BAKER, John IV (d.c.1421), of ’Porthpigan’ (Looe), Cornw.

No local man of this name having been discovered, it is quite possible that the Member for Helston in 1414 was the John Baker who lived at Looe but also held land on the Fal estuary, the same who, in 1402, had taken out a royal pardon of outlawry following his failure to appear in the court of common pleas when sued for trespass by Sir John Herle. He was evidently on more amicable terms with (Sir) John Arundell I of Lanherne, for whom in 1418 he completed a transaction whereby substantial estates in Cornwall were settled on Sir John’s illegitimate children. One of Baker’s closest friends was Andrew Hirnans. In 1419 they were together engaged in a lawsuit with a local gentleman, and when, in the following year, Baker made his will he chose Hirnans as an executor.CPR, 1401-5, p. 76; Cornw. Feet of Fines (Devon and Cornw. Rec. Soc. 1950), no. 933; CCR, 1413-19, p. 515. Baker asked to be buried in St. Martin’s church near his home. He then also made small bequests to other Cornish churches, to Exeter cathedral and, more interestingly, to the shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham, Norfolk. He left 10s. to the poor, but the largest monetary bequest (£2) went to a friend. Baker’s son, William, was left all his chattels in a house in the hamlet of Harcourt, while his widow and Andrew Hirnans were left those at ‘Trevranow’ and Killiganoon. Although Baker made his will, on 15 Aug. 1420, in the belief that he was dying, he may in fact have lived on for some months; at least, probate was not granted until March 1422.PCC 55 Marche.