PEARD, George (1548-1621), of Barnstaple, 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

Family and Education

bap. 3 Mar. 1548, s. of John Peard, chamberlain of Barnstaple. educ. L. Inn 1573, called. m. 24 Sept. 1576, Agnes, da. of John Jewel of East Down, at least 1da.

Offices Held

Biography

Three members of Peard’s family were goldsmiths, and his brother Edward was a judge of the Admiralty court in Devon. A Richard Peard was mayor of Barnstaple in 1587, and Peard himself was of counsel to the borough. His wife was a niece of Bishop Jewel. At the parliamentary election of 1597 the townsmen, who were quarrelling with the lord lieutenant, the Earl of Bath, first elected their former bailiff and mayor, Bartholomew Harris, but Bath disapproving of their choice, the townsmen turned to Peard, who was returned along with the Earl’s servant Thomas Hinson. Peard died 31 Jan. 1621.

Barnstaple Recs. i. 46, 200; ii. 77, 103, 113, 166; Vivian, Vis. Devon, 505, 531, 808; Trans. Dev. Assoc. lxxii. 257; Devon RO, Tingey 1662; St. Ch. 5/A51/19; Roberts thesis; PCC 30 Dale; C142/766/77.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: P. W. Hasler

Notes