HUCKMORE, Gregory (by 1529-71), of Buckyett and Buckland Barton, Devon.

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 1529, s. of Gregory Huckmore of Buckyett by Joan, da. of William Walrond of Bovey. m. by 1550, Alice, da. and coh. of William Cruwys of Chudleigh, 5s. 8da.1

Offices Held

Escheator, Devon 1563-4.

Biography

The list of Members of the Parliament of 1558 gives the name of the first Member for Dartmouth as Georgius Huckmore. This is taken to be a misnomer for Gregory Huckmore, the head of the Devon family of that name, in which there is no trace of a George.2

Himself a modest landowner near Totnes, Huckmore was well connected, counting among his kinsmen a future Speaker in Thomas Williams II and a servant of the 2nd Earl of Bedford in John Belfield. It was presumably to these links, especially with Bedford, that Huckmore owed his election at Dartmouth, where he took precedence over the mayor Thomas Gourney. Unlike Gourney he was paid for attending the Parliament, receiving 55s. for its first session: as that session lasted 47 days, Huckmore seems to have been paid, travelling time included, at a rate of 1s. a day, a reduction of the statutory figure to which he had doubtless agreed. He was not to sit again, but in 1559 he may have had a hand in the election of Edward Yarde, a kinsman who was to marry one of Huckmore’s daughters.3

All that has come to light about Huckmore’s later career relates to estate management and county affairs. He made his will on 9 Oct. 1571. After asking to be buried in Haccombe church, he provided for his wife and children. He named his wife sole executrix and Edward Yarde one of the overseers. Huckmore died at Buckland Barton on the following 15 Oct. and was succeeded by his eldest son John, who had come of age three days before. As the widow renounced execution of the will, letters of administration were granted to John Huckmore on 6 June 1572.4

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: Roger Virgoe

Notes

  • 1. Date of birth estimated from marriage. Vis. Devon, ed. Colby, 138; Vis. Devon, ed. Vivian, 471-2; C142/176/19.
  • 2. C193/32/2, f. 3; the error is repeated in Wm. Salt Lib. SMS 264.
  • 3. C142/31/94; Vis. Devon, ed. Vivian, 471-2; Exeter city lib. Dartmouth ms 2003, f. 56v.
  • 4. CPR, 1566-9, p. 132; PCC 18 Daper; C142/176/19.