1583 THOMAS CLARKE, (Innholder).
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Believed to have been Thomas, son of Richard Clarke of Packington, co. Leic., who is named in the latter's will 1580 ; was born about 1540, admitted a freeman as a mason and yeoman in 1566-7, elected one of the chamberlains 1568, a coroner 1576 and again mayor 1598. Towards the latter part of his life he became the landlord of the once famous tavern, The Blue Boar Inn, in Highcross Street, the inn at which King Richard III stayed in August 1485, one or two nights, before the historic battle of Bosworth Field. He married at St. Martin's 31 August 1567, Agnes Davy and had issue one daughter. The Hall Book tells us that Ald. Clarke died on Tuesday morning, 28 June 1603, and the registers of St. Martin's record his burial two days later. His will, a long record dated 15 June 1603, was proved in the P.C.C., London, 27 January 1603-4. He left money for the purchase of coals for the poor of Leic. and made bequests to the Free School, Trinity Hospital, etc.
Mrs. Agnes Clarke (nee Davy), his widow, who continued the business of the hostelry, came to an untimely end a year after her husband's decease, she being cruelly murdered at the inn by thieves, aided by a maid servant, on Sunday evening, 3 February 1604,5 (vide Kelly's Royal Progresses and Visits to Leic., p. 242). Her burial is recorded in St. Martin's registers 5 February 1604-5.
1598 THOMAS CLARKE. (2)
During his second mayoralty in June 1599, Queen Elizabeth's second Charter was granted to the corporation. It incorporated the burgesses under the name of the "Mayor, Bailiffs and Burgesses of the Borough of Leicester," and invested them with additional powers and privileges.
