24 Earls of Wiltshire. 



appointed at Exeter, in 1688, to manage the resources of the 

 Prince of Orange as Sovereign of England. He was con- 

 stituted one of the Lords Justices of Ireland in 1697. In 

 1706 he was placed on a commission for settling the terms 

 of the Union between Scotland and England. In 1714 he was 

 elected Knight of the Grarter, and three years later was 

 appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He died in 1722, 

 at the age of 62, and was succeeded by his son and heir, 



1722. Charles 3rd Duke, 8th Marquis and Earl. He like his 

 father served in several high ofl&ces of State ; but perhaps is 

 better known as the nobleman who first raised an actress from 

 the boards of the theatre to the high level of the Peerage, in 

 the person of the celebrated Lavinia Beswick, aKas Fenton, 

 who as the Polly Peacham of Gay's Beggars' Opera, was then 

 charming the world of fashion. She died Duchess of Bolton 

 in 1760. The Duke himself died in 1754, without issue, when 

 the estates and honours passed to his brother and heir, 



1754. Harry Pawlet, 4th Duke, 9th Marquis and Earl, who had 

 before his brother's death represented Southampton in five 

 successive Parliaments. Dying in 1759, he was succeeded by 

 his son and heir, 



1759. Charles Paulet, 5th Duke, 10th Marquis and Earl, K.B., 

 who died in 1765, without lawful issue. The honours and 

 estates then devolved upon his brother and heir, 



1765. Harry Paulet, 6th and last Duke of Bolton, eleventh Marquis 

 and Earl, &c., an Admiral of the white. This nobleman died 

 in 1794, leaving no male issue, and the Dukedom consequently 

 became extinct.^ But the Marquisate and Earldom reverted 



1 Bolton Castle, with a great part of the Diike's other estates, thereupon 

 devolved, by virtue of an entail created by the preceding Duke, on Jane Mary 

 his natm'al daughter, wife of Thomas Orde ; who by Eoyal license assumed the 

 name of Powlett, and, in October 1 797, was created Baron Bolton, of Bolton 

 Castle in the county of York. His Lordship died in 1807, and was succeeded 

 by his son William Orde Powlett, 2nd Baron Bolton, and the present possessor 

 of Bolton Castle and Bolton Hall. Thus, it is remarkable, that these large estates 

 so long the property of the Scropes of Bolton, have not been alienated by grant 

 or sale since the time of Edward III., but are stiU owned by the blood of the 



