Clement Higham

Sir Clement Higham, or Heigham, (pre-1495 – 9 March 1571) of Barrow, Suffolk, was an English lawyer and politician, who held a number of positions under to Queen Mary. He was also a barrister-at-law and a Reader and Governor of Lincoln's Inn in London.

The Right Honourable Sir Clement Higham MP, JP, PC
Heigham's coat of arms, at Lincoln's Inn.
Member of Parliament for Lancaster
In office 1588–1589
Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
In office 1558–1559
Monarch	Queen Mary I; Elizabeth I
Preceded by	David Brooke
Succeeded by	Sir Edward Saunders
Speaker of the House of Commons
In office 1554–1555
Monarch	Queen Mary I
Preceded by	Robert Broke
Succeeded by	Sir William Cordell
Member of Parliament for West Looe
In office November 1554 – 1555
Member of Parliament for Ipswich
In office April 1554 – November 1554
Member of Parliament for Rye
In office October 1553 – April 1554
Personal details
Born	ca 1495 Barrow, Suffolk
Died	March 9, 1571(1571-03-09) (aged 75) Barrow, Suffolk
Resting place	All Saints, Barrow
Nationality	English
Spouse(s)	(1) Anne Moonines; (2) Anne Waldegrave (1506–1590)
Children	3 sons, 7 daughters
Parents	Clement Heigham; Maud Cooke
Alma mater	Lincoln's Inn
Occupation	Politician and lawyer

A Catholic loyalist, he was rewarded for supporting Mary after the death of her brother Edward VI in 1553, and knighted in 1555 by her husband, Philip II of Spain. When Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558, he retired from politics.

Career

Higham was a Member of Parliament for Ipswich April 1554; for Rye October 1553; West Looe November 1554 and Lancaster 1558.[1]

Marriage and children

He married (after 1528) Anne Waldegrave (1506–1590), a daughter of Sir George Waldegrave (1483–1528) of Smallbridge in the parish of Bures St. Mary, Suffolk, by his wife Anne Drury (d. 1572), a daughter of Sir Robert Drury, Lord of the Manors of Thurston, and Hawstead, Suffolk (1455–1536). (See also Waldegrave family.) By Anne Waldegrave (whose ledger stone survives in All Saints Church, Thornage, Norfolk) he had issue including:

• Sir John Heigham, eldest son and heir, a M.P. for Ipswich.[2]

Death and burial

Church of All Saints, Barrow, Suffolk

Higham was buried in the Church of All Saints, at Barrow, Suffolk, where there is an altar tomb in the chancel with effigy brasses, arms, and long eulogistic inscription.[3] His coat of arms is displayed in a window at Lincoln's Inn.

References

• The Visitation of Suffolk 1561, by William Hervey, Clarenceux King of Arms. Transcribed and edited by Joan Corder, F.S.A., London, 1984 volume 2, pps: 396–7.

References

1. "HEIGHAM, Clement (by 1495-1571), of Barrow, Suff. - History of Parliament Online". Historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
2. J.H., 'Heigham, John (d.1626), of Barrow, Suff.', in P.W. Hasler (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603 (Boydell & Brewer, 1981). Read here
3. "Church of All Saints". Historic England. Retrieved 18 March 2020.

Sources

Parliament of England
Preceded by Thomas Carus Thomas Hungate	Member of Parliament for Lancaster 1558 to 1559 With: William Rice	Succeeded by Sir Thomas Benger William Fleetwood
Preceded by William Bendlowes Robert Monson	West Looe 1554 (November) to 1555 With: Ambrose Gilberd	Succeeded by William St Aubyn John Carnsew
Preceded by John Gosnold John Sulyard	Ipswich April to November 1554 With: Thomas Poley	Succeeded by Ralph Goodwin John Smith
Preceded by Richard Fletcher John Holmes	Rye October 1553 to April 1554 With: John Holmes	Succeeded by John Holmes Richard Fletcher

Political offices
Preceded by Sir Robert Broke	Speaker of the House of Commons 1554–1555	Succeeded by Sir John Pollard
Legal offices
Preceded by David Brooke	Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer 1558–1559	Succeeded by Sir Edward Saunders