Thomas Birch, rector of Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire and his wife Mary.
She died in 1702, leaving Birch in possession of the estate of Garnstone, which was a mile from Weobley.
[1] Birch first stood for Parliament at Weobley at the by-election in 1691 on the death of his uncle who was former MP, but lost out in a double return.
In January 1716 he was named as added to a secret committee appointed to prepare the impeachment of Jacobite rebel lords.
They also acquired an annuity for the life of the real heir of the estate who was under age and expected to survive a full lifetime.
A parliamentary inquiry was instituted by Lord Gage and as a result the sales were annulled.