TIMPERLEY, William (c.1525-c.1606), of Lincoln's Inn, London and Monewden, Suff.

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.1525, 2nd s. of William Timperley (d.1528) of Hintlesham, and bro. of Thomas. educ. L. Inn 1546, called 1558, assoc. bencher 1568.

Offices Held

Biography

Almost everything known about Timperley concerns his career at Lincoln’s Inn; how he came to be returned for Lichfield (unless perhaps he had some connexions with the bishop) is not clear. He was originally offered a benchership at Lincoln’s Inn in February 1566, but presumably refused, since it was not until November 1568 that he was appointed, on payment of £8, an associate, privileged to sit at the benchers’ table, but below ‘any person called to the bench for learning’. Among his other duties at the inn, he was butler in 1566, and several times an auditor—in June 1569 for the new buildings, and from 1587-8 for the accounts of Thomas Egerton I as treasurer. As late as October 1596 he was receiving money for ‘apparels’ at his inn. In 1571 his work was recognized by the governing body agreeing to discharge his nephew Nicholas of

all offices under the bar ... at the special suit of Mr. William Timperley, his uncle, and in consideration of sundry especial travails and pains which the said Mr. William Timperley hath bestowed in the especial affairs and business of this house.

In April 1583 he was granted the reversion to a chamber at Lincoln’s Inn, in gratitude for his work ‘touching the building’.

Apart from the Lincoln’s Inn references the information found about him concerns financial matters. In September 1577 the bishop of Norwich and others were investigating complaints by John Chetham about the non-payment of £200, the last instalment of the purchase price of £1,200 promised by Timperley, his brother Henry and Robert Bedingfield for houses and lands bought from the plaintiff. On another occasion Timperley asked the Privy Council to help him to collect a £120 debt owed to him since 1590 by Charles Chamberlain, surveyor of clothing to troops in the Netherlands. In spite of a Privy Council order that the amount should be ‘defaulted’ from Chamberlain’s salary, the debt was still partially unpaid in May 1597.

Timperley acted as executor for his brother Thomas, whose will, proved in 1594, left him a £13 annuity from the manor of Monewden, where he apparently already held some property. No mention has been found of a wife or children, and the family history does not give the date of his death. He apparently died intestate, and in February 1606 administration of his property was granted to his brother Henry and his nephew Nicholas.

C142/49/15; PCC admon. act bk. 1666, f. 33; Vis. Suff. ed. Metcalfe, 171; G. H. Ryan and L. J. Redstone, Timperley of Hintlesham, passim; Black Bks. L. Inn, i. 323, 336, 350, 352, 358, 363, 380, 430, 449; ii. 10, 49; APC, x. 35; xxvi. 315; xxvii. 135; PCC 60 Dixy.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: N. M. Fuidge

Notes