Jonathan Rashleigh (1642β1702) of
Menabilly, near
Fowey, Cornwall was
Sheriff of Cornwall in 1686/87,[2] and twice MP for
Fowey 1675–1681 and 1689–1695. His portrait exists at
Antony House, Torpoint, Cornwall, formerly the home of his second wife Sarah Carew.
Origins
He was the eldest son of John Rashleigh (1621β1651; son and heir apparent of
Jonathan Rashleigh (1591β1675) of Menabilly, whom he predeceased), MP for Fowey in 1661. Jonathan's mother was Joan Pollexfen (born 1620), a daughter of John Pollexfen of Kitley,
Yealmpton, Devon , y his wife Cicilia Harris, daughter of John Harris of Radford,
Plymstock, Devon.[3]
Career
He served as MP for the family's
pocket borough of
Fowey from 24 May 1675 to March 1681 and again from 1689 to 1695. He increased the burgess votes he controlled in Fowey by purchasing further lands within the borough from his senior but less prominent cousins, the Rashleigh family of Coombe, Fowey.[4]
Marriages and children
Rashleigh married twice.[5] His first marriage was in 1673 to Anne Courtenay (died 1677), daughter of Sir Peter Courtenay (c. 1616 β 1670) of
Trethurffe in Cornwall. He remarried in 1681 to Jane Carew (died 1700), a daughter of
Sir John Carew, 3rd Baronet (1635β1692) of
Antony, Cornwall, by whom he had four sons and four daughters including:
Philip Rashleigh (1689β1736), eldest son and heir, MP for
Liskeard 1710β1722. He rebuilt and enlarged the mansion house at Menabilly between about 1710β15,[6] but died without children.[7]
Jonathan Rashleigh (1690β1764), fourth son, of Menabilly, MP for Fowey. He was a co-heir (with his great-nephew
Reginald Pole Carew (1753β1835)) of his half first-cousin
Sir Coventry Carew, 6th Baronet (died 1748) of Antony, from whom he inherited several manors in Cornwall.
Sarah Rashleigh, who married Rev. Carolus Pole (1686β1731), Rector of
St Breock in Cornwall, third son of
Sir John Pole, 3rd Baronet (1649β1708) of
Shute, Devon. His portrait survives at Antony.[8] Her grandson was
Reginald Pole Carew (1753β1835).
Death and burial
He died and was later buried on 11 September 1702. He bequeathed funds for the upkeep of eight poor widows in the almshouses built by his grandfather.[9]
References
^Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain, vol.1
^Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 15th Edition, ed. Pirie-Gordon, H., London, 1937, p.1891, Rashleigh of Menabilly
^Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p. 600, pedigree of Pollexfen of Kitley