DOCWRAY, Thomas (1518-1602), of Putteridge, Herts.

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. 1518, s. of John Docwray. educ. G. Inn 1540. m. c.1548, Mildred Hales, sis. of John Hales, 4s. 2da.

Offices Held

J.p. Herts. from c.1559, sheriff 1580-1; clerk to receiver-gen. duchy of Lancaster 1578-83, 1586-7, dep. to receiver-gen. 1578-85, temp. receiver-gen. 1588; receiver in Essex, Herts. and Mdx. 1578.1

Biography

Docwray’s son Thomas married a grand-daughter of Sir Ralph Sadler, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, through whose influence Docwray came to sit for a duchy borough in Parliament and obtained his various posts. He was soon able to purchase land; for example in 1554 in Fulbourne, Cambridgeshire, four years later in St. Albans, and thenceforward considerable estates in Hertfordshire scattered throughout the county, notably in the vicinities of Pirton, Putteridge and Kempton. He was active in local affairs and was classified by his bishop as earnest in religion. The commissions on which he served included that to levy soldiers for service in the north, 1569-70.2

Docwray died 14 July 1602. In his will, made 12 Aug. 1601 and proved 15 July 1602, he asked to be buried in the parish church of Lilley. He left small legacies to his children and grandchildren, including John Taverner, who was exhorted to concentrate on his studies, making use of Docwray’s books.3

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: W.J.J.

Notes

  • 1. Vis. Herts. (Harl. Soc. xx); Somerville, Duchy, i. 405, 609; Lansd. 62, ff. 144, 146; 78, f. 189.
  • 2. Ducatus Lanc. iii. passim; CPR, 1554-5, p. 135; 1563-6, pp. 123, 490; VCH Herts. ii. 418; iii. passim; C142/288/144; Req. 1/44/58; 1/73/15; C2 Eliz./L.9/15; Cam. Misc. ix(3), p. 30; CSP Dom. 1547-80, p. 373.
  • 3. C142/288/144; PCC 51 Montague.