HOLLAND, Thomas I (d.c.1618), of Dartmouth, Devon.

Holland was a Dartmouth merchant who took a prominent part in the purchase of the Madre de Dios, a Spanish carrack, brought into the harbour in 1592. The return to Parliament of Holland and his colleague in 1593 may have been connected with the negotiations already begun with the Privy Council over the carrack. Holland evidently enjoyed this sort of speculation. When he was mayor in 1597, he and George Carey wrote to the Privy Council about a Spanish ship which had been compelled to put in at Dartmouth, sending up an inventory and asking to be allowed to retain the guns for the defence of Torbay. Holland leased a good deal of land and property from the town of Dartmouth and at different times lent the corporation substantial sums of money. He may have attended two committees concerning kerseys (23 Mar., 2 Apr. 1593) to which the burgesses of Dartmouth were appointed.1Roberts thesis; D’Ewes, 507, 513.

Holland made his will at Dartmouth 10 Nov. 1618; it was proved the following 9 Mar. He remembered the poor of Dartmouth, and left bequests for the education of his little boy at the university ‘if God shall please to make him fit for the same’, and for his daughter’s marriage. His wife was executrix and residuary legatee.2PCC 28 Parker.