HOLDICHE, John (by 1508-36), of Yealm Bridge, Devon.

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 1508. m. settlement 1 June 1530, Margery, da. of John Copleston of Exeter, wid. of John Cottell of Yealm Bridge, s.p.2

Offices Held

Biography

John Holdiche was a small landowner in Devon who had connexions with several prominent Cornish gentlemen. He appears to have been on good terms with John Chamond, whom he appointed one of the feoffees of his property and who as sheriff of Cornwall and returning officer at Helston in 1529 may have procured his election. Apart from this and his testimony given to John Amadas against one of the Marquess of Exeter’s servants in 1531, nothing has been discovered about Holdiche’s career. He made his will on 2 June 1530, the day after his marriage settlement, but he did not die until 18 Mar. 1536, during the last session of the Parliament, perhaps a victim of the same illness which claimed his fellow-Member Edmund Smith. No by-election is known to have been held during the remaining four weeks of the Parliament to fill the vacancy. At the inquisition taken on the following 23 Sept. it was found that Holdiche had been seised of lands in Devon, amounting to just over 300 acres, and that his heir was a kinsman and namesake against whom his widow was later to bring an action in Chancery for evicting her from lands in Cornworthy, Halwell, and Harberton.3

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: J. J. Goring

Notes

  • 1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament.
  • 2. Presumed to be of age at election. Vis. Devon, ed. Vivian, 238; C1/1006/38-9; 142/58/64.
  • 3. LP Hen. VIII, xiii; C1/1006/38-9; 142/58/64.