By the Rev. J. Ward. 



305 



A.D. 



George Byng, who made his election for Plymouth. 

 Petition: 2 Nov. 1705 of the Rt. Hon. Charles, Lord 

 Bruce and the Hon. James Bruce, complaining of an un- 

 due return of Sir George Byng and Mr. Pollexfen by 

 bribery and other corrupt practices. — Petition withdrawn. 



Sir George Byng, the distinguished Naval Officer, son of John 

 Byng, Esq., was born at Wrotham 27 Jan. 1663, knighted by 

 Queen Anne 22 Oct. 1704, created a Baronet in 1715 and a Peer 

 in 1721, as Baron Byng of Southill and Viscount Torrington. 

 He was also K.B. Rear Admiral of Great Britain, Treasurer of 

 the Navy, and in 1727 First Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty 

 in which office he died 17 Jan. 1732-3, and was buried at Sout- 

 hill, co. Bedford. 



Charles, Lord Bruce was the only surviving son of Thomas, 

 Earl of Ailesbury and Elgin, and was born 29 May 1682. He was 

 summoned to the House of Peers in his father's barony of 

 Whorlton in 1719, and succeeded to the Earldoms in 1741. On 

 the 17th of April 1746, having no male heir, the King created 

 him Baron Bruce of Tottenham, co. Wilts, with remainder to his 

 nephew Thomas Bruce Brudenell. He died 10 Feb. 1746-7. 



1707. 6 Ann^. May 1. Rt Hon. Charles, Lord Bruce. Nicho- 

 las Pollexfen, Esq. Mr. Pollexfen being disabled by 

 being made a Commissioner of Prizes, a new writ was 

 ordered 18 Nov. 1707. 



1707. Tracy Pauncefoot, Jun. (not duly elected). Nicholas 

 Pollexfen, Esq. 



Petition : 4 Dec. 1707, of Nicholas Pollexfen, Esq. 

 against Mr. Tracy Pauncefoot for bribery and undue 

 practices. 22 Dec. Mr. Compton reported that the right 

 of election was agreed to be in the freeholders and inhabi- 

 tants of ancient burgage messuages. The poll was, for 

 Mr. Tracy Pauncefoot, — 68 ; — for Mr. Edward Paunce- 

 foot, 29 ; — for the Petitioner, 22 : that eight voters of 

 Mr. Tracy Pauncefoot's, and one of Mr. Edward Paunce- 

 foot's, were admitted to be unqualified, living in houses 

 erected on new foundations. As to bribery, several wit- 

 nesses were called : — Richard Bartholomew said, he was 

 called out of his bed on Sunday night 23rd Nov. to go to 



