John Covert, MP

Family and Education 3rd s. of Richard Covert (d.1579) of Slaugham by his 1st w. Anne, da. and coh. of Sir Walter Hendley† of Cranbrook, Kent; bro. of Walter. m. (1) Charity (d. by 2 Aug. 1583), da. of Sir Martin Bowes; (2) 1da.1

Offices Held

Biography Little is known of Covert. Though he lived only six miles from East Grinstead, it is probable that he owed his return for the borough to Lord Buckhurst. His will, made at Ewhurst 20 Oct. 1589, is in the form of a memorandum recording a conversation with two friends who advised him so to dispose of his property that his daughter might escape wardship. Covert’s answer expressed his complete trust in his brother Walter, his executor. Two days later he died, leaving an only child Anne, aged four months. In the second of two inquisitions post mortem, he is shown to have held many small properties in Shoreditch, all of them leased to Londoners; in the feodary’s survey they were valued at £8 in all.2

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603 Author: J.E.M. Notes 1. C142/225/70; 250/54; Comber, Suss. Genealogies, Ardingly Centre, 183-4; PCC 14 Arundel. 2. W. V. Cooper, Hist. Cuckfield, 71 seq.; C142/225/70, 311/110, 312/128, 250/54; PCC 98 Leicester; Wards 5/26.