Biographical Master List



The purpose of this page is to provide a central reference to the more substantive of the biographical sketches of medieval townspeople dispersed across various of the Medieval English Towns pages. Links to key external sites with biographical information are also included. The list comprises names, an indicator of the main claim(s) to fame, and the location with which principally associated.

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U/V   W   X/Y/Z




- A -

Acton, Richard; wool merchant and mayor, Newcastle

Alard, Gervase; mayor and admiral, Winchelsea

Alard, Thomas; merchant and town planner, Winchelsea

Albeyn, John; tanner and bailiff, Nottingham

Alestre, John; wool merchant and mayor, Nottingham

Amyas, William; merchant and chantry founder, Nottingham

Appleyard, William; mayor, Norwich

Ashebourne, William; town clerk, Lynn

Askham, William; fishmonger and mayor, London

Audley, Henry; market operator and town-founder?, Betley

Aylward, Robert; merchant and mayor, Southampton

- B -

Badlesmere, Bartholomew; royal servant and market operator, Heytesbury, Shifnal, Thaxted

Baker, William; netter and constable, Reading

Bamme, Adam; goldsmith and mayor, London

Bannebury, Alan; hat-maker?, Reading

Barentyn, Drew; goldsmith and alderman, London

Baret, John; merchant, Bury St. Edmund's

Baret, William; merchant and alderman, London

Barton, Henry; skinner and mayor, London

Basinges, Adam; merchant and mayor, London

Basset, Alan; market operator, High Wycombe, Wootton Bassett

Baxter, John; mayor, Reading

Beauchamp,Thomas and Richard; borough lords and soldiers, Warwick

Bedeham, John; chantry founder, London

Bedingham, Ralph; merchant, Lynn

Belleyetere, Edmund; merchant vintner, Lynn

Betele, Henry; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Bezill, Matthew; royal servant and market operator, Sherston

Bilney, John; merchant and reformer, Lynn

Bitering, William; vintner and mayor, Lynn

Bixley, John; mercer and mayor, Norwich

Blakeney, William; mariner, Lynn

Blakburn, Margaret; wife of Nicholas Blakburn, York

Blakburn, Nicholas; merchant and mayor, York

Blaunche, John; cooper, Lynn

Bolt, John; merchant, Lynn

Bolton, John; mercer and mayor, York

Botkesham, Robert; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Botkesham, Thomas; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Bourchier, Henry; Earl of Essex, market operator, Halstead

Bousser, Robert; baron, market operator, Halstead

Boys, Hugh; ironmonger, London

Bramptone, William; fishmonger and alderman, London

Brandon, John; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Braunch, Ancelm; merchant and jurat, Lynn

Braunch, John; merchant and jurat, Lynn

Braunch, Robert; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Brembre, Nicholas; grocer and mayor, London

Brewer, William; town-founder, Axminster, Bridgwater, Chesterfield, Stockbridge

Brigge, Thomas; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Brompton, John; merchant and keeper, Beverley

Brunham, John; merchant, mayor, father of Margery Kempe, Lynn

Brunham, Robert; vintner and mayor, Lynn

Bruyn, John; bailiff, Bridgnorth

Brycham, William; fishmonger and merchant, Lynn

Bryghtzeve, John; merchant and jurat, Lynn

Brynton, William; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Bukerel, Andrew; merchant and mayor, London

Bukworth, John; reformer, Lynn

Bureford, Rose; embroideress and merchant's wife, London

Burgeys, John; merchant and bailiff, Maldon

Burgh, Elizabeth; Lady de Clare, market operator, Buntingford, Buntingford, Great Bardfield

Burgh, Hubert; justiciar, regent, market operator, Rayleigh et al.

Burghard, John; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Burley, William; bailiff, Shrewsbury

Burnell, Robert; chancellor, bishop, and town-founder, Acton

Bury, Adam; merchant and alderman, London

Bury, William; gentleman, Colchester

Bye, Thomas; fuller? and mayor, Reading

- C -

Caldwell, John; merchant and bailiff, Ipswich

Cambridge, William; grocer, alderman, London

Capella, Richard; bishop and property developer, Bromyard, Ledbury, Leominster?

Carleton, Thomas; embroiderer and alderman, London

Carpenter, John; town clerk, London

Carpenter, Thomas; mercer and mayor, Reading

Causton, John; chantry founder, London

Caxton, William; merchant and book publisher, Westminster

Chapman, Geoffrey; small trader, Earls Colne

Chichele, Robert; grocer and mayor, London

Chichester, John; goldsmith and alderman, London

Clech, Richard; draper and mayor, Reading

Clerk, William; potter, London

Clopton, Robert; draper and mayor, London

Cokesford, Hamon; jurat, Lynn

Cokesford, John; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Cokesford, Robert; lawyer/administrator, Lynn

Cooke, Thomas; jurat, Lynn

Couper, Robert; mason, York

of Cornwall, Richard; earl and town developer, Camelford, Looe, et al.

Couteshale, John; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Costyn, Geoffrey; bailiff, Ipswich

Coteler, Thomas; taverner and merchant, Ipswich

Coventre, John; mercer and mayor, London

Craven, John; gentleman and ordnance master, York

Crosby, John; merchant and mayor, London

Crowmere, William; draper and mayor, London

Croxton, Robert; mason, London

- D -

Danvers, Agnes; gentlewoman, widow of Fray, Wenlock and Say, London

Dapifer, Eudo; king's steward and property developer, Colchester

Davyson, Robert; mason, York

Davyson, Thomas; gentleman and town clerk, York

Debenham, William; merchant and bailiff, Ipswich

Denton, John; administrator and mayor, Newcastle

Dereman, Nicholas; butcher, London

Drayll, John; merchant and bailiff, Ipswich

Drayton, Thomas; merchant, administrator, Yarmouth

Drewe, Geoffrey senior; jurat, Lynn

Drewe, Geoffrey junior; merchant guild alderman, Lynn

Drewe, John; merchant and jurat, Lynn

Drewe, Thomas senior; mayor, Lynn

Drewe, Thomas junior; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Drye, Robert; bailiff, Ipswich

- E -

Edington, William; bishop and fair-owner, Winchester

Egglesfeld, John; gentleman and sword-bearer, York

Ellingham, Hugh; mercer and vintner, Lynn

Ellingham, William; mercer and jurat, Lynn

Elys, Henry; jurat, Lynn

Elys, Roger; wax-chandler and alderman, London

Elys, William; merchant and customs farmer, Yarmouth

Emeldon, Richard; wool merchant and bailiff, Newcastle

Erl, William; vintner, Lynn

Erpingham, Thomas; knight, soldier, arbitrator, Norwich

Essex, William; draper and parliamentary representative, London

Esyngton, William; wool merchant, Newcastle

Eyre, Simon; middleman, London

Eyton, Roger; bailiff, Shrewsbury

- F -

Falyate, John; merchant, Lynn

Fastolf, Hugh; mariner, merchant, administrator, Yarmouth

Fastolf, Hugh; grocer and alderman, London (same as Yarmouth man)

Fauconer, Thomas; mercer and mayor, London

Faukes, Thomas; merchant, Lynn

la Fayre, Alice; huckster, Colchester

Felawe, Richard; merchant and bailiff, Harwich, Ipswich

Feld, John; fishmonger and alderman, London

FitzThedmar, Arnold; alderman and chronicler, London

FitzThomas, Thomas; draper, mayor and Montfortian, London

FitzWalter,Robert; knight and military commander, London

Fleming, John; merchant and mayor, Southampton

Foleham, Adam; fishmonger and alderman, London

Forester, Walter; skinner and alderman, London

Fox, John; mayor, Lollard sympathiser, Northampton

Frank, Philip; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Frank, Richard; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Fransham, Geoffrey; merchant, Lynn

Fray, John; lawyer and administrator, London

Frere, Richard; town clerk, Lynn

Frompton, Walter; merchant and mayor, Bristol

Frost, William; mayor, York

Frowyk, Roger; goldsmith and alderman, London

Fyncham, John; administrator, Lynn

- G -

Galt, Henry; goldsmith?, Lynn

Galyon, Roger; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Gamel, John; bailiff, Shrewsbury

Gaysele, Geoffrey; merchant, Lynn

Gaysele, William; attorney and parliamentary representative, Yarmouth

Gedney, John; draper and mayor, London

Gisors, John; merchant and alderman, London

Gloucester, Thomas; glover, London

Glover, John; cloth merchant and bailiff, Maldon

Gloucester, William; goldsmith and alderman, London

Godestone, Thomas; administrator, Colchester

Gosselyn, Richard; chantry founder, London

Graper, Peter; bailiff, Newcastle

Gunter, Willliam; merchant and mayor, Southampton

Gunton, Simon; merchant and mayor, Lynn

- H -

Hadley, John; grocer and mayor, London

Halleyate, William; reformer, Lynn

Hall, John; dyer and bailiff, Ipswich

Halteby, John; "king of Ipswich"

Hardyng, Thomas; smuggler and thug, Manningtree

Haukyn, Gilbert; bailiff, Newcastle

Hende, John; draper and mayor, London

Hervey, Walter; populist mayor, London

Hibburn, Robert; merchant and mayor, Newcastle

Howom, Thomas; mercer and mayor, York

Hunderpound, William; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Hunte, Thomas; butcher, Earls Colne

Hunte, Thomas; merchant and mayor, Lynn

- J -

Joye, John; vintner and innkeeper, Ipswich

Juyn, John; lawyer, Bristol

- K -

Keep, John; merchant and administrator, Lynn

Kelsale, Roger; king's yeoman and customs administrator, Southampton

Kempe, John; merchant, father-in-law of Margery Kempe, Lynn

Kempe, Margery; mystic, Lynn

Kenynghale, John; merchant, Lynn

Knolles, Robert; knight and military commander, London

Knolles, Thomas; grocer and mayor, London

Kyrketon, John; fishmonger and alderman, London

- L -

Lakinghithe, John; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Lambert, John; merchant, Lynn

Lathe, John; vintner?, Lynn

Lech, Richard; mayor, Reading

Lede, Jakemin; Flemish merchant's factor, Leicester

Lendall, William; constable, Reading

Linacre, William; mayor, Reading

Lok, John; merchant, Lynn

Longespée, William; Earl of Salisbury, market operator, Amesbury

Louthe, William; goldsmith and alderman, London

Lyndeseye, William; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Lyteman, Margery; brewster, Earls Colne

- M -

Mafey, Peter; merchant, Lynn

Maghfeld, Gilbert; ironmonger ad alderman, London

Malyn, William; wool merchant and smuggler, Ipswich

Mapurley, Thomas; lawyer and recorder, Nottingham

Marrow, John; mason, Norwich

Martyn, Nicholas; merchant, reformer, Lynn

Melcheburn, Thomas; king's merchant, administrator, Lynn

Metcalfe, Miles; lawyer, York

Middleton, Thomas; administrator and benefactor, Southampton

Montfort,Simon; borough lord and soldier, Leicester

More, John; reformer and alderman, London

Mowbray, Roger; Templar and town-founder, Thirsk

Muriell, John; merchant, reformer, Lynn

- N -

Neell, Richard; mariner, Lynn

Nicholas, Cristin; mayor, Reading

Nicholasson, James; shoemaker, foreigner, Lynn

Nicholl, William; merchant and mayor, Southampton

Norbury, Richard; mercer and alderman, London

Northampton, John; skinner and alderman, London

Northampton, John; reformer and mayor, London

Northwold, William; clergyman, heretic, Northampton

Norwich, John; grocer, London

- O -

Organ, John; mercer and alderman, London

Ormeshead, William; merchant and mayor, York

Oxneye, William; merchant, Lynn

Oxonia, Adam; abbot and town-founder, Eynsham

- P -

Palmer, Alice; bridge-builder, Nottingham

Palshid, Richard; administrator and town clerk, Southampton

Palmer, Roger; cornmonger and alderman, London

Paulyn, Robert; merchant and mayor, Winchelsea

Paxman, Roger; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Paynot, Thomas; merchant, Lynn

Pencester, Stephen; warden of the Cinque Ports

Perbroun, John; admiral, administrator, Yarmouth

Perle, John; bailiff, Shrewsbury

Permonter, John; vintner and mayor, Lynn

Petypas, Bartholomew; reformer and mayor, Lynn

Philpot, John; grocer and mayor, London

Picot, Nicholas; mercer and alderman, London

de la Pole, William; merchant venturer and financier, Kingston upon Hull

Polle, Thomas; goldsmith and alderman, London

le Poer, Roger; bishop and property developer, Devizes, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Old Sarum,

Poore, Richard; bishop and town-founder, Salisbury

Pounder, Thomas; Merchant Adventurer, Ipswich

Preston, John; administrator, Ipswich

Pride, Thomas; lawyer and bailiff, Shrewsbury

Prince, Gilbert; painter, London

Priterwell, John; spicer, London, Prittlewell

Pulter, Robert; victualler?, Lynn

Purdaunce, Richard; mercer and mayor, Norwich

Pynchon, Walter; goldsmith, London

- R -

Rafman, Henry; administrator and debtor, Yarmouth and Norwich

Ramsey, Ralph; administrator and soldier, Yarmouth

Randolf, Henry; merchant and admiral, Yarmouth

Ravenston, William; mayor, Southampton

Reppes, Laurence; escaped serf?, tanner and jurat, Lynn

Revetour, William; clergyman, playwright?, York

Ricart, Robert; town clerk and chronicler, Bristol

Rokesle, Gregory; merchant, mayor, and royal administrator, London

Ruilly, Hubert; market operator, Cattawade, Manningtree

Russell, Richard; vintner and mayor, York

Ryghtwys, Thomas; merchant and mayor, Lynn

- S -

Sainte-Mère Église, William; bishop and town-founder, Braintree, Chelmsford

Salisbury, Robert; merchant, Lynn

Sandwich, Ralph; royal administrator and warden of London

Say, John; Speaker of the House of Commons, administrator, London

Say, Margaret; town-founder?, Stapleton

Seburgh, John; merchant and bailiff, Colchester

Segrym, Ralph; mercer and mayor, Norwich

Sellyng, John; apothecary, London

Servat, William; pepperer and alderman, London

Sevenok, William; mayor, London

Sewale, John; gentleman and mercer, Colchester and London

Shadworth, John; mercer and mayor, London

Shotton, John; draper and bailiff, Shrewsbury

Silesden, William; merchant, Lynn

Skynner, Thomas; bailiff, Shrewsbury

Snawsell, William; mayor, York

Soper, Willliam; merchant, mayor, clerk of the king's ships, Southampton

Sparham, Thomas; merchant and violence victim, Lynn

Spicer, John; victualler?, customs administrator, Lynn

Spynk, Richard; clothier? and benefactor, Norwich

Spyr, William; mercer and jurat, Lynn

Stace, Geoffrey; administrator and kidnapper, Ipswich

Stace, Thomas; bailiff, Ipswich

Staller,Ansgar; military commander, London

Staundon, William; grocer and mayor, London

Stokdale, John; brasier, Newcastle

Stoke, Richard; merchant and mayor, Coventry

Stokker, John; draper and alderman, London

Stormesworth, Richard; bailiff, Lollard opponent, Northampton

dil Stonhous, Thomas; taverner and merchant, Ipswich

Style, John and Thomas; merchants, Lynn

Style, William; bailiff, Ipswich

Sudbury, John; innkeeper, Ipswich

Sustede, John; merchant and jurat, Lynn

Sutton, John; merchant, Lynn

Swafham, Richard; gatekeeper, Lynn

Swanlond, Simon; draper and mayor, London

Swanton, William; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Swerdestone, Alan; merchant, Lynn

Swerdestone, John; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Swerdestone, Nicholas; disgraced burgess, Lynn

Systerne, Bartholomew; merchant and coroner, Lynn

Systerne, Reginald; merchant and jurat, Lynn

- T -

Tailur, Philip; mercer and alderman, London

Talworth, John; woodmonger, London

Thewyt, Richard; merchant, Lynn

Thirsford, John; parliamentary representative, Lynn

Thirsk, John; merchant and mayor, York

Thornhegge, Joan; widow of John de Thornhegge, merchant, Lynn

Thornton, Roger; merchant and mayor, Newcastle

Thorpe, Richard; merchant, Lynn

Tildesley, Christopher; king's goldsmith, London

Tilney, John; draper, Lynn

Tilney, John; lawyer and administrator, Lynn

Toppes, Robert; merchant and mayor, Norwich

Trussebut, Thomas; merchant, Lynn

Twyford, Nicholas; goldsmith and alderman, London

- U/V -

Urry, Walter; merchant, Lynn

Usk, Thomas; scribe and author, London

Vannere, Henry; vintner and alderman, London

Vavasour,John; lawyer and recorder, York

Venour, William; grocer and alderman, London

Vyell, John; mayor and cloth merchant, Bristol

- W -

Wace, John; mercer and mayor, Lynn

Wade, Adam; corn-chandler, London

Walden, William; brewer, reformer, Lynn

Waldern, Geoffrey; draper and councillor, London

Waldern, William; mercer and mayor, London

Walerand, Robert; market operator and town-founder?, Kilpeck

Waleys, Henry; merchant, mayor, and town planner, London

Walpole, Robert; draper, Lynn

Walsh, John; goldsmith, London

Walsoken, Adam; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Walton, Robert; wool merchant, Lynn

Walworth, William; fishmonger and mayor, London

Warner, John; ironmonger and alderman, London

Waryn, John; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Waterden, John; lawyer, Lynn

Waterden, Robert; mercer, Lynn

Waterden, Thomas; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Welles, John; grocer and mayor, London

Welles, John; merchant and bailiff, Maldon

Wenlock, John; parliamentarian, knight, London

Wentworth, John; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Wesenham, John; king's merchant, financier, and administrator, Lynn

Wesenham, John; merchant and mayor, Lynn

Weston, John; chantry founder, London

Wetherby, Thomas; mayor, Norwich

Whethereld, William; merchant and bailiff, Ipswich

White, John; clergyman, London

Whittington, Richard; "thrice lord-mayor of London"

Willeford, Henry; mayor, Nottingham

Willesdone, Richard; chandler, London

Wode, John; merchant and innkeeper, Ipswich

Woodcock, John; mercer and mayor, London

Wrotham, Thomas; baker and chandler, London

Wyth, William; jurat, Lynn

- X/Y/Z -

Yelverton, William; judge, Norwich

Yevele, Henry; mason and architect, London



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: The nature of surviving records from borough, national, or ecclesiastical archives of medieval England is such that it is the mercantile and property-holding segment of urban society that is best documented. We know little about individuals from the lower rungs of the social ladder, and even with those at the apex of that society, biographical reconstruction is often sketchy. Some modern studies of particular towns include biographies of a few selected townsmen. The single most useful source, however, is J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, and C. Rawcliffe eds., The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1386-1421, Stroud: Alan Sutton, 1992. Although not entirely free of errors, the biographies are scholarly and often detailed.



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Created: May 18, 2002. Last update: January 11, 2019 © Stephen Alsford, 2002-2019