HEMMERFORD, alias HYMMERFORD, Andrew (d. by 1581), of East Coker, Som. and the Inner Temple, London.

Hemmerford was returned at a by-election 27 Mar. 1578, while Parliament was in recess. He had presumably died by the time another writ was issued for his seat in January 1581 in time for the new session which commenced on the 16th of the month. Thus he cannot have taken his seat in the House. Little has been ascertained about him, and it is not known how he came to be returned for Minehead. Perhaps he happened to be the only suitable Somerset man already in London. Frequently boroughs saved expense by returning men of local origins, whose (usually legal) business necessitated their residing in London, where they would be conveniently placed for Parliament. Still, East Coker is not near Minehead, and a Luttrell connexion would be a more likely reason for his return.1C219/283/3, 4; Hutchins, Dorset, i. 570-1; iv. 181-2; Som. Par. Reg. x. 116.