Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hungerford, John
HUNGERFORD, JOHN (d. 1729), lawyer, whose connection with the family of Farleigh has not been ascertained, was in 1677 admitted a student at Lincoln's Inn, being then described as the son and heir-apparent of 'Richard Hungerford' of Wiltshire. He graduated M.A. at Cambridge 'per literas regias' in 1683. He entered parliament on 28 April 1692 as member for Scarborough, and soon after was appointed chairman of the committee of the house to whom the Orphans Bill was committed. On 23 March 1694 he received from the promoters of the bill a bribe of twenty guineas 'for his pains and services' in that capacity, and was consequently expelled the house on 26 March 1695. On a vacancy occurring in the representation of Scarborough in November 1707 he was again elected for that borough, and continued to represent it till his death. In December 1709 he introduced a bill to prevent excessive gaming (Luttrell, vi. 518). He was one of the commissioners of alienation; standing counsel to the East India Company; and cursitor of the counties of York and Westmoreland. He defended three persons, Francis Francia (22 Jan. 1717), John Matthews (1719), and Christopher Sayer (1722), charged with treasonable relations with the Pretender. Francia was acquitted, but Matthews and Sayer were convicted (cf. Cobbett, and Howell, State Trials, xv. 965 and 1359, xvi. 233). Hungerford died on 8 June 1729. By his will, dated 24 May 1729, and proved by his widow Mary 13 June following, he left bequests to King's College, Cambridge, and to many relatives.
[Manuscripts of the Hon. Soc. of Lincoln's Inn; Return of Members of Parliament; Historical Register, 1729, p. 41; Luttrell's Brief Relation; abstract of will in writer's possession.]