Family and Education

b. c.1680, 1st s. of John Chetwynd of Ludlow, Salop and bro. of William Chetwynd of Beddington, Surr. m. Barbara, da. of John Goring of Kingston, Staffs. 2s. suc. gd.-fa. Charles Chetwynd of Grendon 1719.

Offices Held

Paymaster of pensions 1718-31; gov. Barbados 1731-2.

Biography

Walter Chetwynd, distantly connected with his namesake, the 1st Viscount Chetwynd, was returned as a Whig in 1715, speaking and voting against the septennial bill.1 Appointed paymaster of the pensions in 1718, he thereafter consistently supported the Administration, seconding the Address on 21 Jan. 1729.2

In 1731, being in reduced circumstances, Chetwynd resigned his seat to accept the governorship of Barbados (£2,000 p.a.),3 but died 5 Feb. 1732 as he was preparing to set out.4 According to Lady Huntingdon

poor Mr. Chetwynd’s corpse ... had been so barbarously treated, for since his death, which is now three weeks, there have been bailiffs by it night and day, and will not let it be buried. I think it should almost distract his wife, and more so when she reflects it is chiefly by her means the poor remains of him are used in so shocking a manner, for I believe it will be hardly in her power to do justice to many of his creditors.5

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. Anthony Corbière to Horace Walpole, ?27 April 1716, Cholmondeley (Houghton) mss.
• 2. HMC Egmont Diary, iii. 330.
• 3. Cal. Treas. Bks. and Pprs. 1731-4, p. 203.
• 4. H. E. Chetwynd-Stapylton, Chetwynds of Ingestre, 171.
• 5. HMC Hastings, iii. 10-11.