MARCHAUNT, Stephen, of Rye, Suss.

On the parliamentary return for 1432 this MP’s name is given as Stephen ‘March’, but this was almost certainly a mistake. C219/14/3, now very discoloured. He was probably a kinsman of William Marchaunt† of Iden near Rye, who had represented the Port in 1388, William’s son John Marchaunt II*, who did so in 1423, and Robert Marchaunt*, who was to be returned in 1445, although like them he remained somewhat of an outsider to the affairs of the Port. He too may have held land at Iden, and both he and John kept moveable possessions at Hope, on which as barons of the Port of Rye they were able to claim exemption from parliamentary taxation. E179/228/118. In 1444 Stephen and Robert were both enfeoffed of several acres of land at Iden, Peasmarsh and elsewhere, together with the manor of ‘Salernescourt’, across the border with Kent, which belonged to Thomas Pope*, the King’s bailiff of Rye, and his wife. Canterbury Cath. Archs., Dean and Chapter mss, CCA-DCc-ChAnt/S/361. Five years later Stephen was named by Robert among the grantees of a windmill and some 224 acres of land in Iden, Playden and Rye, apparently in preparation for Robert’s move to London. CP25(1)/241/90/7.

It was not until 1449 that Stephen was listed among the ‘advocants’ (foreign freemen) of Rye (paying 3s. 4d. p.a. for the privilege), but this is probably a consequence of the loss of the Port’s earlier records. E. Suss. RO, Rye mss, acct. bk. 60/2, f. 9. There is a reference to property belonging to him in Rye itself, which by April 1455 had fallen vacant and escheated to the Crown. Cat. Rye Recs. ed. Dell, deed 136/196.