Tempest family

The Tempest family was an English landed and mercantile family whose documented origins lay in western Yorkshire, an area partly incorporated into modern eastern Lancashire, from the twelfth century. The family subsequently developed important branches in County Durham and Yorkshire. Its history is particularly associated with recusancy: several members retained adherence to Roman Catholicism after the English Reformation, despite the legal, political, and financial pressures placed on Catholics in early modern England. Other family members publicly conformed, held public office, or participated in national and local politics, making the family’s religious identity varied across generations rather than uniform. One major branch was established at Stella Hall near Blaydon in County Durham. It descended from Nicolas Tempest of Holmside, whose son Thomas became the father of Sir Nicolas Tempest, created the first baronet of Stella in 1622 by James I. Stella had previously been monastic property and was granted to the family during the reign of Elizabeth I. The estate became a centre of Catholic household life during the seventeenth century. Sir Nicolas was described by the Bishop of Durham as a prominent church papist and was imprisoned as a recusant in 1599, although influential connections helped prevent a successful prosecution. His descendants included Royalists, lawyers, and openly Catholic householders. Sir Richard Tempest, the third baronet, fought for the Royalist cause during the Civil Wars, was captured in Northumberland, escaped, and spent a period in exile in France. The Stella estate was sequestrated before being recovered. Sir Thomas Tempest, the fourth baronet, was educated at Douai, later openly practised Catholicism, and maintained a Catholic priest at Stella from 1688. He also assembled a religious library, parts of which were later preserved in major institutional collections. The Stella baronetcy ended in the eighteenth century after the estate passed through the family by marriage and inheritance. A related branch descended from Rowland Tempest, a younger son of Thomas Tempest and brother of the first Stella baronet. Rowland was a Newcastle merchant and hostman involved in the shipment of coal. His descendants combined legal, military, landed, and parliamentary careers. Sir Thomas Tempest became a lawyer and held senior legal positions connected with Durham and Ireland. His son John was a Royalist commander during the Civil Wars, serving in the armies of the Marquess of Newcastle and defending Lathom House and Skipton Castle before compounding for his estates. After the Restoration he held county military and administrative appointments and became the first Member of Parliament elected for County Durham in 1675, after a long campaign for the county to obtain representation distinct from the City of Durham. The Old Durham and Wynyard branch later became one of the family’s most substantial lines. Members represented Durham constituencies in several Parliaments and accumulated extensive estates through inheritance, purchase, and marriage. Their holdings included Wynyard, Old Durham, Sherburn, Swainston, Rainton, and numerous other manors. Coal shipping became a major economic interest, particularly through the Durham coalfields and the ports of Sunderland and Newcastle. John Tempest of Wynyard was among the principal landowners and coal shippers in the region during the eighteenth century. His son John Wharton Tempest continued the family’s parliamentary and landed position, while the succession eventually passed through the female line to Henry Vane, who adopted the name and arms of Tempest. This inheritance contributed to the later Vane-Tempest-Stewart lineage. Additional baronetcy branches were created at Tong in Yorkshire, Broughton Hall and Coleby, and Heaton. These titles belonged to distinct lines and, in the cases described in the reference material, became extinct when their holders died without qualifying male heirs. The family therefore represents a network of related landed and titled branches rather than a continuing commercial enterprise or consumer-facing brand. Its historical significance lies in its regional estates, coal interests, public offices, parliamentary representation, military service, Catholic recusancy, and connections by marriage to other prominent northern English families.

The Tempest family traced its origins to western Yorkshire in the twelfth century and later established several branches across County Durham and Yorkshire. The family’s evolution was shaped by the interaction of landed inheritance, Catholic recusancy, local office, parliamentary politics, military service, and the northern coal trade. The Stella branch descended from Nicolas Tempest of Holmside through his son Thomas. Sir Nicolas Tempest became the family’s first baronet of Stella in 1622. The family occupied Stella Hall, a former monastic property acquired during the Elizabethan period, and retained a strong Catholic presence there during the seventeenth century. Sir Nicolas’s religious position attracted episcopal suspicion, and he was imprisoned as a recusant in 1599. His connections among northern political and commercial families helped limit the consequences. His son, Sir Thomas Tempest, appears to have presented himself as Protestant in public life, while the third baronet, Sir Richard, became a prominent Royalist during the Civil Wars. Sir Richard served under Marmaduke Langdale, was captured during fighting in Northumberland, escaped, and later spent time in France. His estate was subjected to sequestration before being restored. Sir Thomas Tempest, the fourth baronet, was educated at the English College at Douai. After his second marriage he openly resumed Catholic practice and was charged with failing to attend the parish church. A Catholic priest was resident at Stella from 1688, and Sir Thomas formed a substantial collection of religious books. His son Sir Francis was educated at the Jesuit college of Saint-Louis-le-Grand in Paris but died young. The sixth baronet inherited the title without receiving the Stella estates, which passed through the family to Jane Tempest and her husband, William Widdrington. The baronetcy later ended. The Old Durham and Wynyard branch descended from Rowland Tempest, a younger son of the family. Rowland was a Newcastle merchant and hostman, a specialist involved in the organisation and shipment of coal. His descendants acquired estates and held legal, military, administrative, and parliamentary roles. Sir Thomas Tempest became a barrister, served as Attorney General of the Bishopric of Durham, and was appointed Attorney-General for Ireland in 1640. His son John supported the Royalist cause during the Civil Wars, commanding troops in northern campaigns and participating in the defence of Lathom House and Skipton Castle. Parliament classified him as a delinquent, and he later compounded for his estates. After the Restoration, he held county responsibilities under the Bishop of Durham and became a prominent advocate of parliamentary representation for County Durham. John Tempest’s election in 1675 made him the first Member of Parliament for the newly represented County Durham. His family continued to occupy parliamentary seats for the City and County of Durham during the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The branch expanded its landed position through marriage and purchases, including estates around Houghton-le-Spring, Penshaw, Wynyard, Sherburn, and Rainton. Coal became increasingly important. The family leased collieries and shipped large quantities of coal through Sunderland, participating in the commercial development of the Durham coalfield. John Tempest of Wynyard represented Durham constituencies across several Parliaments and opposed the use of Hanoverian troops in British service. His son, John Tempest, was a Tory Member of Parliament who represented the City of Durham from 1768 through 1790 and opposed Lord North’s administration with John Lambton. The direct male heir, John Wharton Tempest, died in a riding accident in 1793. The estates consequently passed to his sister’s son, Henry Vane, on the condition that he assume the Tempest name and arms. Henry became Sir Henry Vane-Tempest and continued the family’s parliamentary and landed legacy; his descendants were connected with the later Vane-Tempest-Stewart and Londonderry lines. Other branches received baronetcies at Tong in Yorkshire in 1664, Broughton Hall and Coleby in 1841, and Heaton in 1866. These titles represented separate lines of the wider family and generally ended when the relevant holders died without eligible male successors. The family’s historical record thus consists of interconnected branches rather than a single uninterrupted title or estate.

• 1866

  Heaton baronetcy created

  [1]Tempest familyen.wikipedia.org

  A separate Tempest baronetcy was created for Sir Charles Henry Tempest of Heaton.

• 1794

  Vane-Tempest succession

  [1]Tempest familyen.wikipedia.org

  After the death of John Tempest, the estates passed to his nephew Henry Vane, who assumed the Tempest name and arms and became a baronet.

• 1742

  Wynyard acquired

  [1]Tempest familyen.wikipedia.org

  John Tempest acquired the manor of Wynyard, adding to the family’s extensive Durham landholding.

• 1688

  Catholic priest established at Stella

  [1]Tempest familyen.wikipedia.org

  A Catholic priest was established at Stella during the tenure of Sir Thomas Tempest, reflecting the branch’s continuing recusant identity.

• 1675

  First Member of Parliament for County Durham

  [1]Tempest familyen.wikipedia.org

  John Tempest was declared elected after the first parliamentary contest for County Durham as a constituency distinct from the City of Durham.

• 1648

  Royalist military service

  [1]Tempest familyen.wikipedia.org

  Sir Richard Tempest and John Tempest participated in Royalist fighting in northern England; Sir Richard was captured at Cartington Castle and later escaped.

• 1622

  Stella baronetcy created

  [1]Tempest familyen.wikipedia.org

  Sir Nicolas Tempest was created the first Baronet of Stella by James I on 23 December.

• 1599

  Recusancy prosecution at Durham

  [1]Tempest familyen.wikipedia.org

  Sir Nicolas Tempest was arrested and committed to Durham gaol as a recusant, although prosecution was obstructed by his influential family connections.

• Early Yorkshire origins

  [1]Tempest familyen.wikipedia.org

  The family is recorded as originating in western Yorkshire during the twelfth century.

Not applicable as a commercial brand; historically, the Tempest family was a landed, political, mercantile, and recusant family network.

• 1675

  Campaign for County Durham parliamentary representationOther

  Background

  Durham freeholders had sought representation for the county separately from the City of Durham, a privilege opposed by the Bishop of Durham.

  Action taken

  John Tempest stood in the resulting election and was declared the first Member of Parliament for County Durham after a three-day contest.

  Aftermath

  The election established the family’s direct parliamentary role in county politics and was followed by further Tempest representation of Durham constituencies.

  Source

1. 1Tempest familyen.wikipedia.org