Submitted by legacy on
Family and Education
s. of Walter Bell of Boston. m. (1) by Easter 1386, Isabel, prob. at least 1s.; (2) by Apr. 1405, Ibote.C67/30 m. 24; CP25(1)143/146/10; Lincs. AO, Reg. Beaufort, XIII, f. 18; Reg. Repingdon (Lincoln Rec. Soc. lviii), 38. This MP was probably related to John Bell of Leake in Lincs. who was active locally throughout the 1370s, and who became a royal tax collector in 1380. Contemporaries clearly distinguished between the two men, however, and they should not be confused (CP25(1)143/142/3; CCR, 1369-74, pp. 567-8, 571; 1374-7, p. 87; CFR, ix. 228). Another of his namesakes was a clerk of the household of the earl of Huntingdon (CPR, 1388-92, pp. 194, 250, 365, 481).
Offices Held

Bailiff, Boston for John de Montfort, duke of Brittany and earl of Richmond Mich. 1380–3; receiver-general of the Lincs. estates confiscated from Richmond Mich. 1383–6; bailiff of Queen Anne as holder of these estates Mich. 1386–97.E368/154–6, 159.

Commr. of inquiry, Lincs. Mar. 1382 (wreckage of a Hanse ship), June 1401 (tax assessments at Sutterton), July 1409 (concealment of the late Earl Marshal’s goods); to make an arrest July 1391 (attacks on Hanse merchants at Boston), Aug. 1403 (to detain goods of French merchants at Boston), May 1414 (generally); to assemble ships and men to combat piracy, Boston May 1398; of array, Holland Dec. 1399, Aug., Sept. 1403, Oct. 1417, Kesteven Apr. 1418, Holland Mar. 1419; sewers Feb. 1400, May 1403, Aug. 1409, May 1411, Feb. 1412, May 1415, Holland, Kesteven Feb., June 1416, Lindsey Feb. 1417, Holland Apr. 1418; to prevent the departure of ships from Boston May 1401; of oyer and terminer Oct. 1404 (disorder at Wrangle), Mar. 1406 (assault at Friston); to raise a royal loan, Holland Nov. 1419.

Constable of the Boston Staple 1385 – 87; mayor of the Staple Nov. 1390–1.C67/23.

Controller of customs and subsidies, Boston 20 June 1389 – 15 May 1390, 24 Mar. – 19 Aug. 1401; collector of tunnage and poundage 16 June 1390 – 17 Feb. 1397, 7 May 1398 – 24 Mar. 1401, 28 Mar. 1403 – 1 Oct. 1405, 20 Feb. 1407 – 30 Sept. 1410, 12 Apr. 1413 – 10 Oct. 1420; collector of petty custom, wool custom and cloth subsidy 15 May 1390 – 8 Dec. 1391, 19 Aug. – 27 Nov. 1401, 19 Oct. 1402 – 9 Nov. 1405, 20 Feb. 1407 – 30 Sept. 1410, 12 Apr. 1413–10 Oct. 1420.

Alderman of the guild of Corpus Christi, Boston 1395–8.P. Thompson, Boston, 117.

J.p. Lincs. (Holland) 8 May 1398 – May 1406, 13 Feb. 1407 – June 1410, 16 Feb. 1411 – Jan. 1418, 17 Oct. 1418-July 1420.

Alnager, Lincs. (Holland) 17 Oct. 1399–30 Nov. 1400.

Dep. to Thomas Chaucer, the King’s chief butler, Boston 12 Nov. 1402.

Ambassador to treat with the Scots for the restitution of Flemish merchandise 15 Feb. 1403.Rot. Gasc. et Franc. ed. Carte, ii. 184–5.

Collector of a tax, Lincs. (Holland) Mar. 1404; a royal loan Jan. 1420.

Escheator, Lincs. Nov. 1404–15 Jan. 1406.

Parlimentarian
BELL, John, of Boston, Lincs.
Main residence: Boston, Lincs.
Author
C.R.
Volume
Commons 1386-1421
Web Title

BELL, John

Will
Estates
Oxford 1644
No
Addresses
Religion
Image