Family and Education

bap. 4 Sept. 1697, 1st s. of George Kaye of Denby Grange, Kirkheaton, Yorks. by Dorothy, da. and h. of Robert Savile of Bryan Royd, nr. Elland, Yorks. educ. Ch. Ch. Oxf. 1715. m. (1) Ellen (d. 29 Jan. 1729), da. of John Wilkinson of Greenhead, nr. Huddersfield, 1s.; (2) 29 July 1730, Dorothy, da. of Richard Richardson, M.D., of North Bierley, Yorks., 4s. suc. uncle Sir Arthur Kaye, 3rd Bt., 10 July 1726; to estates of his uncle Thomas Lister (formerly Kaye) of Thornton-in-Craven, Yorks., 1745, taking add. name of Lister before Kaye.

Offices Held

Alderman, York 1735, ld. mayor 1737.

Biography

In 1727 Kaye stood unsuccessfully for Yorkshire as a Tory at a by-election caused by the death of his uncle, whose title and estates he had inherited. Invited by the local Tories to stand for York city in 1734, he replied

that if they would choose him, he would do the city all the service he could; but at the same time he gave them to understand that he would spend no money, which did not at all please, for the great love they have for Sir John was for the money they were in hopes he would spend amongst them.1

However, he was returned without a contest, voting against the Government. Defeated in 1741, he was invited to stand again at a by-election in 1742, but declined on grounds of ill-health, recommending George Fox, who was duly elected.2 His name appears in a list of leading Jacobite sympathizers prepared for the French foreign office in 1743.3 He died 5 Apr. 1752.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

• 1. Sir W. Wentworth to Ld. Malton, 22 Dec. 1733, Rockingham mss.
• 2. W. W. Bean, Parl. Rep. of Six Northern Counties, 1113.
• 3. Stuart mss 248/151.