Family and Education

b. 5 Sept. 1675, 1st s. of William Duncombe*.  m. Susanna, s.p.  suc. fa. 13 Apr. 1704.1

Offices Held

Biography

Duncombe was successful for Appleby on the interest of the Earl of Thanet (Thomas Tufton†) in both 1708 and 1710, but his parliamentary activity is difficult to distinguish from that of Francis Duncombe*, who also sat in the 1708 and 1710 Parliaments. In 1710 Duncombe voted against the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell, and in June the same year presented an address from Appleby which deplored the ‘lately revived’ doctrine of resistance and promised to return Members at the next election who would support the Queen’s hereditary right to the throne. The ‘Hanover list’ classed Duncombe as a Tory, and he was listed in 1711 as both a ‘Tory patriot’ who had opposed the continuation of the war and a ‘worthy patriot’ who had helped detect the mismanagements of the previous administration. Duncombe’s friendship with (Sir) Thomas Hanmer II* (2nd Bt.) was evident in January 1712 when the Earl of Oxford (Robert Harley*) listed Hanmer to lobby Duncombe for the Commons’ attack upon the Duke of Marlborough (John Churchill†), and on 18 June 1713 Duncombe followed Hanmer’s lead by voting against the French commerce bill. He thereby forfeited Lord Thanet’s favour and was not recommended for Appleby at the next election. Duncombe’s subsequent life is obscure and the date of his death has not been ascertained, though his will, written in 1740, was proved on 12 Jan. 1744. Duncombe, described as being of Southampton, left his house in Southampton and lands in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire to his wife for life, and thereafter to Henry Scott, 3rd Earl of Deloraine [S], grandson of Duncombe’s deceased sister.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Paula Watson

Notes

• 1. Beds. N. and Q. ii. 45–47; IGI, London; PCC 100 Anstis.
• 2. HMC Portland, iv. 578; R. Hopkinson, ‘Elections at Appleby 1701–15’ (Newcastle-upon-Tyne Univ. B.A. thesis, 1968), 63, 67, 73, 88; Add. 70331, canvassing list, c.Jan. 1712; PCC 100 Anstis.