John Boys (died 1612)

Sir John Boys (c. 1535 – 1612), of St. Gregory's, Canterbury, the Middle Temple, London and Betteshanger, Kent, was an English politician, noted lawyer, and steward to the Archbishop of Canterbury.[1][2]

Background

He was a younger son of William Boys (d.c.1549), of Fredville, Nonington, Kent by Mary, sister and heir of Sir Edward Ringley of Knowlton, Kent.[3][4] His family had held the manor of Fredville since the reign of Henry VII.[5] He entered the Middle Temple in February 1560 and became a Bencher of the society in 1580.[6]

Career

He was appointed recorder of Sandwich in 1572 and chosen to represent the town in parliament.[1] In the same year he began to represent the Archbishop of Canterbury as steward of the liberties.[1] He sat for Midhurst in 1593, probably through the influence of Richard Lewknor (died 1616), a fellow Middle Temple lawyer and legal advisor to Viscount Montagu.[7] As the city's recorder from 1592, he sat in parliament for Canterbury in 1597, 1601 and 1604.[1] As an MP he was active on a number of committees, concentrating on legal and maritime matters.[1]

In 1595 Boys founded Jesus hospital, Canterbury, an almshouse for 8 men and 4 women in Northgate Street, Canterbury.[8][1] He was among the knights created by James VI and I in March 1604 at the Tower of London before his Royal entry into London.[9]

Family

He married:

  1. Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Pawley of London[1]
  2. Jane (d.1635), daughter and coheir of Thomas Walker of London[1]

He died in August 1612 without a direct heir and was buried in Canterbury cathedral.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "BOYS, John (C.1535-1612), of St. Gregory's, Canterbury, the Middle Temple, London and Betteshanger, Kent". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  2. ^ Literary Community-making. 2012. p. 41.
  3. ^ The visitation of Kent : taken in the years 1619-1621. Vol. 42. Harleian Society. 1898. pp. 39–40.
  4. ^ Nicolas, Sir Nicholas Harris (1826). Testamenta Vetusta. pp. 702–3, 726.
  5. ^ "Edward Hasted's The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent volume 9: Nonington". British History Online. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  6. ^ Register of Admissions to the Middle Temple. Vol. 1. 1949. p. 24.
  7. ^ "House of Commons 1558-1603:Midhurst". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  8. ^ Goulden's Canterbury guide. 1898. pp. 32–3.
  9. ^ Shaw, W. A. (1906). The Knights of England. Vol. 2. p. 130.
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