Sir Rowland Hill, Lord Mayor of London, MP

Family and Education

b. by 1498, s. and h. of Thomas Hill of Hodnet by Margaret, da. of Thomas Wilbraham of Woodhey, Cheshire. m. (d.1550), s.p. Kntd. 18 May 1542. d. on 28 or 29 Oct. 1561.

Offices Held

Warden, Mercers’ Co. 1535-6, master 1542-3, 1549-50, 1554-5, 1560-1; sheriff, London 1541-2; alderman 1542-d., mayor 1549-50, auditor 1550-2; j.p. Salop 1543-54, Mdx. 1547-54, Surr. q. 1557-d.; commr. of Admiralty in Nov. 1547.

Biography

History of Parliament Online

John Barker (d. 1572) was evidently the steward or tenant of Shrewsbury Abbey's manor of Wollerton in the parish of Hodnet, and made his home there. After the dissolution of Shrewsbury Abbey this was one of the manors acquired by John's brother-in-law, Sir Rowland Hill (c.1495-1561), kt., a rich London merchant who was Lord Mayor in 1549-50. Sir Rowland was really the founder of the Barkers' fortunes, for having invested heavily in property but lacking children himself, he scattered substantial estates among his nephews and nieces and their offspring, both through lifetime gifts and through bequests.