HAT, Thomas

More may be added to the earlier biography. The Commons 1386-1421, iii. 319-20.

Hat was frequently empaneled as a juror at inquisitions post mortem conducted by the escheator in Dorset. He served on the jury at Dorchester in 1418, following the death of Henry Popham†, and at his home town of Shaftesbury on 12 occasions between 1419 and 1434, providing information about the landed holdings of such landowners as Sir Hugh Luttrell†, Sir John Berkeley†, William Payn† and Thomas Erdington†. C138/33/36; 43/92; C139/33/32; 35/50; 38/26; 44/22; 45/34, 39; 48/27; 49/35; 51/51; 54/37; 63/23. It remains uncertain whether he sat in the Parliament of 1425. His name appears on the indenture recording the Members for Shaftesbury, and presumably it also once figured on the schedule which accompanied the indenture to Chancery. However, that of John Newburgh ‘junior’ [II*] was written over an erasure on the schedule, and as this must have been drawn up after the indenture it looks as if Newburgh took Hat’s place, perhaps so that he might travel to Westminster with his father John Newburgh I*, one of the knights of the shire. C219/13/3.

Hat is known to have served as mayor of Shaftesbury for two annual terms before Michaelmas 1410, and it seems very likely that he did so again in later years, for in Michaelmas term 1423 the Crown brought a plea of contempt and trespass against him for breach of the ordinance forbidding ministers responsible for holding assizes of wine and victuals in cities or towns from themselves trading while in office. It was alleged that during his mayoralty (of an unspecified date), Hat had dealt in victuals worth as much as £100. After considerable delay he eventually appeared in King’s bench to make answer in Hilary term 1428, but no evidence was presented against him and he went sine die. KB27/650, rex rot. 3d; 667, rex rot. 5d. The suit also serves to provide information about Hat’s occupation as a merchant, previously unknown.