Son of John Gerrard, a grocer, who in 1507 was living in the parish of St. Magnus the Martyr, near London Bridge.

Knighted and made Lord Mayor of London 1555.

M.P. London 1557-8;

President Bethlem and Bridewell 1558-9;

President St. Bartholomew's Hospital 1559-71 (Treasurer 1548-9);

Surveyor-General Hospitals 1566-7; Comptroller-General Hospitals 1556-71

Will dated April 15,1570; proved January 12 1572.

Father of Sir John Garrarde (Lord Mayor 1601-2) and father-in-law of Sir George Barne (Lord Mayor 1586-7).

Described as "a grave, sober, wise and discreet citizen equal with the best and inferior to none of our time."

-------------------- Sir William GERRAD, Lord Mayor of London was born in 1507 in Dorney Bucks, England two years before Henry VIII became King of England. He was only a few years old when Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He married Isabel Nethermill of Coventry, Warwickshire, England when he was 23 years old. He was elected Lord Mayor of London in 1555 when Queen Mary was on the throne.

In certain documents he is described as

Williemus Garrard de Dorney.

He was knighted in 1555 (Shaw's Knights of England; 1906). He was a member of the Haberdashers Company and dwelt in Pissing Conduit in Christopher's Parish and was buried at St. Magnus, in which parish he was born." He owned property in Sittingborne, Newington and Milton.

His arms are Argent, on a fess sable, a lion passant on the field. His crest is a leopard sejant proper. He was a merchant and adventurer. I found on the internet a copy of a contract (treaty) between Queen Elizabeth (who followed Queen Mary) and Duke Vasiliwich of Russia granting him certain exclusive trading rights with Russia. He died on September 27, 1571 at the age of 64. -------------------- Sir William Garrard, Lord Mayor of London was born in Dorney Bucks, England two years before Henry VIII became King of England. Dorney, lies 2 ½ miles west of Eton and Eton adjoins Windsor Castle. It, and an adjoining manor, Boveney, was owned by the "Girrard family, and afterward by Charles H. Palmer, whose ancestor, Sir James Palmer, Knight, married the daughter of Sir William Garrard.

William was a leading merchant adventurer. His arms are Argent, on a fess sable, a lion passant on the field. His crest is a leopard sejant proper.

In certain documents William is described as Williemus Garrard de Dorney.

"Sir William Garrard, lord major of London 1555-1556, and father of Anne, wife of Sir George Barne, the younger, was knighted in 1555 (Shaw's Knights of England; 1906; ii; 69). He was a member of the Haberdashers Company and dwelt in Pissing Conduit in Christopher's Parish and was buried at St. Magnus, in which parish he was born." (Stow's Survey of London and Westminster; 6th ed. 1755; ii; 279.) He owned property in Sittingborne, Newington and Milton.

Sir William Garrard married Isabel Nethermill of Coventry, Warwickshire, England when he was 23 years old. He was elected Lord Mayor of London in 1555 when Queen Mary was on the throne. In certain documents he is described as Williemus Garrard de Dorney.

He was knighted in 1555, the same year that he was elected Lord Mayor of London. He was a member of the Haberdashers Company and dwelt in Pissing Conduit in Christopher's Parish. The Haberdashers Company received it Royal Charter in 1448 and was responsible for the regulation of cloth merchants in London. The organization still exists but is now an education and charitable institution. The Pissing Conduit has been described as “a little postern of stone set up with a cesterne of lead inside it, opposite the south-east corner of the Stocks Market (in London)” It is called the "pissing Conduit" from its running a small stream of water. It is referred to several times by Shakespeare. Sir William Garrard died on September 27, 1571 and was buried at St. Magnus the Martyr. He owned property in Sittingborne, Newington and Milton.

Following is the first paragraph of a letter written in 1570 that tells of a shipping adventure of Sir William Garrard involving “Freebooters” which presumably are pirates. The letter is to the Emperor of Russia.

Here is the copy of a letter sent to the Emperour of Moscouie by Christopher Hodsdon and William Burrough, Anno 1570 (the spellings are as originally written:

Most mightie Empefour of Moscouie (Russia). Whereas Sir William Garrard and his felowship the company of English merchants, this last Winter sent hither to the Narue three ships laden with merchandise, which was left here, and with it Christopher Hodsdon one of the sayd felowship, and their chiefe doer in this place, who

when hee came first hither, and vntil such time as hee had dispatched those ships from hence, was in hope of goods to lade twelue or thirteene sails of good ships, against this shipping, wherefore he wrote vnto the sayd Sir William Garrard and his companie to send hither this spring the sayd number of thirteene ships. And because that in their comming hither wee found the Freebooters on the sea, and supposing this yeere that they, would be very strong, he therefore gaue the said sir William and his companie aduise to furnish the sayd number of ships so strongly, as they should bee able to withstand the force of the Freebooters: whereupon they haue according to his aduice sent this yeere thirteene good ships together well furnished with men and munition, and all other necessaries for the warres, of which 13. ships William Burrough one of the said felowship is captaine generall, into whom there was giuen in charge, that if hee met with any the Danske Freebooters, or whatsoeuer robbers and theeues that are enimies to to your highnesse, he should doe his best to apprehend and take them. [Fiue ships of Freebooters taken.]

He was a merchant and adventurer. I found on the internet a copy of a contract (treaty) between Queen Elizabeth (who followed Queen Mary) and Duke Vasiliwich of Russia granting Sir William Garrard certain exclusive trading rights with Russia.

Sir William Garrard was involved with Sir Thomas Gresham in the building of the Royal Exchange in London in 1565. He is mentioned in the will of King Edward VI as being the Sheriff of London. He died on September 27, 1571 at the age of 64.

Sir William Garrarde’s honors in a report of London “Aldermen” are:

Knighted before 28 Feb 1556;

M.P. London 1557 - 1558;

President Bethlem and Bridewell 1558 - 1559;

President St. Bartholomew's Hospital 1559 - 1571 (Treasurer 1548 - 1549);

Surveyor-General Hospitals 1566 - 1567;

Comptroller-General Hospitals 1556 - 1571

Will dated April 15, 1570; proved January 12, 1572.

Father of Sir John Garrarde (Lord Mayor 1601 - 1602) and father-in-law of Sir George Barne (Lord Mayor 1586 -1587).

Sir William has been described as "a grave, sober, wise and discreet citizen equal with the best and inferior to none of our time."

William and his father John changed the spelling of their name Garard by adding the extra r, some even changed the e to a making it Garrard

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1.  A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies ... By John Burke, John Bernard Burke (sir.).  Page 213.