MALET, John (by 1520-70), of Woolleigh in Beaford, Devon.

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

Constituency

Dates

Apr. 1554
1563

Family and Education

b. by 1520, 1st s. of Baldwin Malet (d.1533) of St. Audries, Som. by his 2nd w. Anne, da. of Thomas Hatch of Woolleigh by Alice, da. of Sir John Bassett of Tehidy, Cornw. educ. I. Temple. m. Alice, da. of Anthony Monck of Great Potheridge, Devon, 4s. 4da.

Offices Held

Churchwarden, the Temple 1546-7; commr. relief, Devon 1550; j.p. by 1559; sheriff May-Nov. 1562, 1569-d.

Biography

Malet was a lawyer who had some connexion with the 2nd Earl of Bedford, who endeavoured to have him returned for Exeter in December 1562. Rebuffed here, he came in for Bodmin, where he had local connexions through his mother and sister, though Bedford probably obtained him the seat. Malet died during his second shrievalty, before his account was rendered. His will was proved 14 Nov. It asks that he should be buried ‘as becometh a Christian man without great pomp or cost of funerals’. Every poor man, woman or child who ‘should happen to come’ to the burial was to be given 2d. There were legacies to the prisoners in Exeter castle and elsewhere, to the poor of South Molton, Crediton and Torrington, where Malet owned land, and for the repair of his parish church. His son Malachias was the sole executor. The inquisition post mortem was taken in October 1571.

C142/55/38, 156/34; Vivian, Vis Devon, 455; A. Malet, Notices Malet Fam. 49-57; Som. Jnl. xvi. 35-6; PCC 4 Hogen, 37 Lyon; E150/193/13.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: A. D.K. Hawkyard

Notes