COURT, John (c.1544-99), of North Petherton and Bridgwater, Som.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1589

Family and Education

b. c.1544, yr. but o. surv. s. of Simon Court of North Petherton. educ. New Inn; M. Temple 1568, called 1577. m. Sarah, da. of Edward Popham of Huntworth in North Petherton, 4s. 1da. suc. fa. 1584.

Offices Held

Recorder, Bridgwater c.1585, Bath c.1588; j.p. Som. from c.1592.

Biography

Court was a west country lawyer, whose father-in-law Popham, recorder of Bridgwater in 1584, probably suggested him as his successor. He subsequently became recorder also of Bath, and represented each borough once in Parliament. No details have been found as to whether he practised in London or in Somerset. At his father’s death he inherited North Petherton, and his will mentions also a town house at Bridgwater (left to the widow), leases at Tiverton and in Cockmarsh, Gloucestershire, and a parsonage at Woolavington. One of the two executors was his ‘cousin’ Henry Cheke. He died 7 Jan. 1599.

C142/258/129, 276/541; Vis. Som. (Harl. Soc. xi), 18; OR, i. 415, 419; Bath Chamberlains’ Accts. (Som. Rec. Soc. xxxviii), 110; PCC 26 Wallop; Som. Wills (ser. 1), p. 44.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: J.C.H.

Notes