TUDWAY, Charles (1713-70), of Wells, Som.

Tudway’s grandfather, described1Oliver, Antigua, iii. 147. as ‘Captain Charles Tudway, gentleman’, married into a Wells family, and leaving a son to be brought up by his mother’s family, went to Antigua to manage the estates of his brother, a rich London merchant. His son who is described as a ‘yeoman’2Jewers, Wells Cathedral, 255. does not appear to have had any appreciable influence in the borough, but in 1748 his grandson, having inherited the property of his cousin Clement Tudway, at once began to establish a parliamentary interest at Wells. By 1754 he had obtained control over one seat in the borough, and was returned second on the poll with a large majority over his opponent. In Newcastle’s list of 1754 he was classed as a Government supporter, among the followers of Henry Fox. In 1761 he retired in favour of his son.

He died 4 Sept. 1770.