PARKER, William

The earliest reference to this MP suggests a strong family connexion with Bletchingley. In 1407 he was a witness to a conveyance of land known as ‘Le Parkgate’ close to the town made by the feoffees of a London goldsmith to John Deubeney†. The land was subsequently conveyed by Deubeney to John Parker, almost certainly a relative of William.1 U. Lambert, Blechingley, 294. Nothing further is recorded of the latter, however, until the year of his election to Parliament. On 10 June 1423 he served as a juror at the inquisition post mortem conducted at Bletchingley on Hugh Stafford, Lord Bourgchier (d.1420), whose heir was his nephew Humphrey, earl of Stafford.2 CIPM, xxii. 100-1. The earl was the borough’s lord. Parker’s Parliament assembled at Westminster on the following 20 Oct.