RISHTON, Geoffrey (c.1617-67), of Preston, Lancs.

Rishton belonged to a junior branch of a family that can be traced back to 1242 on the property in Blackburn from which they took their name. His father was an active member of the Lancashire classis after the Civil War, and he may therefore have been a Presbyterian himself. He practised as a physician in Preston, where his brother Thomas, an apothecary, was an active member of the corporation.3VCH Lancs. vi. 345; Mins. Manchester Classis (Chetham Soc. n.s. xx), 8; Preston Court Leet Recs. ed. Hewitson, 112; H. Fishwick, Preston, 79; H. W. Clemesha, Preston in Amounderness, 169.

At the general election of 1661 Rishton probably stood on the Earl of Derby’s interest and was involved in a double return with a rival practitioner, who enjoyed the support of the majority of the corporation. He was seated on the merits of the return, and his election was confirmed on 18 Dec. An inactive Member of the Cavalier Parliament he was named to 15 committees of little political significance; but he was probably a court supporter. On 17 Jan. 1665 he was among those appointed to consider a bill to enable Richard Kirkby to recover a debt, and he was added to the committee of elections and privileges in the following month. This, however, seems to have been his last session; he defaulted on a call of the House on 18 Dec. 1666, and drew up his will a fortnight later. By 11 Jan. 1667 the electorate of Preston had chosen John Otway as his successor. He was the only member of his family to sit in Parliament.4CJ, viii. 263, 336; Lancs. RO, will; CSP Dom. 1666-7, p. 446.