FRAMPTON, John II, of Chichester, Suss.

Although Frampton’s name was a relatively common one, we may safely assume that it was the future MP who, in the autumn of 1403 together with his wife Maud, conveyed property in Chichester (a cellar, a shop and a plot of land measuring about 20 feet by ten feet) to John and Margaret French. CP25(1)/240/81/1. It is also quite likely that he was the John Frampton who was constable of the vill of Fishbourne, just outside the city, in 1420-1. Frampton served on juries at inquisitions post mortem in Chichester early in 1421, providing information about the landed possessions of Margaret, wife of Richard Fust†, in 1424 regarding John Foxley (brother of Thomas*), and eight years later concerning the estate of the dowager countess of March. C138/44/14; C139/20/39, 59/39. He took part in the administration of the city by officiating as reeve in the mid 1420s, six years before his only recorded election to Parliament.

Meanwhile, on 6 Feb. 1428, a John Frampton, described as a yeoman of Havant, a few miles from Chichester, purchased a pardon of outlawry for failing to appear in the Westminster law-courts to answer Sir Henry Brounflete for a debt of over £26, while a co-defendant in Brounflete’s suit received a pardon on the same day. It seems likely that this was our MP, for John Frampton of Havant used Chichester harbour for his trading activities. In November 1430 a variety of merchandise (including wool, tallow and iron) which he had placed in a boat for shipment overseas were seized and confiscated by the royal searcher of the port, since he had failed to pay customs duties. Merchants from Chichester were asked to appraise the cargo for sale on the Crown’s behalf. CPR, 1422-9, p. 436; E122/183/10. Frampton appeared in the court of common pleas in person in Hilary term 1431 to sue a taverner from the city and a man from Chidham for the theft of goods worth £20 at Sidlesham. CP40/680, rot. 363. The MP may have had a second wife, called Joan. A widow of this name was accused by William Hore I* of wasting his inheritance in four messuages and six acres of land in Chichester, which she held for life by his grant. A jury meeting in the city on 17 Sept. 1445 found her guilty on various counts and liable to lose the property and to pay Hore tripled damages, amounting to £6. CP40/738, rot. 486.