HYGON, Matthew

Hygon was one of more obscure men to have represented the Port of Sandwich in Henry VI’s reign. Although his career in municipal government spanned over 15 years, he does not appear to have been much involved in the town’s extraordinary affairs, apart from his election to the Parliament at Coventry in 1459, and he was apparently never chosen to attend a meeting of the Brodhull or the court of Shepway.

The first mention of Hygon in the local records was in December 1453 when he was chosen as one of the town’s treasurers. Further responsibility soon followed and the next year he became a common councillor, before being elected in 1455 to the ranks of the jurats. He survived the French raid on the town in August 1457. In 1458, along with his friend Henry Greenshild*, whose career in the town’s government mirrored his own, he was instructed to assist the treasurers in collecting unpaid rents and employing the proceeds about the repair of Sandwich’s fortifications and common buildings.3 ‘Old Black Bk.’, f. 105. That December Hygon and Greenshild were among the three candidates from whom the jurats made their choice of mayor, with Greenshild proving successful. In April 1459 Hygon was put in charge of the collection of money from ‘outdwellers’ (those individuals who rented property in Sandwich but were not freemen of the Ports) in the town’s 2nd ward and it is possible that he was already that ward’s alderman.4 Ibid. f. 108. Seven months later he was elected as one of the barons to attend the Coventry Parliament. Neither the identity of his companion or any details of his parliamentary service are known, but in the treasurers’ account ending in December that year he was paid 6s. 8d. towards his parliamentary wages.5 Boys, 407; Sandwich treasurers’ accts. 1458-9, SA/FAt 3.

Hygon continued to serve as a jurat into Edward IV’s reign. He was elected mayor in December 1463, but the record of his election is no longer extant and he attended none of the three meetings of the Brodhull held during his mayoral year. Indeed, his mayoralty appears to have been controversial. In December 1466 it was agreed that all acts made during his term, along with those of his predecessor, John Copledyke*, and successor, John Westcliffe, should be annulled. Part of the reason behind this may have been the quarrels within the town’s elite surrounding Henry Greenshild. Hygon had been among the five jurats who committed Greenshild to ward in November 1465 for his dispute with another jurat, John Brown, but he was nevertheless sworn as a jurat during Greenshild’s mayoralty of 1466.6 ‘Old Black Bk.’, ff. 116, 117, 127v, 167; White and Black Bks. of Cinque Ports (Kent Rec. Ser. xix), 49-51. Further high office came in the last year of his life: in December 1467 he was chosen as one of the three keepers of the keys to the common chest.

Hygon made his will on 8 June 1468. He asked to be buried in his parish church of St. Peter, and left his property in Sandwich along with a silver gilded mazer and basin to his widow, Elizabeth, whom he also made his executor. On her death, his property was to descend to his son, William, who was then to have the mazer, while the basin was to pass to his only daughter, Elizabeth.7 Canterbury archdeaconry ct. wills, PRC 17/1, f. 490v. In July 1469 his widow made a grant of all her goods and chattels to Peter Frensh, a chaplain, and her ‘son’ (perhaps from a previous marriage or her son-in-law), William Brok.8 ‘Old Black Bk.’, f. 189v.