FARNHAM, Thomas (by 1527-62), of Stoughton and Quorndon, Leics. of London.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Oct. 1553
1559

Family and Education

b. by 1527, 2nd s. of William Farnham (d. 6 May 1548) of the Netherhall, Quorndon by Dorothy Neville; bro. of John. m. Helen, da. of Roger Chaloner of London, 2da.2

Offices Held

Steward and bailiff, former Leics. lands of bp. of Lincoln 1549-d., teller of Exchequer May 1552; esquire of the body by 1559; clerk of liveries, ct. wards July 1559-61; particular surveyor, Exchequer, Leics. 1561-d.; j.p. Leics. 1558/59-d.3

Biography

Before establishing himself in the Exchequer, Farnham had begun to build up estates. In 1548 he bought a lease of the possessions of St. Mary the Virgin in Leicester from the duchy of Lancaster, in the next year he became bailiff of the property once held by the bishop of Lincoln, and in 1551, now resident in London, he purchased Denby manor in Yorkshire, which he soon resold at a profit. After his brother-in-law (Sir) Thomas Chaloner had surrendered his tellership of the Exchequer in his favour, Farnham was able to compete even more vigorously in the land market. The chantry land at Quorndon came to him with the grange of Stoughton and other properties in the neighbourhood.4

Farnham was probably returned for Leicester through the influence of his relative the recorder. He opposed the initial measures to restore Catholicism. Among the friends he was to name in his will was Thomas Sackville, whom Farnham asked to devise a suitable inscription for plate to be given to the 3rd Earl of Huntingdon. It was presumably Sackville who recommended Farnham to his father (Sir) Richard Sackville II for the seat at East Grinstead to which he was returned at a by-election on 10 Feb., 21 days after the assembly of Parliament. He died at Holt on 4 Sept. 1562. His widow married Francis Saunders.5

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: R. J.W. Swales

Notes

  • 1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament.
  • 2. Date of birth estimated from first reference. Quorndon Recs. ed. Farnham, 20 and ped. bet. pp. 16-17; Vis. Leics. (Harl. Soc. ii), 77, 171.
  • 3. CPR, 1550-3, p. 297; 1558-60, pp. 90, 281; 1560-3, pp. 250, 439; 1563-6, p. 89; E315/265; LC2/4/3, p. 134.
  • 4. DL5/6/54; E315/265; CPR, 1549-51, p. 357; 1550-3, p. 297; 1553, p. 305; HMC Hatfield, iv. 60; Quorndon Recs. 189, 230-1, 238-40.
  • 5. Leicester Recs. ed. Bateson, iii. 459; Bodl. e Museo 17; OR, i. 398; C219/25/117; PCC 24 Streat; C142/132/65; Quorndon Recs. 21; Pevsner, Leics. and Rutland, 245.