HARRY, Stephen

More may be added to the earlier biography. The Commons 1386-1421, iii. 302.

In 1416 Harry left New Romney to travel to Westminster on 16 Oct., three days before Parliament assembled, and remained there with his fellow baron Thomas Sparwe† for 22 days, returning home a week before the end of this short parliamentary session. E. Kent Archs., New Romney recs., assmt. bk. 1384-1446, NR/FAc 2, f. 88v. Although he was elected again in 1420 there is no record of any payment of parliamentary wages and it is possible that he failed to attend the Parliament which probably lasted only 16 days. When he was elected for a third time in 1426 the cost of sending him and Thomas Smith I* to Leicester proved a heavy burden and loans were solicited from some of the leading Portsmen to meet their expenses. Ibid. f. 102.

Harry was among the numerous Portsmen who quarreled with the unpopular James Tiece†. In June 1417 the two men agreed to an award by their fellow jurats of New Romney to settle their dispute. Ibid. f. 140. As well as his holdings in the Port, Harry also owned property in the hundred of St. Martin, Kent. This passed to his widow after his death and in 1431 she was able to obtain exemption from payment of 13¼d. towards the parliamentary subsidy on account of her late husband’s status as a Portsman. E179/226/65.