HOWORTH, Sir Humphrey (c.1684-1755), of Maesllwch, Rad.

Howorth’s estate of Maesllwch gave him considerable electoral influence in Radnorshire, but this required constant vigilance and great expense. He was returned unopposed in 1754, but the expense of earlier contests (in 1722, 1734, and 1741) had made inroads into his capital; and the situation was not improved when he was ordered to pay into the Treasury £3,000 arrears from the Crown rents he had collected in Cheshire between 1714 and 1730.1Chase Price to Duke of Portland, 12 Sept. 1765, Portland mss. He was compelled to sell much of his estate to his tenants; and he left Maesllwch encumbered by a mortgage of £26,000, and by the claim from the Treasury which, with interest, must have amounted to over £5,000. He died 4 Feb. 1755.