Family and Education

1st s. of Sir Thomas Hanmer^† of Hanmer by Catherine, da. and h. of Thomas Salter of Oswestry, Salop. educ. G. Inn 1553. m. Jane, da. of Sir John Salusbury^† of Lleweni, Denb., 3s. inc. Thomas. suc. fa. 1583.1

Offices Held

?Coroner, Flints. 1560, j.p. from c.1573, sheriff 1583-4; j.p. Mont. from c.1592.2

Biography

Hanmer was heir to the senior branch of an ancient family. Some slight doubt exists about his Membership of the 1559 Parliament, because of his extreme youth, if the birthdate given in the family history for his father is correct, but no more suitable candidate has been found among numerous namesakes in other branches of the family. The senior branch of the house of Hanmer, after its early association with Glyndwr, remained conspicuously loyal to the Crown until the civil war. It is true that John Hanmer was absent when the oath of 1579 was administered to justices, but he duly took it on his return. The knighthood attributed to him by Dwnn (date 1597) is not confirmed in contemporary legal records.

Hanmer served on sundry county commissions, but there is no record of his having taken part in parliamentary debates or committees. A discriminating book collector, his interests appear to have been literary rather than political. He was occasionally involved in land disputes with neighbours in the courts of Chancery, Exchequer, and Star Chamber. He died in 1604.3

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: A.H.D.

Notes

• 1. Dwnn, Vis. Wales, ii. 312, 331; Griffith, Peds. 286; Vis. Salop (Harl. Soc. xxix), 427; C. Hanmer, Hanmers of Marton and Montford, Salop, 41-4.
• 2. CPR, 1560-3, p. 61; Flenley, Cal. Reg. Council, Marches of Wales, 141.
• 3. J. Hanmer, Par. and Fam. of Hanmer, 47, 49, 68-9; Flints. Hist. Soc. Pub. xiv. 24, 28, 35-6; Augmentations, ed. Lewis and Davies (Univ. Wales Bd. of Celtic Studies, Hist. and Law ser. xiii), 334, 401; NLW, Deeds and Documents, i. 347-9; Vis. Wales, ii. 312; HMC 6th Rep. 471a; HMC Hatfield, xi. 87; APC, xi. 292; xv. 47, 334; CSP Dom. 1581-90, pp. 326, 370; Add. 1580-1625, p. 152; DWB; Flenley, 109, 127; St. Ch. 5/M19/13; C3/90/22; Exchequer, ed. E. G. Jones (Univ. Wales Bd. of Celtic Studies, Hist. and Law ser. iv), 204.