CONYERS, John (d.1604), of Aldersgate, London.

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

2nd s. of Ralph or Roger Conyers of Cotham Conyers, co. Dur. by a da. of John Metcalfe, auditor for the north parts to Henry VIII. m. Catherine Mellish (d. 30 Nov. 1597), of London, wid. of Anthony Williams, auditor of the mint to Edward VI, 2s. 3da.

Offices Held

Auditor, duchy of Cornwall, 24 Oct. 1566; auditor of the prests in the Exchequer by 1577.

Biography

Conyers, a younger son, inherited little or no land. He is first heard of in the summer of 1549 when he received £33 0s.4d. as auditor to the 2nd Earl of Rutland. In 1558 he received £3 3s.4d. as schoolmaster to Lord Ros. Conyers appears to have retained a connexion with successive earls of Rutland for many years after becoming an official of the Exchequer. He may have secured an Exchequer office by 1572, when—if he was the Conyers referred to in the Hatfield calendar—he was a servant of Lord Burghley. There are numerous references to his work as auditor of the prests, dealing principally with foreign accounts and military expenditure, but there are few other details of his life. It was certainly due to the 3rd Earl of Rutland, lord lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, that he was returned to Parliament for East Retford in 1586. In 1600 he bought the manor of North Willingham and other lands in Lincolnshire. He seems to have been active almost until his death.

His will is dated 6 July 1600. He left one grandchild 1,000 marks and three others £1,000 each. He wished to be buried in the same vault as his wife. His son Thomas was executor. He left one gown each to 40 of the ‘most poorest and most neediest’ of the parish of St. Botolph, £100 for mending the highways in Bedfordshire and £100 towards the installation of lead pipes to bring water to Aldersgate. He died at an advanced age on 13 Oct. 1604, and was buried at St. Botolph’s without Aldersgate.

Surtees, Durham, iii. 219; Misc. Gen. et Her. (ser. 5), iii. 253-4; Harl. 1096, f. 84; CPR, 1563-6, p. 420; APC, x. 81; HMC Rutland, i, iv, passim; HMC Hatfield, ix. 82-3, xi. 141-2; xiii. 114; CSP Dom. 1598-1601, p. 382.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: N.M.S.

Notes