Family and Education

b. c.1501, s. of Nicholas Hasborough (d.1523) of Kessingland by w. Margery. m. by 1544, Margaret, da. of John Harrison of Dunwich, at least 3s. 4da.1

Offices Held

Bailiff, Dunwich in 1551, 1552-3, in 1555, ?1558, 1559, 1563, 1567, 1571, 1575, 1577, 1587, 1589.2

Biography

Nicholas Hasborough’s father was a merchant who through an oversight not long after his death was assessed for the subsidy on goods worth £40. Hasborough inherited from his father in 1523 a house in Shadingfield, Suffolk, the remainder on lands at Gisleham and Kessingland held by his mother for life, and a half share of all his father’s fishing nets. He may thus have been well established as a fisherman before his marriage to a daughter of John Harrison, a leading Dunwich shipowner. Hasborough lived in the parish of St. Peter, where his children were baptized between 1544 and 1571. His return to Parliament, coming as it did after his second term as bailiff, was a stepping stone in his municipal career, and was to be his only incursion into national politics. All that is known about his part in the House is that he did not oppose the initial measures to restore Catholicism. By his will of 30 July 1593 he left 20s. to be divided between the poor of St. Peter’s parish and the hospital of St. James in Dunwich. After remembering 23 grandchildren he gave his servant Margaret Black a life-interest in his tackle house and left his Dunwich house with its contents, his ships, armour and guns to his son Robert, whom he named executor. Hasborough was buried on 17 Oct. 1593 and the will was proved on 26 Feb. following.3

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: M. K. Dale

Notes

• 1. Aged ‘90 and more’ in 1592, Add. 34653, f. 60. E. Suff. RO, Ipswich wills 8, f. 334; 34, f. 415; Norwich consist. ct. 62 Jagges.
• 2. T. Gardner, Dunwich, 82-83; C219/20/17, 21/18, 24/147.
• 3. Suff. Green Bks. x. 418; Add. 34561; E. Suff. RO, Ipswich wills 34, f. 415.