Robert Jocelyn, 1st Viscount Jocelyn

[1] The Jocelyn are recorded as living in Sawbridgeworth since at least the fifteenth century: notable members of the family included Ralph Josselyn of Hyde Hall (died 1478), who was twice Lord Mayor of London.

On the accession of George II Jocelyn was confirmed in his office, and on 22 October 1730 was promoted to the post of Attorney-General, in the place of Thomas Marlay, lately appointed Lord Chief Baron.

[2] In 1739 as Attorney-General he prosecuted Lord Santry for the unprovoked murder of Laughlin Murphy, a tavern porter.

[5] As Lord Chancellor, he was one of those charged with designing measures to alleviate the Famine of 1740–1, which was so severe that it became known as "the year of slaughter".

[6] On 3 February 1744 he presided as Lord High Steward at the trial of Nicholas Netterville, 5th Viscount Netterville, who was indicted for the murder of his manservant Michael Walsh, but was "honourably acquitted", on the grounds that the two main witnesses against him had died before the trial, and their depositions could not be relied on as evidence.

[13] Elrington Ball states that though in politics he remained an Englishman, his love for his adopted country, which he scarcely left in the last twenty years of his life, entitles him to be called an honorary Irishman.

[16] On 15 November 1754 Jocelyn married, secondly, Frances, daughter of Thomas Claxton of Dublin, and widow of Richard Parsons, 1st Earl of Rosse.