Family and Education

b. by 1522. m. Anne, 3s.2

Offices Held

Bridgeman, Wallingford 1543, mayor 1546, 1547, 1548.3

Biography

Henry Huntley is described as a ‘gentleman’ on his admission as a freeman of Wallingford in 1543, as well as in later records of the corporation and in his own will. If he was related to a landed family, he may have come from Gloucestershire, although he cannot be identified with any of the Henry Huntleys of that county. A list of men who were exporting wool to Calais, ascribed to 1533, gives his name under Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, together with Peter Dormer and John Goodwin, whom he was to name residuary legatee in his will. The reason for his settlement in Wallingford is unknown but in 1545 and 1546, if not before, he acquired property in the town. By October 1546 he had become mayor and was still in office (or had been re-elected) when he was chosen to sit with the outsider Thomas Parry in Edward VI’s first Parliament. He was better able to bear the cost than most of the townsmen, for his goods were assessed at £30 for a relief in 1549 and were surpassed in value only by those of Ralph Pollington, who was to take his place in the House after his death in 1549.4

The date of Huntley’s death is unknown but his will of 9 July 1549 was proved on 4 Dec., one month after Parliament had started its third session. He asked to be buried in the parish church of St. Peter, Wallingford, and left several sums of 6s.8d. or less for local building work or charities. He provided for his wife and executrix, instructing her to maintain their children at school. As overseers he named Robert Chalfont and (Sir) Robert Dormer.5

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: T. F.T. Baker

Notes

• 1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament.
• 2. Date of birth estimated from admission as freeman, PCC 44 Populwell.
• 3. Berks. RO, W/AC a 1, ff. 36v, 37v, 59; J. K. Hedges, Wallingford, ii. 228 mistakenly calls him mayor in 1550.
• 4. LP Hen. VIII, add.; Berks. RO, W/AC a 1, f. 58; VCH Berks. iii. 528; E179/74/194.
• 5. PCC 44 Populwell.