Thomas Watts (1689–1742) Explained

Thomas Watts (baptised 23 May 1689 – 18 January 1742) was a Member of Parliament for Mitchell and Tregony.

He was a son of Thomas Watts (1664-1739), vicar of Orpington, and his wife Audria Oliver (1668-1717). He married first, in 1716, Hannah Seede, widow of James Allen, and second, in 1729, Susannah Gascoyne.^[1]

Watts was prominent as an academy master in London; as a leading figure in the insurance business at the Sun Fire Office; and as a freemason.^[2]

Watts represented Mitchell in parliament from 1734 to 1741 and Tregony from 1741 until his death the next year.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Edward J. Davies, "Thomas Watts, M.P., and William Watts, Governor of Fort William and Grandfather of Lord Liverpool", Genealogists' Magazine, 32(2016-18):185-90.
2. http://oxforddnb.com/view/article/47146 Ruth Wallis, "Watts, Thomas (d. 1742)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online ed., May 2009
3. http://historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1715-1754/member/watts-thomas-1742 Eveline Cruickshanks, "WATTS, Thomas (d.1742), of Enfield Chase, Mdx.", The History of Parliament: The House of Commons, 1715-1754.