Family and Education

b. ?1693, 2nd s. of William Gifford of Beaminster, Dorset, and Horsington, Som. by Mary, da. and h. of John Hoskins of Beaminster.1 educ. Wadham, Oxf. 7 Dec. 1710, aged 17; M. Temple 1710. m. Dec. 1731, Elizabeth, da. and h. of Nicholas Watts of Cucklington, Som., s.p. suc. to Wilts. and Som. estates of bro. Benjamin Gifford, M.P., 1713.

Offices Held

Biography

Gifford, a Tory, whose family for some 200 years had held lands at Boreham, a few miles from Westbury, was brought in there on Lord Abingdon’s interest in 1727, a petition against the return being unsuccessful. In Parliament he voted against the army estimates in 1732 and the excise bill in 1733. He died in August 1744.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: R. S. Lea

Notes

• 1. Hoare, Wilts. Warminster, 75-76; Hutchins, Dorset, ii. 123-24; Collinson, Som. ii. 373.