MAYO, Richard (by 1519-57), of Tavistock, Devon.

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

Constituency

Dates

Apr. 1554

Family and Education

b. by 1519, 1st s. of Richard Mayo of Tavistock. m. Elizabeth, s.p. suc. fa. 10 May 1543.1

Offices Held

Biography

Richard Mayo was the son of a tin merchant from whom he inherited property near Tavistock. Although his father left his tinworks to two of Mayo’s brothers, he seems to have followed the same trade: he bought tin for resale, and when he lent money to William Harris I (q.v.) on lands in Plymstock repayment was specified in tin. Little else has come to light about him apart from his purchase of the manor of Woodford from the Duke of Suffolk and that of Boringdon from Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. He presumably owed his elections at Tavistock to his personal standing and his business connexions; both his fellow-Members John Fitz and Thomas Southcote leased or owned tin mines. His Membership in 1555 may have fulfilled the Queen’s religious requirement as he is not listed among those who joined Sir Anthony Kingston in opposing one of the government’s bills. Mayo died intestate on 7 Aug. 1557, when he was succeeded by his nephew Jerome. His widow married Thomas Monck of Potheridge. Letters of administration were granted on 16 May 1561 to William Strode of Plympton St. Mary and two years later to Strode’s son William.2

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: Roger Virgoe

Notes

  • 1. Date of birth estimated from age at fa.’s i.p.m., C142/68/52. CPR, 1557-8, p. 95.
  • 2. PCC 27 Spert; C1/1132/7; 142/68/58, 113/15; Req.2/21/2; CPR , 1547-8, p. 335; 1560-3, p. 195; PCC Admins. ed. Glencross, i. 19, 35.