INCE, William (d.1679), of Chester.

The Ince family had a long association with Chester, having enjoyed the freedom of the city since the beginning of the 16th century. Ince, a clothier, and his father, who had been mayor in 1626-7, were royalist sympathizers; both lent the King money in 1642. As mayor, Ince protected the parliamentary leader, Sir William Brereton, from the royalist mob, and hence survived the purge of the corporation at the end of the Civil War. His moderation made him an acceptable choice at the general election of 1660, but he left no trace on the records of the Convention. He died on 27 Jan. 1679 and was buried at Holy Trinity, Chester, the only member of his family to sit in Parliament.Cal. Chester Council Mins. (Lancs. and Cheshire Rec. Soc. cvi), 120, 124; Lysons, Cheshire, 564.