HILL, Thomas III, of Dartmouth, Devon.

This MP’s very common name makes him difficult to identify, especially as no Thomas Hill has been found living at New Shoreham. It is possible, but unlikely, that he was the Thomas atte Hull consistently associated with Horsham, several miles to the north of Shoreham, in the first three decades of the century, CAD, i. B1677; Bodl. Chs. Suss. 153-4, 220. His s. and h. was Henry Hull (fl.1479): Add. 39376, f. 205. the Thomas ‘junior’ who acquired land in Newbridge in 1424, or he who obtained property at Kirdford (both places in west Sussex) three years later. CP25(1)/240/85/8, 27. The most likely identification is with the Thomas atte Hille who was sued for lands and rents in Angmering (on the coast to the west of Shoreham) in Trinity term 1426. CP40/662, rot. 139. There are no sound reasons for assuming that he was the Thomas Hill employed in the avenary of the Household from 1421 to 1452: E101/408/25, f. 8; 409/9, f. 38; 11, f. 39v; 16, f. 36; 410/1, 3, 6, 9.