FANE, George (c.1581-1640), of Badsell; later of Burston, Hunton, Kent.

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

Constituency

Dates

1601
1614
1621
Apr. 1640

Family and Education

b. c.1581, 2nd s. of Sir Thomas Fane of Badsell by his 2nd w. Mary (later Baroness le Despenser), da. and h. of Henry Neville, 6th Lord Bergavenny; bro. of Francis. educ. Maidstone g.s.; Queens’, Camb. c.1595; L. Inn 1597. m. (1) 1607, Elizabeth, da. of Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton, Warws. and Althorp, Northants., s.p.; (2) Anne, da. of Sir Oliver Boteler of Teston, 3s. 3da. Kntd. 1603; suc. uncle to Burston 1607.

Offices Held

J.p. Kent by 1622, sheriff 1622-3.

Biography

In 1601 the lord warden of the Cinque Ports was granted—reluctantly—a blank election return by the Dover town assembly. Perhaps he intended to insert the name of Fane’s uncle, the lieutenant of Dover castle, who fell sick at about this time. At any rate Fane’s own name was substituted and he entered Parliament, aged about 20. Subsequently, he sat in every Parliament, except that of 1625, until his death, always for constituencies in Kent. He may have attended two committees in 1601, concerning the order of parliamentary business (3 Nov.), and the Severn harbour (21 Nov.), to which he was appointed as a burgess for Dover.

In his will, dated 17 Dec. 1639, Fane asked for burial either in Westminster abbey, near his first wife (whom he had perhaps met through the Mildmay family, into which his elder brother had married), or at Mereworth in Kent. He appointed his second, ‘the Lady Anne’, sole executrix, asking her and his ‘dear friend and kinsman’ Henry Lucas to obtain the wardship of his eldest son Spencer, who was nearly 18. Among the lands mentioned, some of them held on lease, were properties in Bedfordshire, Kent, Sussex and Yorkshire. Some were to be sold to provide his three daughters with portions of £2,000 each. Fane died 26 June 1640.

Collins, Peerage, iii. 292-4; Maidstone Recs. 89; Vis. Kent (Harl. Soc. xlii), 224; (lxxv), 114; Northants. Rec. Soc. xix. ped. ii; D'Ewes, 624, 647; PCC 103 Coventry; Wards 7/95/167.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: J.E.M.

Notes