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NETHERMILL, John (by 1515-59), of Coventry, Warws.
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Biography Detail
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Family and Education
b. by 1515, 1st s. of Julian Nethermill of Coventry by his w. Joan. m. settlement 18 Nov. 1550, Bridget, da. of Henry Over alias Waver† of Coventry, 1s. suc. fa. 11 Apr.1539.
Offices Held
Sheriff or bailiff, Coventry 1547-8, mayor 1557-8.
Biography
Nethermill was a draper, some of whose wealth derived from speculations in chantry lands during Edward VI’s reign. Thus he had some interest in the establishment of protestantism and by October 1553 he was radical enough to be classified as one of those who ‘stood for the true religion’ in the House of Commons. Perhaps it was his religious views that encouraged his fellow burgesses to return him again in 1559 when, in the first Parliament of Queen Elizabeth, radical religious changes were expected. It would also have recommended his candidature to Lord Ambrose Dudley and his brother Lord Robert, who exercised some influence in the city. His name does not occur in the defective journals of that Parliament, and he did not long survive its dissolution, dying 31 Oct. 1559 and being buried in the drapers’ chapel in St. Michael’s church ‘with such order of funerals as for such men is there accustomed’. He had made his will little more than a month earlier. To his wife he left a life interest in a house at Exhall. Other property in Warwickshire and Staffordshire was to be held by Coventry corporation until his son’s majority, and the revenue arising was to be used in loans to drapers, clothiers and cappers of the town. Nethermill’s executors were his widow, his son John, and his brother-in-law Sir William Garrard†, alderman of London. One of the overseers was Thomas Dudley. Bridget Nethermill later married Stephen Hales and their heir’s wardship was obtained by the Coventry corporation.
III-1558-121-1C142/65/16, 170/14; Dugdale, Warws. (Harl. Soc. xii), 253; Coventry Leet Bk. ii. 783, 788; Coventry council bk. f. 17; Coventry mayors’ accts. 1542-61, p. 19; CPR, 1549-51, p. 21; VCH Warws. iii. 144; v. 25, 83, 175; Bodl. e Museo 17; PCC 24 Mellershe; Coventry bk. of payments, f. 25.
