FISHER, Clement (c.1539-1619), of Great Packington, Warws.

Fisher’s father came from Shropshire, and was granted the manor of Great Packington shortly after the dissolution of Kenilworth priory to which it had belonged. He was a gentleman pensioner from Henry VIII’s reign onwards without interruption. After settling in Warwickshire, he became steward to Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick, with responsibility for the castle and borough of Warwick and for all Dudley’s Warwickshire and Leicestershire lands. In 1563-4 he was sheriff of these two counties.

No doubt it was through his father’s service to the Dudleys that Fisher himself came to the notice of Warwick’s younger brother the Earl of Leicester, who commended him to the bailiffs of Tamworth for return to Parliament in 1584 in such terms that they could not refuse, even though Leicester’s stepson, the Earl of Essex, was forcing them to accept his candidate, John Breton, for the other seat. The bailiffs would have liked to return their recorder, Richard Broughton. Fisher is recorded as having been appointed to a parliamentary committee about a private matter, 7 Dec.1Vis. Warws. (Harl. Soc. xii), 217; Dugdale, Warws. ii. 989, 991; Erdeswick’s Surv. Staffs. 277; C142/159/78; J. C. Wedgwood, Staffs. Parl. Hist. (Wm. Salt Arch. Soc.), i. 383; E. M. Tenison, Eliz. England, vi. 45, 47; Add. 28175, f. 51; D’Ewes, 336.

In his will made 8 Apr. 1618, Fisher asked to be buried in the church of Great Packington in such manner as his wife, the sole executrix, should think fit, ‘not forgetting in reasonable sort my estate and degree’. He referred to his lands in Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire from which he made ample provision for his wife for her life, though his leasehold property called Astell Grove, held of the Dowager Countess of Leicester, was to pass to his son and heir, Sir Robert (cr. Bt. 1622). The residue of his moveables after the discharge of his debts and legacies was to be divided between his wife and Sir Robert. Fisher died 23 Oct. 1619 and his wife shortly afterwards so that, although the will was formally proved on 22 May 1620, the heir could not complete its execution until letters of administration were granted to him on 22 May 1623.2PCC 37 Soame; Burke, Extinct Baronetcies, 197; C142/432/135.