BADDYNG, John, of Rye, Suss.

John Baddyng’s putative father Richard had served Rye as MP in 1366 and 1368, mayor in 1365-6 and 1367-8, and bailiff in 1375-9.Cat. Rye Recs. 134/1, 136/113; CFR, vii. 298; ix. 66, 124-5, 133. He himself became active in the town’s affairs before 1382, when he and Simon Lunceford were amerced at the Exchequer for misdemeanors as joint bailiffs of Rye, a position they probably held while the townsmen were collectively responsible for receiving the issues of the bailiwick. Baddyng witnessed deeds at Rye between 1390 and 1398, and was one of three churchwardens of the parish church of St. Mary in 1399.E368/154 Easter rot. 10; Car. Rye Recs. 136/151, 153.

In May 1392 Baddyng entered into a contract, doubtless for a building project, with William Londoneys of Canterbury and three other stone-masons, who were bound to him in £120. Londoneys apparently broke the contract, for three years later Baddyng was suing him for debt. In 1393 a jury from the tithing of Hope (in Beckley) accused Baddyng of coming in arms with other men from Rye and kidnapping two tenants of the village whom he imprisoned at Rye until they paid fines to be released. However, it seems likely that the two villagers had committed some transgression against the liberties of Rye. At the end of his final mayoralty, on 26 Aug. 1397, Baddyng presided at a meeting of the town assembly that passed regulations against bloodshed, about the levying of tolls and regarding custody of the common seal. In October and December 1405 he attended Brodhulls as one of Rye’s representatives.Cat. Rye Recs. 136/139; CCR, 1392-6, p. 474; Ct. Rolls Rape of Hastings (Suss. Rec. Soc. xxxvii), 133; Rye Corporation mss, 57/1, f. 60, 60/1. Under Henry IV Baddyng is recorded as holding property in Udimore, Wivelridge and Ewhurst, all near Rye, on which as a Portsman he claimed exemption from taxation.E179/225/31, 33.

Another John Baddyng, perhaps his son, acted as constable on the ship which Rye provided for service to Henry V.E101/51/1.