NORRIS, John (c.1685-1752), of Nonsuch House, Bromham, Wilts.; Batheaston, Som. and The Ivy House, Chippenham

Norris’ grandfather claimed descent from the Norrises of Speke, Lancashire, but the connexion has not been traced. In 1710 his father purchased the manor of Chippenham, Sheldon and Lowdon, which included property within the boundary of the parliamentary borough, and in the 1713 election Norris topped the poll. He is not known to have made a speech in Parliament. The Worsley list classed him as a Tory. Defeated in 1715, when he put up on the Tory interest, he did not stand again himself, but was involved much later in the Chippenham election of 1741, when he canvassed for the opposition candidates.3 Goldney, 241; J. J. Daniell, Hist. Chippenham, 72–73.

Little has been ascertained of Norris’ later life. He was living in Batheaston, Somerset, from at least 1721 and had moved to Chippenham by 1730, when he inherited unspecified land from his father. His mother, the daughter of a prominent local Quaker, continued to live at Nonsuch House, the principal residence. Norris died in 1752, and although no will has been found a valuation of his estate shows that he owned 978 acres in Sheldon alone, which was left to his eldest son, William.4 Wilts. RO, A1/110, E1671, f. 158; E1680, f. 80; 740/2/2; PCC 158 Isham; Wilts. Arch. Mag. xi. 95, 99; Wilts. N. and Q. 196–7.