Henry Anderson (merchant)

Henry Anderson (1484–1559) was an English politician who was elected to the House of Commons in 1529.

Henry Anderson
MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne
In office 1529–1529
Preceded by	unknown
Succeeded by	Sir Thomas Tempest and unknown
Personal details
Born	Henry Anderson c.1484 Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland
Died	1559 Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Ann Orde
Children	10: Bertram Anderson
Occupation	Merchant Politician

Background

Henry Anderson was the son of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne merchant John Anderson and his wife Marian Lockwood, the daughter of Thomas Lockwood of Richmondshire, Yorkshire. Thomas Lockwood had previously been Sheriff (1471–2) and Mayor (1488–9) of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[1][2]

Career

Anderson was Sheriff (1520–1), Alderman (by 1524) then Mayor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1532–3, 1539–40, 1542–3, 1546–7).[3] He was elected to represent the town in Parliament in 1529 and may even have been elected in 1523, 1536, 1539 and 1542.[1]

During the Pilgrimage of Grace, he was among the Newcastle Mayor and Aldermen who were praised for resisting the rebellion. During his time as Mayor, Anderson was appointed as keeper of Newcastle's Dominican Friary in 1539. Anderson also provided ships and resources for the army and Royal Naval fleet during the war with Scotland in 1543. Four years later, in 1547, he became the first Governor of the newly founded Merchant Adventurers of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[1]

Anderson made his will in January 1559 and seems likely to have died shortly afterwards (and buried at St Nicholas's Church, Newcastle) since an inventory of his estate was made in March 1559.[1][4]

Family

Anderson married Anne Orde, the daughter of Robert Orde of Orde, Northumberland.[1] They had ten children, including four sons: Bertram (1505–71), Francis, Henry and Clement.[2]

He was the founder of a political dynasty – his son, Bertram (1505–1571), grandson Henry (1545–1605) and great-grandson Sir Henry (1582–1659) were all MPs, Mayors and Sheriffs of Newcastle-upon-Tyne during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Arms

Coat of arms of Henry Anderson

Notes The arms of the Andersons of Newcastle-upon-Tyne[2] Escutcheon Or, on a chevron Gules between three birds’ heads erased Sable, as many acorns slipped Argent, on a canton Sable three martlets Argent.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Henry Anderson (1484–1559)
4. Richard Anderson of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2. John Anderson of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1. Henry Anderson (1484–1559) 6. Thomas Lockwood of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 3. Marian Lockwood 7. (Unknown) Stephenson

References

1. History of Parliament Online – Anderson, Henry
2. Archive.org – G.W. Marshall, The Visitation of Northumberland in 1615 (1878)
3. Newcastle City Council Mayors and Sheriffs 1600–1699
4. Archive.org – Wills and Inventories Illustrative of the History, Manners, Language, Statistics, etc, of the Northern Counties of England, from the Eleventh Century Downwards, Part I, ed. James Raine, Surtees Society, 2 (1835), pp. 164-8.