WHITHORNE, Richard

It is strange that Richard is such an obscure figure, given the importance and standing of his putative father John, who at the time of Richard’s first election to Parliament for Wilton was riding high in Wiltshire as receiver of the duke of Bedford’s estates and bailiff of the liberties of Cardinal Beaufort as bishop of Winchester. He was associated with John in 1448 in a suit for close-breaking brought against them in the common pleas by the abbess of Wilton abbey,1 CP40/748, rot. 91d. but their relationship is not recorded.

Save for his return to Parliament in 1435 and a record of payment of his expenses in that of 1439-40,2 Wilts. Hist. Centre, Wilton bor. recs., stewards’ accts. G25/1/88, for payment to John Giles* and Whithorne as burgesses at the Parliament. Richard only appears twice more in the sources examined. On 30 Oct. 1439, less than two weeks before his second Parliament was due to assemble, Whithorne attended an assembly of the mayor and councils of citizens held at Salisbury.3 First General Entry Bk. Salisbury (Wilts. Rec. Soc. liv), 347. Although he probably owned property there, he did not get further involved in the affairs of the city, and on 1 Apr. 1450, as ‘of Wilton, gentleman’, he transferred his goods and chattels there to Stephen Highwood and John Pynke.4 CCR, 1447-54, p. 471. Perhaps he was facing lawsuits and wished to protect his possessions from confiscation.