BARBOUR, Nicholas

Nicholas may have been the son of Henry Barbour, the barber who had represented Reading in Parliament in 1384 and 1391, and the stepson of John Hastyng†, who did likewise in 1414.2 The Commons 1386-1421, ii. 124. First recorded in 1410, when he contributed 8s. 8d. towards a new roof for the parish church of St. Laurence,3 C. Kerry, Hist. St. Laurence, 22. he subsequently held office for at least 17 annual terms (and possibly without break for 24 years) as one of the two bailiffs of the town. The bailiffs’ appointment was in the grant of the abbot of Reading, and Barbour collected rents for the abbey,4 Berks. RO, Reading cofferers’ accts. R/FA/2/18, 23. but there is nothing to indicate that as a consequence he was unpopular with his fellow townsmen. Indeed, in April 1432, while he was bailiff, he was among the 24 burgesses delegated by the guild merchant to negotiate with the abbot concerning the guild’s liberties.5 Reading Recs. ed. Guilding, i. 1. Ex officio he regularly attested the indentures recording Reading’s elections to Parliament, doing so on 12 occasions between 1417 and 1433.6 C219/12/2-4, 6, 13/1-4, 14/1-4. The indenture recording his own election to Parliament in 1427 does not name the bailiffs, but it seems clear that he was in office at the time.

Barbour acted as a feoffee of property in Reading along with the vicar of St. Laurence for seven months from September 1429.7 Reading deeds, R/AT 1/112, 114. His official standing in the town led to his inclusion among the men of Berkshire who were required in the spring of 1434 to take the generally-administered oath against maintaining those who broke the peace.8 CPR, 1429-36, p. 403. He is last recorded, as a witness to a Reading deed, on 7 Oct. that year, and was succeeded in the bailiffship by William Selham* before September following.9 Add. Ch. 26409. Barbour paid an annual rent of 11s. for property in Reading to Thomas Stonor I*, but in 1435-6 this property was said to be unoccupied, so he may have recently died.10 SC6/1122/19. Certainly when, in July 1437, Richard Turner gave testimony about an earlier purchase of a quit rent which had been finalized in Barbour’s presence, Barbour did not appear to confirm it.11 Reading Recs. i. 7.