Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Chiswell, Trench
CHISWELL, TRENCH, orginally Richard Muilman (1735?–1797), a London merchant interest in antiquarian studies, was the only son of Peter Muilman, an eminent Dutch merchant, of Kirby Hall, Essex, by Mary Trench (Chiswe1l), daughter of Richard Chiswell the younger [q. v.] of Debden (or Depden) Hall, near Newport and Saffron Walden, Essex. The marriage of his parents took place in 1734 (see T. Pingo's medal—1774—of P. Muilman and his in the British Museum), and he may have been born about 1735. On the death of his mother`s brother (Richard Chiswell), on 3 July 1772, he beoame into possession of Debden Hall and of a fortunate about 120,000l. He at that time assumed the name of Trench Chiswell. He rebuilt the mansion at Debden, and laid out a large sum in improving his estate. He was M.P. for Aldborough, Yorkshire, a justice of the peace and deputy-lieutenant of the county of Essex. In 1791 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He made some literary collections relating to the history of Essex, and is said to have possessed some ‘fine Caxtons,’ which were accidentally burned during his lifetime. It is stated by Nichols (Lit. Anecd. iii. 611)—who may, however, be confounding Richard Muilman (Trench Chiswell) with his father, P. Muilman—that Chiswell assisted in publishing ‘A New and Complete History of Essex,’ &c., ‘by a Gentleman,’ Chelmsford, 1770, &c. 6 vols. 8vo. It was mainly based on Morant's 'History of Essex,' and was published under the patronage and direction of Peter Muilman (Gough, Brit. Topog. i. 347; Upcott, Eng. Topog. i. 229 f.), who obtained views and other illustrations for it. The literary part of the book was in the hands of a writer who signs himself ‘the editor,’ perhaps Chiswell himself. Owing to a series of unsuccessful speculations in connection with West India estates, Chiswell’s mind became deranged, and he shot himself at his home at Debden on 3 Feb. 1797. He married a daughter of James Jurin M.D. by whom he had one child, a daughter, Mary, the wife of Sir Francis Vincent, bart.
[Manuscript autobiographical notes by P. Muilman in the British Huseum (King’s Library) copy of the New and Complete Hist. of Essex; Gent. Mag. lxvii. pt. i. (1797), 173, 249-50; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. lii. 610, 811, ix. 652, 799; Nichols's Lit. Illust. iv. 718; Wright's History of Essex, ii, 140.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.65
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| 19 f.e. | Chiswell, Trench: after Yorkshire insert horn. 1790 till death as a supporter of Pitt |