HAY, James (c. 1612-60)

HAY, James (c. 1612–60)

styled 1622-36 Visct. Doncaster; suc. fa. 25 Mar. 1636 as 2nd earl of CARLISLE

First sat 28 May 1640; first sat after 1660, 25 Aug. 1660; last sat 25 Aug. 1660

b. about 1612, o. surv. s. of James Hay, earl of Carlisle and Honora, da. of Edward Denny, earl of Norwich. m. 21 Mar 1632, Margaret (d.1676), 3rd da. of Francis Russell, 4th earl of Bedford, s.p. Kntd. 17 May 1623; KB 2 Feb 1626. d. 30 Oct. 1660; will 28 Mar. 1660, pr. 28 Nov. 1661.1

Kpr. of Epping Walk, 1637.

Col. regt. ft., Germany 1624; regt. horse (roy.) 1642-6.

Associated with: Waltham Holy Cross, Essex; Barbados.

A committed royalist, Carlisle fought for his king during the Civil War and then escaped to live on his West Indian properties in Barbados, returning to England in 1652. He was said to be sick at a call of the House on 31 July 1660. Four months earlier he had composed his will, a long and complicated document that recites various family settlements. The will reveals ownership of lands in Essex, centred on Waltham Abbey, and in Whalley (then in Yorkshire). Substantial legacies went to his godson, Edward Russell, later earl of Orford, to the sons of his cousin, James Fleetwood, later bishop of Worcester, and to his kinsman, William Hay, 4th earl of Kinnoull [S]. Carlisle then sat in the House for just one day, 25 Aug., and died two months later. In 1667 his widow married Edward Montagu, 2nd earl of Manchester.

R.P.

  • 1 TNA, PROB 11/306.