MARTHAM, Edward, of Hastings, Suss.

Edward was possibly a descendant of Bartholomew Martham, bailiff of Hastings in 1316-17, and more closely related to two contemporary MPs for Rye, Richard Martham and John Martham (who had sat in 1377 and 1382, respectively). In 1388 he attended the second session of the Merciless Parliament for seven weeks, appearing also on behalf of Winchelsea, whose barons paid him £2 14s.4d. On occasion in the 1390s he imported wine from Bordeaux to Sussex, and under Henry V he was to serve as master of a ship which Hastings supplied for the King’s service. He held land at Fairlight and elsewhere near Hastings, on which as a Portsman he claimed exemption from taxation. In 1392 he became a feoffee of property at Sandlake on behalf of Stephen Donning of Battle, but this he returned to Donning’s widowed daughter-in-law in 1397.2Suss. Arch. Colls. l. 177-8; Add. Ch. 16431; E122/33/25, 28; E101/51/1; E179/225/31, 33, 34; Sale Cat. Battle Abbey Chs. (1835), 89, 91.