PINNOCK, William (by 1509-55), of Hanley Castle, Worcs.

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 1509, s. of one Pinnock of Upton-on-Severn. m. by Mar. 1541, Elizabeth, wid. of Roger Badger of Hanley Castle, s.p.1

Offices Held

Rent collector, manor of Warwick 1530-6 or later; jt. receiver-gen. Salisbury’s lands, Cornw., Devon, Dorset, Hants, Som., Wilts., Warwick’s lands, Leics., Staffs., Warws., Worcs. 13 Feb. 1539-?d.; receiver-gen. Countess of Somerset’s lands by Sept. 1541-?d.; gent. usher by 1543; escheator, Worcs. 1547-8; commr. enclosures, Beds., Berks., Bucks., Leics., Northants., Oxon., Warws. 1548, relief, Worcs. 1550; j.p. Worcs. 1554.2

Biography

William Pinnock was of humble birth but by service to the crown and by marriage to a moderately rich widow he gained position and property in his native Worcestershire. Nothing has been learnt about his life before his appointment in 1530 as collector of manorial rents for the crown at Warwick. By 1537 he was acting as receiver-general with Richard Bream for two forfeited estates administered for the crown by the court of general surveyors, although another two years passed before he was officially named as Bream’s partner, and by 1541 he was sole receiver-general for another estate managed by the general surveyors. His promotion in the administration of crown lands was reflected by a minor post in the Household and his Membership of the Parliament of 1545. While the opening of the Parliament stood postponed he signed the letter of inquiry from the leading figures in Worcestershire about the force to be sent to Portsmouth in the event of an invasion, and during the prorogation in 1546 he reported to the Council on repairs to Warwick castle. Although he was not re-elected to Parliament he was named escheator, commissioner and justice in Worcestershire and served with John Hales II on the commission to investigate the extent of enclosure in the midlands. By a will made on 11 Dec. 1554 he divided his property between his wife, brother, sisters, nephews and nieces and provided for his stepson and other kinsmen. He died on 1 Jan. 1555, when he was succeeded by his brother John then aged 42 years and more, and his will was proved on 18 May following by his widow, brother and godson William Lygon.3

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: S. M. Thorpe

Notes

  • 1. Date of birth estimated from first reference. PCC 25 More, 3 Wrastley; LP Hen. VIII, xvi.
  • 2. SC6/Hen. VIII, 3700-6, ex inf. Dr. R. W. Dunning; LP Hen. VIII, xiv, xviii, xix; CPR, 1547-8, p. 419; 1553, p. 360; 1553-4, p. 26.
  • 3. PCC 25 More, 3 Wrastley; VCH Worcs. iii. 555; iv. 101, 126, 215, 516; LP Hen. VIII, xvi, xix-xxi; CPR, 1548-9, pp. 191, 302; 1563-6, pp. 166-7; C142/106/81.