Family and Education
b. c.1385, s. of Sir Adam Clifton (d. 1411) of Denver by his w. Margery. CIPM, xix. 956. m. Alice (d.1456), ?wid. of William Grey of Merton, Norf., CCR, 1441-7, p. 85; CFR, xix. 136. After Clifton’s death a window was erected in the parish church of Merton. Now gone, it bore the inscription ‘Orate pro Animabus Roberti Clifton militis ac [Will.] de Grey Armigeri, et pro bono Statu Alicie nuper Uxoris eorundem....’: F. Blomefield, Norf. ii. 308. It is not clear where William belongs in the ped. of the Greys of Merton, but he was evidently not the William Grey who died in the 1470s: Norf. RO, Norwich consist. ct., Reg. Gelour, f. 169. It would certainly seem that Grey was Alice’s first husband, not least because she and Clifton were in possession of the Grey manor at Little Cornard, Suff., in the late 1420s: W.A. Copinger, Suff. Manors, i. 93. 1s. 3da. CIPM, xxvi. 12; Norwich consist. ct., Reg. Wylby, ff. 128-9. Kntd. c. 1415. Still an esq. in Dec. 1413 but a kt. by Mar. 1417: CPR, 1413-16, p. 141; CCR, 1413-19, p. 383.
Offices Held
Sheriff, Norf. and Suff. 3 Nov. 1412 – 5 Nov. 1413, 14 Feb. – 12 Nov. 1423.
Commr. to take assize of novel disseisin, Norf. Nov. 1431, Sept. 1438; distribute tax allowance Dec. 1433; list persons to take the oath against maintenance Jan. 1434; administer the same May 1434.
Ambassador to treat with the Emperor and other imperial princes 15 Dec. 1435–25 May 1438.
Constable of Bordeaux 24 Mar. 1439–d.
Parlimentarian
Main residence: Denver, Norf.
Clefton, Clyften, Clyfton
Volume
Commons 1422-1461
Will
Estates
Oxford 1644
No
Addresses
Religion
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