JONES, Sir Henry (?1532-86), of Abermarlais, Carm.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Family and Education

b. ?1532, 1st. s. of Sir Thomas Jones of Abermarlais by his 2nd w. Mary, da. of James Berkeley of Thornbury, Glos., wid. of Thomas Perrot of Haverfordwest, Pemb.; bro. of Richard Jones and half-bro. of Sir John Perrot. m. (1) by 1553, Elizabeth (d. 10 Aug. 1571), da. of Matthew Herbert of Cogan Pill, Glam., at least 1s. Sir Thomas; (2) Eleanor, da. of Henry, 2nd Earl of Worcester, wid. of Sir Roger Vaughan of Porthaml, Brec.; (3) 31 Aug. 1584, Elizabeth, da. of Sir John Salusbury of Lleweni, Denb., wid. of John Salesbury of Rûg, Merion. At least 1s. illegit, Kntd. 1553; suc. fa. 1558/9.2

Offices Held

Commr. goods of churches and fraternities, Carm. 1553, armour 1569, musters 1570, victuals 1574, tanneries 1574, piracy 1579; sheriff, Card. 1553-4, 1559-60, Carm. 1573-4, 1583-4, Brec. 1581-2; jt. constable, Llandovery castle, Glam. 1554; j.p. Carm. 1559, q. 1561-d., Card. 1561; custos rot. Carm. from c.1561.3

Biography

Jones held a commanding position, both socially and politically, in Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire. From 1569 he was on every commission set up by the council in the marches of Wales to deal with Carmarthenshire affairs, and in 1581 he was one of seven commissioners appointed by the Privy Council to inquire into irregularities in the diocese of St. David’s.4

On 5 Feb. 1563 Jones complained in the House that six of his servants had been arrested, but his privilege protected him only to the extent of obtaining them bail until the end of the session. Browne Willis’s error in ascribing a Carmarthenshire seat in 1571 to John Vaughan, allows the assumption that Jones sat again. No speeches by him are known for this Parliament but he was appointed to two committees: one for the bill against priests disguised as servants (1 May 1571), the other for the bill concerning the 12 shires of Wales (25 May). His appointment as sheriff in 1573 was unsuccessfully challenged by the Earl of Essex on the ground that he was a murderer and an ‘earnest papist’. As to the latter it is true that he is mentioned on a list of sympathizers drawn up by an adherent of Mary Stuart in 1574, but his having held office through so many religious changes suggests that he had no strong views of any kind. When he came to make his will on 22 Sept. 1586, two days before his death, he left money for St. David’s cathedral and for the repair of Llansadwrn parish church. His household servants received small bequests, his widow an annuity of £100 and his base son, John, an annuity of £6 13s.4d. The will was proved 27 Oct. by his eldest son, heir and sole executor, Sir Thomas Jones.5

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Authors: A.H.D. / P. S. Edwards

Notes

  • 1. Sat for Old Sarum or Cardiganshire.
  • 2. Dwnn, Vis. Wales , i. 189-90; Trans. Carm. Antiq. Soc. xxiv. 45-6; Lansd. 146, f. 20; PCC 30 Chaynay.
  • 3. CPR, 1553, p. 419; 1554-5, p. 62; 1560-3, pp. 445-6; Lansd. 146, f. 20; 1218, ff. 37, 85, 86; C66/985; APC, xiii. 142; SP12/93/9, 12/21.
  • 4. Flenley, Cal. Reg. Council, Marches of Wales, 60, 69, 74, 109, 126, 132, 270; APC, xiii. 142.
  • 5. CJ, i. 64-5, 87, 92; D’Ewes, 84, 180, 188; SP12/90/8 trans. Bull. Bd. Celtic Studies, vi. 167-8; Cath. Rec. Soc. viii. 93; PCC 52 Windsor; C142/213/69.