HANNAM, Thomas (d.1593), of Deans Court, Wimborne Minster, Dorset.

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 John Hannam of Wimborne Minster by his w. Alice, prob. da. of John Orenge of Wimborne Minster. educ. M. Temple 1562, called by 1571. m. Penelope, da. of John Popham, 3s. inc. John 3da. suc. nephew John 1579.1

Offices Held

Recorder, Weymouth and Melcombe Regis 1570-92, Bristol by 1577; j.p. Dorset from c.1579; Autumn reader, M. Temple 1582; serjeant-at-law 1589.

Biography

Having been made recorder of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis through the influence of the 2nd Earl of Pembroke, Hannam was returned there in 1572. Afterwards becoming recorder of Bristol, he was elected to Parliament there for the rest of his life. So far as can be ascertained (there are problems over variant spellings of the surname) his committee record in his first Parliament was as follows: innholders and tipplers (17 Feb. 1576), tanned leather (18 Feb. 1576), wool (28 Jan. 1581) and Dover harbour (4 Mar. 1581). In his next he was on a number of legal committees, and frequently reported their progress to the House (1 Dec. 1584, 27 Feb 1585, 2, 4, 5, 12 Mar.). He also took charge of the bill concerning Lyme Regis Cobb on 27 Feb. 1585. He was appointed to the subsidy committees on 11 Feb. 1589 and 1 Mar. 1593 and to a final legal committee on 28 Mar. 1593.2

Hannam was a governor of Wimborne Minster grammar school, rebuilt under his supervision, and he maintained his connexions with Poole, which his father had represented in 1547. Hannam became a free burgess of the town in 1591. He became an undertaker in the 1587 Irish plantation. In the latter years of his life he bought some lands in Dorset from the Crown, witnessed a deed of sale of Cranborne by the 2nd Earl of Pembroke and acted as trustee for Charles Vaughan. He died 30 Aug. 1593, having made his will the previous 31 Dec. The executors were his widow and heir John, who was still under 21.3

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: P. W. Hasler

Notes

  • 1. Hutchins, Dorset, iii. 231; Vis. Dorset (Harl. Soc. xx), 50; PCC 81 Nevell.
  • 2. CJ, i. 106, 120, 131; D’Ewes, 334, 361, 363, 366, 431, 481, 511.
  • 3. Ellis, Hist. Weymouth, 139; Som. and Dorset N. and Q. viii. 20-21; xxv. 133; Hutchins, i. 31; iii. 193; J. Sydenham, Hist. Poole, 102, 294; Poole recs. no. 38; Cal. Carew Pprs. ii. 449-50; PRO Index 6800, f. 248; HMC Hatfield, ii. 212; C142/239/118; PCC 39 Woodhall, 81 Nevell.