HAY, William (1594-1664), of Little Horsted, Suss.

Hay’s grandfather was the first mayor of Hastings, but the family became of political importance only through their connexion with the Morley family, in which Hay and his brother, who sat for Arundel as a recruiter, were brought up. Hay bought the manor of Little Horsted in 1627, took the parliamentary side in the Civil War, and conformed after Pride’s Purge. He was re-elected in 1660 at Rye, no doubt on the combined interests of his cousin Herbert Morley and his nephew John Fagg I, with whom he sued for pardon shortly afterwards. He was an inactive Member of the Convention, except that as ‘Mr Hayes’ he may have been among those appointed on 4 July to prepare for a conference about three orders of the House of Lords. With the eclipse of the Morley interest at the Restoration, he is unlikely to have stood in 1661. Although presumably an Independent in religion he was not removed from the commission of the peace, though whether this was due to his conformity or his insignificance cannot be determined. He was buried at Little Horsted on 26 Dec. 1664. His will, bequeathing £1,250 to his younger children, indicates only moderate wealth, and none of his descendants entered Parliament.Keeler, Long Parl. 209; Fines of Manors (Suss. Rec. Soc. xix), 227; D. Underdown, Pride’s Purge, 218; Cal. Cl. SP, v. 7; Add. 5697, f. 252.