Family and Education

3rd but 1st surv. s. of Stephen Harvey of Cotes by Anne, da. of Richard Greene of Braughing, Herts. educ. Barnard’s Inn; M Temple 1582, called 1591. m. (1) Elizabeth Hemming of Herts., wid. of one James of London, 1s. d.v.p. 4da.; (2) Christian, s.p. suc. fa. 1606. Kntd. 1626.

Offices Held

Bencher, M. Temple 1609, reader 1609, 1611; serjeant-at-law 1614; recorder, Leicester 1614; j.c.p. 1624; commr. subsidy Northants. 1621.

Biography

Harvey was a lawyer, presumably returned to Parliament for Aldeburgh, in a county where he had no obvious connexions, through the influence of his father, an auditor of the duchy of Lancaster. On the return he was styled Francis Harvey esq. junior, and cannot therefore have been the Colchester Member of that name, nor does it seem likely that he was a local man. He obtained the admission of several relatives to the Middle Temple, including his only son Stephen, who died in 1630. As a judge he once fined a jury £10 each for giving wrongful acquittals, and on another occasion, after a preacher had alluded to the corruption of judges, is said to have remarked that judges could ‘use conscience in our places as well as the best clergymen of all’.

As Member for Aldeburgh Harvey may have attended a committee concerning land reclamation on 3 Dec. 1597. He died 2 Aug. 1632 and was buried at Hardingstone near his father and son. He left his widow £15,000.

Bridges, Northants. i. 360, 362; M. T. Recs. ii. 506, 591; Notable M. Templars, 113; D’Ewes, 567; Northants. Rec. Soc. iii. 174; Foss, Judges; PCC 88 Audley.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: J.H.

Notes