DANIELL, Peter (1584-1652), of Over Tabley, Cheshire

The Daniells had been established at Over Tabley since the end of the thirteenth century and had long been active in county affairs. Ormerod, i. 472. Daniell’s father died in 1590 and his wardship was purchased by his mother, who ensured that he received a traditional gentleman’s education at Oxford and Gray’s Inn. On marrying the daughter of Sir Richard Grosvenor in 1620, Daniell became a close friend of his father-in-law and his most trusted adviser. Daniell stood alongside Grosvenor in the county election of 1626, but whereas Grosvenor was unanimously supported for the first place, Daniell was opposed by (Sir) William Brereton (1st bt.)* and Peter Minshull. Grosvenor persuaded Brereton and Daniell to draw lots beforehand to see who would go forward to face Minshull. Brereton was thereby eliminated, but at the election, held in the shire hall, the sheriff was unable to determine which man had the greater number of voices and so ordered a poll to be taken outside on Flookersbrook Heath. This also proved indecisive, and only after two days of wrangling did Minshull yield. Cheshire Archives, CR63/2/18, unfol. Daniell is not known to have spoken in the Commons, and was named to only one bill committee, concerning citations in ecclesiastical courts (9 March). Procs. 1626, ii. 238. Following the dissolution, Daniell was removed from the Bench and deprived of his office as feodary, probably because of Grosvenor’s role in the attempted impeachment of Buckingham. Cust, ‘Forced Loan’, 420-1; WARD 9/275, unfol.

By the late 1620s Daniell was heavily indebted and unable to pay his creditors, having tied up his lands in various trusts. Grosvenor, being his suretor, was consequently confined to the Fleet, where he remained until December 1638, when Daniell agreed to pay his debts from his son’s marriage settlement. Pprs. of Sir Richard Grosvenor ed. R. Cust (Lancs. and Cheshire Rec. Soc. cxxiv), p. xi; E401/2459; APC, 1628-9, p. 398; 1629-30, pp. 154-5; Harl. 2095, ff. 57-68. Daniell played no recorded role during the Civil War but was named as a delinquent in 1648, possibly because three of his sons had served as royalist officers. CCC, 107; Cheshire Archives, D/4664/1. The eldest, Peter, was killed during the siege of Gloucester in 1643, while Thomas was slain at Brentford the year before.Ormerod, i. 475-6. Daniell himself died at Great Budworth, in Cheshire, on 18 Apr. 1652. No will or administration has been found and no further member of his immediate family sat in Parliament.