DODINGTON, John (c.1522-85), of Westminster.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. c.1522, 1st s. of John Dodington of Sacombe, Herts., auditor of the mint, by Eleanor or Winifred, da. of William Shafter or Sewster of Steeple Morden, Cambs. and Godmanchester, Hunts.; bro. of William. m. Barbara, 2s. suc. fa. 1545.1

Offices Held

Comptroller of the pipe by 1566; clerk of the engrossment of pay books; burgess of Westminster 1585.

Biography

Dodington was a minor government official and land speculator. He was presumably the Mr. Dodington who took the profits on seals for the courts of King’s bench and common pleas. Either he or his brother William acted as assistant or ‘solicitor’ to Edward Carey of the privy chamber, who had a grant for concealments. Dodington was himself of standing at Westminster and had also friends at court; his brother-in-law, John Sewster, was a former attorney of the court of wards, and Sir William Cecil, the high steward of Westminster, had in all probability secured the election of Dodington’s brother at Penryn in the previous year. The parliamentary records for 1581 mention a ‘Mr. Dodington’ as serving on a committee concerning secret conveyances (14 Mar.), but this may refer to either John or William.2

Dodington was buried 26 Aug. 1585. In his will, made 6 Aug. 1577 and proved 13 Dec. 1585, he bequeathed

my soul unto Almighty God my maker and unto Jesus Christ his son, my Redeemer ... whose glorious coming to judge us all I do look for and believe, with all the articles of my belief, according as a true Christian ought to do, and do utterly detest the Romish and papistical church, beseeching God that it would please him to make us all of his own true and apostolic church.

The executors, the widow and William Dodington, were instructed to sell lands and leases in order to meet his debts. He bequeathed a diamond to William and a gold death’s head ring to his other brother, Bartholomew. Half a year’s wages went to his servants and 40s. to the poor of St. Margaret’s. His wife Barbara died soon afterwards.3

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: W.J.J.

Notes

  • 1. C142/74/102; Trans. London and Mdx. Arch. Soc. n.s. vii. 124; PCC 57 Brudenell; VCH Herts. iii. 391; Vis Cambs. (Harl. Soc. xli), 80; Misc. Gen. et Her. (ser. 5), vii. 344 seq.
  • 2. W. H. Manchee, Westminster City Fathers, 212; VCH Herts. iii. 124; CPR, 1547-8, p. 146; 1548-9, pp. 140-7; 1549-51, p. 84; 1550-3, p. 313; 1558-60, pp. 363, 466; 1566-9, p. 86; C2Eliz./F6/53; Petyt ms 538, vol. 39, f. 134; Lansd. 37, f. 1; Strype, Annals, iii(1), p. 175; iii(2), pp. 226-8; CJ, i. 113.
  • 3. PCC 57 Brudenell; Memorials St. Margaret’s Westminster Par. Regs. ed. Burke, 447, n. 3.