biography text
William Hillersden, whose father had represented Bedford in three Parliaments under William III, was descended from Sir Thomas Hillersden, who bought the site of Elstow abbey in 1616.1Beds. Hist. Rec. Soc. Publ. v. 75-93. Returned for the county in 1715, he voted with the Administration in all recorded divisions, receiving the whip through his father-in-law, the chairman of ways and means. Defeated by a Tory in 1722, he died 6 Apr. 1725.