HILDESLEY, John (c.1598-1681), of Hinton Admiral, nr. Christchurch, Hants.

Hildesley, an attorney of unknown parentage, was three times elected mayor of Christchurch in the 1630s and eventually sworn in after the veto of Lord Arundell of Wardour had been overridden in King’s bench. A strong Parliamentarian in the Civil War, he acquired corporation interest in other Hampshire boroughs during the Interregnum, held local and central office, and sat in all the Protectorate Parliaments. He was returned for Christchurch, three miles from Hinton Admiral, at the general election of 1660 with his step-son Henry Tulse. Lord Wharton marked him as a friend, but his only committee in the Convention was for a private bill. Presumably in opposition to the restored monarchy, he was removed from the commission of the peace at the Restoration and never stood again. His house was licensed for Presbyterian worship in 1672. He died on 20 Jan. 1681, aged 83, and was buried in Christchurch Priory. He bequeathed the income from six messuages in Christchurch to be disposed of ‘amongst pious, godly and learned nonconformist ministers’. His goods and chattels were inventoried at about £250, but he also held a mortgage on the lands of Dame Alice Lisle for £1,030. He was the only member of the family to sit in Parliament.CSP Dom. 1636-7, pp. 560-1; 1637, p. 58; 1672, p. 299; PC Reg. i. 16-17; The Gen. n.s.x. 225; Hants RO, will proved 28 Feb. 1681.