BADGER, William (c.1523-1629), of Winchester, Hants.

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

b. c.1523, s. of Robert Badger, brewer of Winchester. m., 2s. 1da.

Offices Held

Freeman, Winchester by 1551, chamberlain 1553-5, mayor 1572-3, 1586-7, 1597-8.

Biography

Badger was a Winchester attorney, classified as a papist in 1572, but still consulted thereafter by the bishop of Winchester on points of law. He was clerk of the lands of the diocese in 1575, and acted jointly with his son Robert in this capacity from 1580. He contributed £50 towards the Armada fund in April 1589, and once represented Winchester in Parliament, sitting on a committee with other lawyers to consider a bill concerning tillage, 13 Dec. As burgess for Winchester he also had the opportunity of serving on a committee dealing with bread (13. Jan. 1598). He died intestate, and was buried in Winchester cathedral 18 Jan. 1629. Administration was granted to his daughter Grace 2 Feb. 1630. Though it is stretching credulity to have a man make his first appearance in Parliament aged over 70 and live to be a centenarian, the evidence in Badger’s case seems conclusive, both as regards its known dates and the absence of any break in career which might imply confusion between namesakes.

Stowe, 846, f. 192v; Docs. relating to Winchester (Hants Rec. Soc.), 58; Winchester Black Bk. 142, 154-7,168-70, 181-2, 188; Winchester acct. rolls; T. Atkinson, ‘Eliz. Winchester’, 39, 41-2, 65; SP12/90/18; E134/32 Eliz. I/East 6; PCC admon. act bk. 1630, f. 147; VCH Hants, ii. 310-11; T. C. Noble, Names of Those who Subscribed, 25; D’Ewes, 572, 579; Phillimore, Cathedral Reg.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: A. B. Rosen

Notes