Family and Education

b. by 1514, s. of John Lee of Stamford.1

Offices Held

Member of the second Twelve, Stamford 1535-47, of the first Twelve 1547-58 or later, chamberlain 1536-7, alderman 1547-8.2

Biography

Henry Lee of Stamford had more than one namesake who could have been returned for that borough to Mary’s third Parliament, notably one who was chief avener in the Queen’s household, but there is little doubt that on this occasion Stamford complied with the royal request for the election of residents. The precept which had conveyed this request was sent back to the sheriff endorsed with his name and John Fenton’s, and the sheriff returned it to Chancery with the indenture, on which both Members are styled gentlemen. Unlike Fenton, Lee was absent when the House was called early in January 1555, and for this dereliction he was informed against in the King’s bench during the following Easter term. He was distrained for non-appearance in every subsequent term save one until the Queen’s death stopped the case, by which time the total had reached 36s. 8d. In these proceedings he is styled gentleman of Stamford.3

Little has come to light about Lee. He was probably of age when in 1530 his father, thrice alderman since 1513, named him executor and left his mother the contents of the family shop in St. Mary’s parish: as Lee himself was to be assessed for the subsidy in 1546 on property in the same parish he presumably continued the business. Kinship with Henry Lacy, deputy to successive stewards of the manor, perhaps favoured both his municipal career and his return to Parliament. No trace of him has been found after his final distraint in the King’s bench, so that he may have been a victim of the disease then prevalent.4

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: M. K. Dale

Notes

• 1. Date of birth estimated from first reference. Early Lincoln Wills, ed. Gibbons, 208.
• 2. Stamford hall bk. 1461-1657, ff. 123, 126, 144v; R. Butcher, Stamford (1646), 42.
• 3. LP Hen. VIII, xix. xxi; LC2/4/1, 2; Lansd. 3(89), f. 198; CPR, 1560-3, p. 238; C142/132/39; 219/23/77, 82; KB27/1176-88.
• 4. Early Lincoln Wills, 208; Butcher, 42; E179/137/431.