Thomas Fell
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Thomas Fell (1598 – 8 October 1658), was a lawyer, member of parliament and vice-chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster.
Early life and education
Fell was born at Hawkshead, near Ulverston. He was the son of George Fell, a gentleman of ancient Lancashire family. He was admitted to Gray's Inn in 1623, called to the bar in 1631, and practised successfully for several years.
In 1632, he married
Career
In 1645, he was elected to parliament for the
Fell was considered a leading
In 1652, he worked the northern circuit with President John Bradshaw. In 1653, along with other justices, he directed to prevent royalists landing or gathering in Cumberland or Lancashire, and at the end of that year he was, with Bradshaw, appointed a commissioner for reviving the duchy jurisdiction at Westminster. In 1654, he was appointed one of the commissioners for keeping the seal of the county of Lancaster.
From a letter written to him by Thomas Aldam in 1654, it appears that his favouritism toward Quakers made him unpopular. In 1655, however, he was directed to proceed to London to determine cases in the duchy court at Westminster. For several years before his death, Fell withdrew from parliamentary life, disapproving of the Protector's assumption of authority in civil and religious matters. Although Cromwell is believed to have made several overtures to him, he still declined to take any active part in the government.
Personal
He died on 8 October 1658 in Swarthmoor, and was buried in Ulverston Church by torchlight. The record of his burial states that he was chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster.
He was survived by one son and seven daughters, one of whom, Sarah Fell, a Quaker minister, was noted not only for her beauty, but also for her eloquence and knowledge of Hebrew. She married one Mead. By his will, Fell founded the Town Bank Grammar School at Ulverston,[1] and left other legacies to the poor. Margaret, his widow, married George Fox in 1669.[2]
References
- ^ "Ulverston". Cumbria County History Trust. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9260. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
Sources
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Fell, Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.