He was born the second son of John Essington of Gossington Hall and was trained in the law at Lincoln's Inn in 1691. He inherited Gossington Hall, which had been built by his grandfather, after the death of his elder brother in 1703.
He married twice, firstly in 1697 Margaret, the daughter and coheiress of John Godfrey and secondly in 1702, Mary. He had one daughter, to whom he left his various properties.
