GOLDE, Adam (d.1395/6), of Exeter, Devon.

Adam may have been related to Richard Golde who was returned to Parliament by both Exeter and Plympton in 1385 and by Plympton again in 1386, and to John Golde who sat for Plympton in the same two Parliaments. But his own activities centred on Exeter, where, following his admission as a freeman on 18 Apr. 1362, he had built up a flourishing overseas trade in woollen cloth and wine. On occasion his wine was purchased by the civic body for presentation to the bishop of Exeter and to furnish hospitality to visiting dignitaries such as the chief justice, Sir Robert Tresilian†. Along with John Talbot, Golde acted as executor for another merchant and sometime parliamentary burgess, Roger Plenty (d.1375), but Plenty’s heir claimed in the court of common pleas that when he came of age the executors failed to hand over goods worth an alleged £1,000 and that in May 1388 they still had in their possession merchandise of his father’s worth £500. Whether the allegations were true or not, Golde failed to appear in court.Ct. roll 35-36 Edw. III; receivers’ accts. 4-5, 6-7 Ric. II; E122/40/26, 193/23; Yr. Bk. 1389-90 ed. Plucknett, 9-13. At various times over the years Golde held messuages in South Street and ‘Fyschfoldeyate’, a plot off ‘Waterberstreet’, a tenement outside the south gate and two acres known as ‘Averyslond’ in the suburbs. In 1383 he and his wife took out a lease for life from the Franciscans of Exeter of the site where their friary had originally stood, next to the city wall between the north and west gates, on condition that they would vacate it if the friars wished to return.Exeter City RO, mayors’ ct. rolls 40-41 Edw. III m. 38, 43-44 Edw. III m. 43, 3-4 Ric. II m. 44, 12-13 Ric. II m. 53; ED/M/445, 494, 496. By Golde’s will his widow was to retain for life a house near the cathedral and shops in North Street. The property was then to pass to their son, Roger, although some provision was also made for their daughters, Isabel, Joan, Meralda and Nicola. Golde died some time between October 1395 and August 1396, on which latter date his will was brought to the city court for probate.Mayor’s ct. roll 19-20 Ric. II m. 46.