ANTON, George (b.c.1550), of Lincoln.

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

b.c.1550, 2nd s. of Thomas Anton (d.1559) of Strathfieldsaye on borders of Hants and Berks., clerk of court of wards, by Katherine (d.1590), da. of James Chamberlayne of Sparsholt, Berks. educ. Eton; King’s, Camb. 1566, BA 1571, MA 1574, fellow 1569-75; L. Inn Mar. 1575, called 1584. m. (1) 8 Jan. 1590, Joan (d. 11 Mar. 1592), da. of Thomas Taylor of Doddington and Lincoln, 1s. d.v.p. 1da.; (2) Bridget, da. of William Fitzwilliam of Mablethorpe, Lincs., 1s. 2da.

Offices Held

Recorder, Lincoln 1587-1612; j.p. Lincs. (Lindsey) from c.1592.2

Biography

In March 1575 Anton was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn at the request of Peter Osborne, who may have known his father when they were both officials in London. In August 1587 at a time when two factions in Lincoln were disputing the choice of a recorder, Anthony Thorold wrote to the 4th Earl of Rutland asking him to support a Mr. Broxham or Broxholme. Thorold and the bishop of Lincoln had been instructed by the Privy Council ‘to make unity among the aldermen’, and they expected the mayor’s party to be the stronger of the two ‘vehement’ factions. In the event the corporation elected Anton, after making him a freeman. As recorder he represented the borough in four consecutive Parliaments. On 11 Feb. 1589 he was named to the subsidy committee and as burgess for Lincoln he could have served on committees for salted herrings (11 Mar. 1589), export of sheepskins (26 Nov. 1597) and draining the fens (3 Dec. 1597). Anton kept the title of recorder until Feb. 1612, being allowed to employ a deputy in March 1603. When he was finally removed, on the grounds that he had left the city and county, it was said that he had given the corporation no help or advice ‘these many years’.3

Nothing further about him has been found.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: J.C.H.

Notes

  • 1. Folger V. b. 298.
  • 2. Lincs. Peds. (Harl. Soc. l), 31; R. E. G. Cole, Hist. Doddington, 60, 249-50.
  • 3. HMC Rutland, i. 225; Lincs. Peds.; HMC 14th Rep. VIII, 78; J. W. F. Hill, Tudor and Stuart Lincoln, 73-4; D’Ewes, 431, 445, 564, 567.