Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pelham, Thomas (1650?-1712)
PELHAM, THOMAS, fourth Baronet and first Baron Pelham (1650?–1712), eldest son of Sir John Pelham, third baronet, by Lady Lucy, second daughter of Robert Sidney, second earl of Leicester of that name, was born about 1650. He was returned to parliament for East Grinstead, Sussex, on 25 Oct. 1678, and retained the seat until 13 Aug. 1679, when he was returned for Lewes. He continued to represent Lewes until July 1702, when, being doubly returned, he elected to sit for the county of Sussex. Pelham belonged to the whig party, and held office as commissioner of customs from 20 April 1689 to 24 March 1691, and as lord commissioner of the treasury from 18 March 1689–90 to 21 March 1690–1, again from 1 May 1698 to 1 June 1699, and from 29 March 1701 to 8 May 1702. He succeeded his father as fourth baronet in January 1702–3, was sworn in as vice-admiral of the coast of Sussex on 21 May 1705, and by letters patent, dated 16 Dec. 1706, was created Baron Pelham of Laughton, and took his seat in the House of Lords accordingly (30 Dec). He died at his seat, Halland Place, Sussex, on 23 Feb. 1711–12. His remains were interred (8 March) in the chancel of Laughton parish church.
Pelham married twice, viz.: (1) Elizabeth (d. 1681), daughter of Sir William Jones, attorney-general to Charles II; (2) Lady Grace (d. 1700), youngest daughter of Gilbert Holles, third earl of Clare. By his first wife he had issue, two daughters only, viz.: Lucy (d. 1689), and Elizabeth (married in July 1698 to Charles, second Viscount Townshend [q. v.], died 11 May 1711). By his second wife he had issue two sons, viz.: Thomas, who succeeded him [see Pelham-Holles, Thomas, Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Newcastle-under-Lyme], and Henry [see Pelham, Henry, 1695?–1754], and five daughters: (1) Grace (d. 1710), wife of George Naylor of Hurstmonceaux, York herald; (2) Frances (d. 1756), to Christopher Wandesford, viscount Castlecomer; (3) Gertrude, to David Polhill of Otford, Kent; (4) Lucy, to Henry Clinton, earl of Lincoln (afterwards Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne) [q. v.]; and (5) Margaret, to Sir John Shelley of Mitchelgrove, Sussex.
[Lower's Pelham Family; Berry's County Genealogies (Sussex); Misc. Geneal. et Herald. 2nd ser. i. 266, iv. 62; Boyer's Annals of Queen Anne, 1711–12; Collins's Peerage (Brydges), v. 517; Luttrell's Brief Relation of State Affairs; Horsfield's Lewes, i. 340, and Sussex, i. 184; Members of Parliament (official list); Lords' Journals, xviii. 191, xx. 4; Cobbett's Parl. Hist. vol. v.; Haydn's Book of Dignities, ed. Ockerby; Diary of Henry Sidney, ed. Blencowe (1843).]