Constituency Dates
Flintshire [1689], [1690]
Flint Boroughs 1695 – 28 Feb. 1697
Family and Education
b. c. 1663, 1st s. of Roger Poleston of Emral by Jane, da. of Sir Roger Mostyn, 1st Bt., of Mostyn. educ. Eton 1678. m. (1) 16 Sept. 1684, Catherine (d. 24 June 1685), da. and h. of William Edwards of Chirk Hall, Denb., 1s. d.v.p.; (2) Martha, da. of Sir William Rider, merchant, of Bethnal Green, Mdx., 1s. 2da. suc. fa. 1667; Kntd. 28 Oct. 1680.1Arch. Camb. (ser. 6), iv. 168.
Offices Held

J.p. Denb. and Flints. 1684 – Apr. 1688, Oct. 1688 – d.; commr. for assessment, Cheshire, Denb. and Flints. 1689 – 90; col. of militia ft. Flints. by 1697–d.2Eg. 1626, f. 58.

Address
Main residence: Emral, Worthenbury, Flints.
biography text

Puleston’s ancestors settled at Emral towards the end of the 13th century. Since Tudor times they had been closely connected with the legal profession, first entering Parliament in 1572 and representing the county in 1589 and 1604. Puleston’s grandfather, who died in 1659, was a Cromwellian judge; but his father was suspected of complicity in Booth’s rising, and, despite a Presbyterian education, married into a royalist family and never went to bed sober after the Restoration. His mother took as her second husband Sir John Trevor.3Add. 46399B, ff. 25-26; Cal. Wynn Pprs. 368.

Puleston opposed exclusion and was knighted under age, no doubt on his step-father’s recommendation. On the proposed repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws he followed the example of Sir Richard Myddelton, and was removed from local office. He was returned for the county in 1689, but was appointed only to a private bill committee. By now he was probably a Whig, but he was not listed as supporting the disabling clause in the bill to restore corporations. A court Whig under William III, he died of a fever in London on 28 Feb. 1697 and was buried at Gresford. His estate was valued at £3,000 p.a., but he left debts totally £15,000. No later member of the family sat in Parliament.4Luttrell, iv. 190; W. M. Myddelton, Chirk Castle Accounts 1667-1753, pp. 200-1.

Author
A.M.M.
Volume
Commons 1660-1690
Notes
  • 1. Arch. Camb. (ser. 6), iv. 168.
  • 2. Eg. 1626, f. 58.
  • 3. Add. 46399B, ff. 25-26; Cal. Wynn Pprs. 368.
  • 4. Luttrell, iv. 190; W. M. Myddelton, Chirk Castle Accounts 1667-1753, pp. 200-1.