HAMBY, Philip (by 1492-1526 or later), of Great Grimsby, Lincs.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. by 1492, ?yr. s. of Robert Hamby of Brocklesby and Utterby by Joan, da. of William Smith of Welton-le-Wold.2

Offices Held

Mayor, Grimsby 1514-15, 1522-3.3

Biography

Philip Hamby was probably a younger son in the family which had held a manor at Brocklesby, some nine miles west of Grimsby, for several generations before 1500. He was admitted a freeman of Grimsby and elected bailiff in 1513 but obtained his discharge from the office for a fine of 26s.8d.; in the following year he was exonerated from serving as chamberlain because of his choice as mayor.4

It was while he was mayor that Hamby was elected to Parliament on 25 Jan. 1515. In choosing him and William Hatcliffe, Grimsby failed to comply with the King’s request for the re-election of the previous Members, George Barnardiston and Robert Vicars, both of whom were available. The reason may have been that Hatcliffe, a Household official, was recommended by Wolsey and that the town itself took the opportunity to elect its chief officer. The election was thus recorded in the court book:

Philip Hamby, mayor, for the tender zeal that he hath to the said borough of Grimsby is contented to discharge the said borough of Grimsby and the burgesses therein inhabitant of all costs and expenses that shall be spent, as in riding to London and there abiding by reason of this Parliament, whereunto the same Philip Hamby the mayor is chosen to [be one of] the burgesses of the said Parliament for 12d. of sterling money to be paid to the same mayor any day that he shall be in the same business for all the said costs [and] expenses, and the said town and burgesses to be for evermore acquitted as said.

In the autumn of 1515 these terms were ratified by Hamby and the town for the second session. The chamberlains’ accounts for 1514-15 record that he was paid a total of £3 for his time as mayor and for his attendance at Parliament; since the first session had lasted for 60 days, he was paid the exact sum due to him on this account and received no allowance as mayor.5

All that has come to light about Hamby’s further career is that he served regularly on the mayor’s council, was elected mayor again in 1522 and was thus responsible for returning the town’s Members to the next Parliament, and attended a mayor’s court in 1526.6

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: T. M. Hofmann

Notes

  • 1. Great Grimsby AO, oldest ct. bk. f. 222v.
  • 2. Date of birth estimated from admission as freeman. The Gen. iv. III; vi. 160-1; Lincs. Peds. (Harl. Soc. lii), 902.
  • 3. HMC 14th Rep. VIII, 289.
  • 4. Great Grimsby AO, oldest ct. bk. ff. 93v, 162v.
  • 5. Ibid. oldest ct. bk. ff. 222v, 223; chamberlains’ accts. 1514-15.
  • 6. Ibid. oldest ct. bk. ff. 172v, 238v.