CHALFONT, Robert (by 1522-58/59), of Chipping Wycombe and Whitchurch, Bucks.

Robert Chalfont’s father was a lawyer attached to the common pleas who became an alderman of Chipping Wycombe, steward of the court of Datchet and trustee for the Berkshire manors of Sir John Norris. No reference to Chalfont’s own calling had been found but he appears to have been domiciled at Chipping Wycombe at the time of his father’s death when his assessment for the subsidy on goods amounted to only 2s.4d.; four years later this had increased to 12s.He bought a 31-year lease of woods in the parish in 1546, at which time he was described as a gentleman. His father’s widow, as assign of John Saunders of Great Marlow, was then lessee of the site of the manor of Temple Wycombe. The Thomas Chalfont who was mayor of Chipping Wycombe in 1553-4 was presumably Robert’s elder brother. Chalfont’s standing in the borough, however, seems insufficient to explain his return as senior Member in 1545 and he may well have enjoyed outside patronage, as did his fellow-Member Roland Bracebridge.2First Wycombe Ledger Bk. (Bucks. Rec. Soc. xi), nos. 3, 90; Subsidy Roll for Bucks. 1524 (Bucks. Rec. Soc. viii), 92; Cal. I.T. Recs. i. 460; LP Hen. VIII xii, xiii, xvii; E179/78/125, 152; Mss of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, ed. Dalton, 357; LR2/188, f. 133v.

Chalfont was living at Whitchurch near Aylesbury when he made his will, while sick in body, on 16 Aug. 1558. He left £13 13s.4d. to each of his sons and £20 each to his daughters. He appointed his youngest brother William executor and two other brothers and his cousins Thomas Keele and John Sterling supervisors. The will was proved on 20 Jan. 1559.3Bucks. RO, D/A/WE/11/227.