• Born: Abt 1641, Bockmer, Buckinghamshire, England
• Died: 1 Feb 1688/9
• Buried: Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire, England

  Research Notes:

Borlase was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1658.

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Biography. ¹

Borlase succeeded his father as Member for Wycombe in 1673. Like his friend, John Lovelace, he abandoned the loyalist tradition of his family, and owed his success to the aid of the dissenting vote. An inactive Member of the Cavalier Parliament, he made no recorded speeches and was appointed to only seven committees, none of much political importance. In 1676 Sir Richard Wiseman wrote, 'I can say little of him at present, but I hope to be able shortly to give your lordship an account of him'. The account cannot have been satisfactory, for Shaftesbury marked him 'worthy' in 1677, and he appears on no further lists of the court party.

Again marked 'worthy' in 1679, Borlase was returned as a country Member to all the Exclusion Parliaments. Similarly inactive, his sole committee in the first Exclusion Parliament was to bring in a bill against cursing and swearing. He voted for exclusion. He was named to the committee of elections and privileges in the second Exclusion Parliament, but was totally inactive in the Oxford Parliament. Removed from the commission of the peace in 1681, he was arrested after the Rye House Plot, but discharged after a few days. Nevertheless, he apparently found it expedient to go to France for some time.

Borlase did not stand for Wycombe in 1685, where the corporation had been remodelled under a new charter, but the family interest at Marlow, three miles from his home, was impregnable, and he was one of the few Whigs returned to James II's Parliament. He served only on the committee to consider the bill for the relief of the Earl of Cleveland's creditors. He was noted among the opponents of James II as considerable for interest and estates. He was re-elected to the Convention, but died on 1 Feb. 1689, aged 48, without making any mark on its records, and was buried at Stratton Audley. His estate, diminished by legacies totalling some £20,000, passed eventually to his nephew Borlase Warren, who sat as a Tory for Nottingham in four Parliaments between 1713 and 1747.

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Abstract of the Will of Sir John Borlase of Bockmore in the Parish of Medmenham in the County of Bucks, Baronet, written 7 Jan 1683/4, proved 8 Nov 1689. ²

Wills that his body be buried in the Chancel of the parish church of Stratton Audley in co. Oxon, where his brother Baldwin was interred.

Gives £1,500 to Nicholas son of his brother-in-law S^r Humphry Miller of Oxenhoath in co. Kent, Baronet, to be paid to him when he turns twenty-one.

Gives £1,500 to Borlase, another son of S^r Humphry Miller, to be paid to him when he turns twenty-one.

Gives £1,500 to Elizabeth daughter of Sir Humphry Miller, to be paid to her when she turns eighteen.

Gives £1,500 to Mary, another daughter of Sir Humphry Miller, to be paid to her when she turns eighteen.

Gives £1,500 to Frances daughter of his brother-in-law Joseph Langton of Newton Parke in co. Somerset, Esq^r, to be paid to her when she turns eighteen.

Gives £1,500 to Dorothea, another daughter of Joseph Langton, to be paid to her when she turns eighteen.

Gives £1,500 to Henry son of the said Joseph Langton, to be paid to him when he turns twenty-one.

Gives £1,500 to Mary, another daughter of Joseph Langton, to be paid to her when she turns eighteen.

Gives £1,500 to Anne, another daughter of Joseph Langton, to be paid to her when she turns eighteen.

Gives £1,500 to John the son of his brother-in-law John Webb of Peterley in co. Bucks, Esq^r, to be paid to him when he turns twenty-one.

Gives £1,500 to Borlase son of his brother-in-law Arthur Warren of Stapleford Hall in co. Nottingham, Esq^r, to be paid to him when he turns twenty-one.

Gives £1,500 to Arthur, another son of Arthur Warren, to be paid to him when he turns twenty-one.

Names his sister Mary as the former wife of his brother-in-law S^r Humphry Miller.

Gives £100 to his sister Frances the wife of Joseph Langton, to buy herself a ring.

Gives £100 to his sister Anne the wife of Arthur Warren, to buy herself a ring.

Gives £200 each to his brothers-in-law S^r Humphrey Miller , Joseph Langton and John Webb, to buy themselves each a ring.

Gives £100 to his aunt Joane Borlase of Great Marlow in co. Bucks, widow, to buy herself a ring. He also gives £100 each to her daughters Mary Borlase, Anne the wife of Thomas Wingfield, Esqr, and Alicia the wife of Mr. Wallop.

Gives £100 each to his friends John, Lord Lovelace, Baron, and Richard Kent of Broadstreet, London, to buy themselves rings.

Gives £100 to his goddaughter Mary the daughter of John Green of Millend in the parish of Hambledon in co. Bucks, Esq^r, to be paid to her when she turns eighteen. He gives £5 each to John Green and his wife Mary Green to buy themselves rings.

Gives £20 each to the poor of the parishes of Medmenham, Ludgarshall als. Lurgarshall, and High Wycombe, all in co. Bucks.

Gives £20 to the poor of Stratton Audley in co. Oxon.

Gives £20 each to his servants.

Gives £20 to George Woodward of Stratton Audley to buy himself mourning.

Gives £5 to William Whitlock of Henley-upon-Thames in co. Oxon, Gent., to buy himself a ring.

Gives £5 to Peter Dickinson? of Medmenham, Gent. to buy him a ring.

Gives £5 to Sr Edward Norris of Weston on the Greene to buy himself a ring.

Gives £5 to Francis Drake of Stoke in co. Oxon, Esq^r to buy himself a ring.

Gives £5 to his servant Elizabeth the wife of Henry Cane of Hillingdon in co. Middlesex, Gent. to buy herself a ring. Also gives £5 to Henry's son, Henry Cane, to buy himself a ring.

Gives £20 to his cousin Thomas Wingfield to buy himself mourning.

Gives an annuity of £100 to George Borlase of the City of London, merchant.

Gives annuities of £40 each to Henry Cane Sen^r of Hillingdon, gent. and to Mathew Cane of the City of London, his son.

Gives an annuity of £30 to his servant William Barton and Joane his wife.

Gives annuities of £20 each to his servants John Corker of Little Marlow in co. Bucks, Gabriel Page Sen^r of Bockmer in co. Bucks, Clemence Herroe (Herrot?) of Stratton Audley, and George Barton.

Gives annuities of £10 each to his servants Mary May, widow, John Norcott, Thomas Moody and George Spigurnell.

All the rest of his goods &c. he gives to his brother-in-law Arthur Warren, appointing him sole executor of his last will and testament.

(Signed)

Witnesses: George Petty, John Coggs, Jo: Billinger, Tho: Hammond