Family and Education

m. 15 Sept. 1574, Eleanor, da. of Peter Mounsell of Weymouth, 2s. 1da.

Offices Held

Mayor, Weymouth 1585-6, 1598-9.

Biography

Mocket’s name first appears in the records in connexion with his earlier mayoralty. He was necessarily involved in the disputes between Weymouth and Melcombe, which continued even after their amalgamation. He sent Walsingham a petition requesting ordnance and munitions for defence, and in 1588 was one of the burgesses who signed the town’s letter pleading poverty when charged for preparations against the Armada. He was brought into Parliament for the combined boroughs after a double return in 1597, the accounts showing an item of £4 10s.6d. for ‘the establishing of the burgesses in the Parliament house’; the MPs themselves were paid for 113 days’ attendance at the rate of 5s.8d. per day. The date of Mocket’s death has not been found. The new charter Weymouth obtained in 1616 mentioned him as one of the first aldermen and he was still alderman in the following year, but not in 1625. His elder son was Dr. Richard Mocket, warden of All Souls.

Hutchins, Dorset, ii. 431, 480, 482; Proc. Dorset Nat. Hist. and Antiq. Field Club, xvi. 65; HMC 5th Rep. 581; HMC Hatfield, viii. 408; C219/72, 73; CSP Dom. 1581-90, p. 449; J. K. Laughton, Span. Armada, i. 151-3; Weymouth Charters, 134, 135; DNB.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: P. W. Hasler

Notes