TATE, Bartholomew (1666-1704), of Delapré Abbey, Hardingstone, Northants.

Almost nothing can be ascertained of Tate’s career. His ancestral connexions with Northamptonshire dated from the reign of Elizabeth I who had granted the family the site of Delapré Abbey and its demesne lands. A direct forebear, Sir John Tate, had held the London mayoralty in 1496. Tate’s grandfather was the renowned Parliamentarian Zouche Tate†. His father was excused the shrievalty in 1690, following a plea to Viscount Hatton (Christopher†) that his estates were heavily encumbered. He was returned for Northampton in 1702, and noted by Lord Spencer (Charles*) as a ‘loss’ to the Whigs. He missed the division on the Lords’ amendments to the abjuration bill on 13 Feb. 1703, although his appointment to a minor committee on 7 Jan. suggests that he was attending the session. An inactive MP, he died on 6 July 1704, and was buried at Hardingstone church. Vis. Northants. ed. Metcalfe, 198–9; VCH Northants. iv. 255; Add. 29564, f. 499; 29568, f. 114; Le Neve, Mon. Angl. 1700–15, p. 83.