BOTURNELL, William

The Boturnells belonged to a family of apparently limited consequence which took its name from its seat in south-eastern Cornwall. Few details of the MP’s career have come to light. While he is not known to have held office either locally or under the Crown, William may have taken an interest in parliamentary affairs, for he was present at the shire elections held at Launceston in January 1442, when he attested the sheriff’s indenture. Nevertheless, he may have been a more substantial man than is immediately evident, for at some point before the 1440s he was able to buy part of the property of the Treworgy family at Treworgey, Liskeard and Menheniot. This purchase was later to cause some trouble for his nephew and eventual heir, Richard, for John Treworgy’s heirs disputed that any such sale had ever taken place and brought a suit against Richard and his co-defendants Thomas Clemens* and John Tallan.2 C1/58/367-70; E210/2714; Cornw. RO, Arundell mss, AR1/353. Equally, it is an indication of his standing that he was named second only to John Trelawny* among the jurors presenting the inquisition post mortem of Alice Cergeaux, countess of Oxford, at Liskeard in June 1452.3 C139/146/14, m. 10.

The background to Boturnell’s return for the duchy of Cornwall borough of Dunheved in 1426 cannot be readily established. He had no obvious connexions with the town, although the local prior did own a manor at Treworgey. His parliamentary colleague was John Bate*, a man who possessed strong links within the duchy administration, perhaps suggesting the influence of the duchy authorities in the return. Of possibly greater significance, however, Boturnell and Bate were the first Members with no previous parliamentary experience returned by the men of Launceston since the election of Simon Yurle* in 1420: it is possible that the local authorities were simply struggling to find willing candidates prepared to travel to Leicester on their behalf.4 The Commons 1386-1421, i. 776.