HARE, Hugh (by 1544-1620), of the Inner Temple and Totteridge, Herts.

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. by 1544, 6th s. of John Hare, London mercer, of Stow Bardolph, Norf. by his w. Dorothy ?Hynde; bro. of John and Nicholas. educ. I. Temple 1565, called 1590. ?unm.

Offices Held

Under-treasurer, I. Temple 1573, 1574, Lent reader 1591, 1602, treasurer 1602; jt. clerk of ct. of wards 1590-1604.

Biography

Hare was a lawyer and moneylender who served on a number of Inner Temple commissions of inquiry, particularly in connexion with building operations and with the day-to-day running of the Inn. In 1567 he was given the right to occupy chambers after his brothers Nicholas (who had rebuilt part of the inn) and Ralph. In 1575 this was made absolute in consideration of his work as under-treasurer during the two preceding years. Hare was presumably returned for Bramber through Edward Caryll, his brother’s friend, but how he came in for Haslemere is not known. The ‘Mr. Hare’ who was on several committees in 1589 is more likely to have been one or other of his two brothers John and Nicholas, both of whom were active Parliament men. Hugh Hare’s only recorded speech was in support of a motion on behalf of his brother Nicholas ordering the return of a new burgess for Horsham on 7 Feb. 1589.

Hare’s usury caused him to fall foul of a number of clients, including John Killigrew II and William Parry. He died in 1620, being buried at Totteridge on 10 Mar. He had acquired property there and was governor of the nearby school of Chipping Barnet. He also owned property in Wiltshire. According to Chamberlain, he left £80,000, of which £60,000 was divided between his nephews Ralph Hare of Norfolk and Hugh Hare, later 1st Lord Coleraine. Though the will, made 25 Dec. 1619 and proved 6 Mar. 1620, gives no evidence of such sums, it nevertheless shows him to have been a wealthy man. Hare desired a simple burial for his ‘corpulent body’. Generous legacies were provided for his numerous relatives, friends and servants, with £20 for the officers and attendants of the Inner Temple. The poor of Totteridge received £10, as did those of Everdon, Northamptonshire.

CPR, 1563-6, p. 322; Cal. I. T. Recs. i. passim; Clutterbuck, Herts. iii. 454; G. A. Carthew, Hundred of Launditch, ii. 657-8; H. E. Bell, Ct. of Wards and Liveries, 26; J. Hurstfield, Queen’s Wards, 228; D’Ewes, 429, 433, 436, 454; CSP Dom.1581-90, pp. 33, 52; Add. 1580-1625, p. 165; Lansd. 59, f. 32; PCC 24 Soame; VCH Herts. iii. 149; Masters of the Bench, I. Temple, 16; Chamberlain Letters ed. McClure, ii. 293.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: W.J.J.

Notes