MARTIN, Leicester (c.1662-1732), of Christchurch, Ipswich, Suff.

Martin came into possession of the Christchurch estate through his wife. He was active in local politics, assisting the Tory faction headed by Sir Edward Turnor* at Orford, and serving as recorder of Ipswich during a brief spell of Tory ascendancy in the corporation. He was drafted by Suffolk Tories to replace Lord Dysart (Lionel Tollemache*) when Dysart was obliged to resign his seat in 1707. He made no mark in the House and was given a month’s leave of absence on 23 Feb. 1708, his wife being ill. He was classed as a Tory in two lists of 1708, but did not stand at the general election of that year, nor subsequently. In March 1709 he and Orlando Bridgeman II* were involved in a fracas at a meeting of recruiting commissioners at Ipswich, when they and three colleagues accused one of the other commissioners, Cooper Gravenor, bailiff of Ipswich, of having acted improperly, and took it upon themselves to discharge most of the recruits he had enlisted. In what they themselves seem to have considered a politically inspired move, and with the help of William Thompson, recorder of Ipswich and Member for Orford, Gravenor complained to the Privy Council that Martin and the others had obstructed the work of the commission ‘in a furious, huffing manner’ and had subjected him in public to abuse and threats. The five were immediately removed from the commission of the peace, and a prosecution was ordered, but eventually three were restored.3 Shillinglee mss Ac.454/1180–5, 1187, 1194, 981, 1059, Martin to Turnor, 15, 22 July, 15, 26, 28 Aug., 5 Sept. 1701, 20 Sept. 1702, [c.12 May] 1708, Nathaniel Gooding to Turnor, 30 Mar. 1702, John Hooke to Turnor, 8 Apr. 1708; Bodl. Rawl. B.428, passim; L. K. J. Glassey, Appt. JPs, 189.

Martin died on 11 Oct. 1732. His only daughter and heiress married the 10th Viscount Hereford (Price Devereux†) and so returned Christchurch to the Devereux family.