POLLOW, John, of Exeter, Devon.

Pollow, a cloth merchant, had established trading interests in Exeter by 1399, when he was assessed for alnage there, but he did not become a freeman of the city until two years later, then paying a fee of 26s.8d. for the privilege. For nearly 20 years he was involved first in supervising and then in collecting the customs in the port, and it was while holding royal office that he was returned to all of his four Parliaments. Investigations made at Exeter in 1419 revealed that he and his fellow customer, William Glover of Dartmouth, had concealed certain dues from the Exchequer, but the sums of money involved were small and the allegations did not prejudice Pollow’s re-appointment.4E101/338/11; mayor’s ct. roll 2 Hen. IV m. 28; CIMisc. vii. 572. It was as a feoffee that Pollow received rents from property in ‘Genestrete’, Exeter, which were used to pay for John Pytman’s obit in the church of St. Mary Major. On his own account he held a messuage, a garden and 12 shops in South Street, where he lived, a house next to St. James’s church, and more property in ‘Maudeleynstrete’ and ‘Prustrete’.5Exeter City RO, misc. docs. 51/1/2/10, 11; mayors’ ct. rolls 5 Hen. IV m. 38, 6 Hen. IV m. 1, 21-22 Hen. VI m. 29; ED/M/748; Oliver, 143. In March and July 1414 he served as a juror at important judicial sessions held in the city,6KB9/205/2 m. 65, 3 m. 107. and he evidently took an active interest in other local affairs until 1423. He then retired from public service, but was still living 20 years later.