LEIGH, John, of Hythe, Kent.

For much of his career, even as early as 1400 when he first witnessed deeds at Hythe, John Leigh was called ‘senior’.2Reg. 1, f. 21. It is assumed that John Leigh ‘junior’ was John, s. of Alexander Leigh, who in 1416 obtained part of a tenement in Hythe: ibid. f. 30. In 1412-13 John junior’s chattels were valued at £2, and in 1419-20 at £8: jurats’ bk. C, f. 36; D, f. 17. His main occupation was fishing for herring and mackerel, on the profits of which he paid substantial amounts in maltolts. He also traded in other provisions and used his own ship to import miscellaneous merchandise which, sometimes worth as much as £30, was sold in a shop managed by his wife. In June 1417 he was employed in searching at Rye and elsewhere for a vessel Hythe might use for ship-service owed to the Crown, after a ship previously prepared had been found unsuitable for the purpose. When his mission proved unsuccessful, he remedied the lack by hiring out his own ship to the town for seven weeks, charging 46s.8d. for its use in helping transport Henry V’s army for the crossing to Touques. Hythe hired the same vessel again in 1419, this time for a voyage lasting only eight days, beginning about 4 May, during which it was fortunate enough to capture a valuable prisoner.3Jurats’ bk. C, f. 54; D, ff. 22, 41, 42, 47; accts. box 27, f. 47.

Leigh’s chattels were valued at £20 in 1412-13, and at £28 in 1419-20.4Jurats’ bk. C, f. 37; D, f. 22.