Family and Education

b. c.1500. m. (2) Agnes, 1s. 1da.2

Offices Held

Jurat, New Romney 1530-d., chamberlain 1533-6, bailiff 1542-3; bailiff to Yarmouth 1538, 1540.3

Biography

William Garrard and his brother Robert, both born at Coggeshall in Essex, were admitted to the freedom of New Romney, Robert in 1518, William at an unspecified date but probably by 1521, when he was living in the town. In 1528 he appeared for Romney as a commoner at the Brotherhood of the Cinque Ports, and after he became a jurat he attended the Brotherhood fairly regularly; in 1542 he was appointed to petition the King for the ports’ preferential treatment in taxation. His Membership of the Parliament of 1539 followed a mission to the capital lasting 16 days, earlier in that year or late in 1538, and concerned with a dispute between the town and the archbishop of Canterbury; his expenses for this and another mission to Hampton Court five years later were paid by the town chamberlains, and he received some £10 in wages for his attendance at the Parliament.4

By his will of 9 May 1545, which was witnessed by his brother Robert, Garrard left his house, with closes and gardens, to his second wife for her life, with remainder to his son John; his son received a slaughterhouse and shop, his daughter a horse and £5 in trust, and his brother a grey mare and a furred gown. The will was proved on 2 July following.5

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: Helen Miller

Notes

• 1. Romney chamberlains’ accts. 1528-80, ff. 37, 39v.
• 2. Date of birth estimated from his own and his brother’s admission to freedom. Canterbury prob. reg. C19, f. 52.
• 3. Romney chamberlains’ accts. 1528-80, ff. 10v seq.; Cinque Ports White and Black Bks. (Kent Arch. Soc. recs. br. xix), 222, 224, 228-9.
• 4. Romney assessment bk. 1448-1526, ff. 127v, 134v; 1516-22, f. 135; chamberlains’ accts. 1528-80, ff. 35, 37, 39v, 40v, 54; Cinque Ports White and Black Bks. 204, 212-30 passim.
• 5. Canterbury prob. reg. C19, f. 52.