ADAMS, Henry (by 1532-1611), of Peterchurch in Pembroke.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. by 1532, s. of John Adams of Peterchurch by Catherine, da. of Thomas ap Dafydd. m. Anne, da. of Richard Wogan of Boulston, Pemb., 2s. inc. Nicholas 2da. suc. fa. 1571/75.1

Offices Held

J.p. Pemb. 1572, 1575-d.; sheriff 1587-8.2

Biography

Like his father, Henry Adams was a leading townsman of Pembroke and a minor local gentleman; he consolidated his position by marrying into the powerful Wogan family. Little has come to light about his personal career; in September 1554 he appeared in two actions for debt at the Pembrokeshire great sessions, and some ten years later he and an associate, Thomas Holland, were owners of a boat called the Anne, which ‘saileth with four men and useth to trade with Ireland and North Wales and up Severn afishing’.3

Although Adams lived to an advanced age, he sat only twice in successive Parliaments while still a young man. It was perhaps his father’s influence which achieved this for him, and during his shrievalty 35 years later he was to return his own youthful son for the same borough. The Journal does not mention Adams and he was not one of the parliamentary opponents of the Marian Restoration. After his father’s death his kinsman Sir John Perrot considered him one of the leading residents in the commote of Narberth and in 1575 recommended him as a justice of the peace to the president of the council in the marches: he had already served on the bench three years earlier but his reappointment depended on Perrot’s recommendation. Adams was last named to the bench on 16 Sept. 1611, and he died the 10th Nov. following.4

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: P. S. Edwards

Notes

  • 1. Presumed to be of age at election. Dwnn, Vis. Wales, i. 130, 172.
  • 2. E163/14/8; R. Flenley, Cal. Reg. Council, Marches of Wales, 140, 213, 236.
  • 3. Dwnn, i. 130, 172; Welsh Port Bks. (Cymmrod. rec. ser. xii), 313; NLW ms Wales 25/12, m. 1.
  • 4. Flenley, 140; ex inf. Dr. S. Phillips; D. Miles, Pemb. Sheriffs, 22.