, and did not stand again.3
Long died on 16 July 1731, having bequeathed all his property in Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire to his kinsman John Long, a nephew of his cousin Hope Long whose estates he had earlier inherited. He was buried in the family vault in Wraxhall church where a memorial to him was set up.4
