Richard Pollard (MP) facts for kids
Sir Richard Pollard (born by 1505 – died 10 November 1542) was an important person in England during the time of King Henry VIII. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Taunton in 1536, and later for Devon in 1540 and 1542. He played a big role in helping Thomas Cromwell manage the Dissolution of the monasteries, which was when King Henry VIII closed down many religious houses.
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Who Was Richard Pollard?
Sir Richard Pollard was the second son of Sir Lewis Pollard (who lived from about 1465 to 1526). His father was a judge and also an MP for Totnes. Richard's mother was Agnes Hext. Her father, Thomas Hext, was a well-known lawyer from Staverton, near Totnes.
Richard Pollard's Career
Becoming a Lawyer and MP
In 1519, Richard Pollard began his legal training at the Middle Temple, a famous law school in London, just like his father had done. By 1532, he became a JP for Devon, which meant he helped keep law and order in the county.
He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Taunton in 1536. Later, he was elected twice for Devon in 1539 and 1542. He also served as the Sheriff of Devon in 1537-1538, a very important local role.
Working for the King
By 1537, Richard Pollard had important jobs working for King Henry VIII. He became the King's Remembrancer of the Exchequer, which involved keeping financial records for the King. He was also appointed as a General Surveyor for the Court of Augmentations. This new court was set up to manage the wealth and lands taken from the monasteries during the Dissolution of the monasteries.
Pollard helped Thomas Cromwell, a powerful minister to King Henry VIII, with this huge task. His job was to visit religious houses like monasteries and priories. He would make a detailed list and valuation of all their property, money, and income. This record was called the Valor Ecclesiasticus. This was a first step before the King sold off these properties.
Because of his important role, Pollard became very influential. He could help his friends and allies. For example, he helped Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle, whose wife Honor Grenville was from North Devon. Pollard helped them get good deals when buying Frithelstock Priory. He even let Honor Grenville's family stay at his manor house in Umberleigh in 1538.
Important Missions
Many records of Richard Pollard's activities can be found in the Lisle Letters and the Letters & Papers of Henry VIII. One of his most famous tasks was overseeing the removal of valuable items from the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral in September 1538. This shrine contained a lot of gold and precious jewels, and it took several days to clear it out.
After this, Pollard went to Reading and Winchester with other officials to do similar work. He reported that a shrine in Winchester had no gold, only fake jewels, but they did find a good amount of silver.
In 1539, he joined the Council of the West, a group that advised the King on matters in the western parts of England. He was made a knight on 16 January 1542, becoming Sir Richard Pollard.
Lands Richard Pollard Acquired
In 1537, King Henry VIII gave Richard Pollard the manor of Combe Martin in Devon. His powerful position in the Court of Augmentations allowed him to buy properties from the dissolved religious houses at very good prices.
For example, in 1540, he bought Forde Abbey. In 1538, he also got a favorable lease for 99 years (later changed to 21 years) of Marsh Priory, which used to belong to Plympton Priory in Devon. He often bought large pieces of land and then sold them off in smaller parts to make a profit, sometimes selling them back to the people who used to live there.
Richard Pollard's Family
Richard Pollard married Jacquetta Bury (who died in 1545). Her father, John Bury, had arranged this marriage in his will. Richard used his influence to help his older brother, Sir Hugh I Pollard, get the right to look after John Bury's 17-year-old son, Richard Bury. Sir Hugh then arranged for young Richard Bury to marry his own daughter, Elizabeth Pollard.
