JAMES, Thomas, of Dunwich, Suff.

In 1407 James’s wife was fined 9d. by the borough court at Dunwich for an offence against the assize of ale, and she committed similar misdemeanors in the course of the next few years.1Add. Chs. 40710, 40715, 40718, 40722. James himself seems to have made a living principally from brewing beer. He witnessed deeds at Dunwich in 1408, and attested the borough returns to the Parliaments of 1410, 1411, 1413 (May), 1422, 1427, 1429 and 1431, on occasion acting as a mainpernor for burgesses-elect (for William Barber II in 1413 and for John Luke in 1431). His name occurs on other court rolls of the borough; and in 1422 he served on the court leet jury. He is last recorded in September 1432 when he paid an assize rent of 22d. for two brewhouses and two plots of land.2Ibid. 40674, 40711, 40716, 40718, 40722; C219/10/5, 6, 12/5, 13/1, 5, 14/1, 2; SC11/886.