ASSHENDEN, Thomas

It was not noted in the earlier biography, The Commons 1386-1421, ii. 75. that around the time of his mayoralty Asshenden clashed with the Exeter merchant John Hull* whose goods he and three fellow merchants had arrested at Kingsbridge, probably in an official capacity. KB27/670, rot. 24d; 675, rot. 45; 680, rot. 40. Similarly, a few years later he and a group of local merchants and mariners, including John Walsh alias Gregory*, were said to have unlawfully seized goods belonging to the young earl of Devon, Thomas Courtenay. KB27/694, rots. 18, 41d.

In 1433 the sheriff’s indenture records the name of Hugh Yon* as one of the parliamentary burgesses for Dartmouth, whereas the accompanying schedule names Asshenden. Asshenden’s name appears to have been superimposed over an erasure, presumably replacing Yon’s, and it is likely that it was he rather than the less prominent Yon who sat in the Commons. C219/14/4.