James Hargraves

[6] In 1711 one of the family, Thomas Pelham, inherited the title and vast estate of John Holles, the Duke of Newcastle who had been his mother's brother.

[7] The new Duke of Newcastle, Thomas Pelham-Holles was a very wealthy man with major landholdings throughout England and the power to influence the selection of at least a dozen members of parliament.

[7] The 19th-century historian Mark Anthony Lower said that his great wealth and influence secured him the utmost deference amongst his Sussex neighbours.

[3] Hargraves first met Thomas Pelham-Holles at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was the future duke's tutor.

[3] Several Sussex clergymen were to receive preferment due to Newcastle's contacts and influence through the Pelham family.

He became dean of Chichester after Hayley's death in 1739[3] Hargraves continued to tutor various Pelhams down the years as well as spending much of his time and effort campaigning for Whig candidates in parliamentary elections.