MEDFORD, John

Little is known of Medford’s origins or early career, although a John Medford, very likely the MP, was involved in transactions regarding property at Bromley and Hayes in Kent in 1443, and five years later, as an ‘esquire’ of the diocese of Canterbury, he obtained a papal indult for himself and his wife Sibyl enabling them to have a portable altar.3 CCR, 1441-7, p. 132; CPL, x. 386. Throughout his career the MP was consistently styled ‘esquire’, although how he came to deserve this status, whether as belonging to the gentry or through service to one of the nobility, has not been discovered. It is not until the year of his election to Parliament that we have evidence of his connexion with Surrey. In Hilary term 1453 he was cited as the defendant in a suit for a debt of £7 13s. 4d. brought in the court of common pleas by Ralph Legh*, a leading servant of the King’s household and of Bishop Waynflete. The Parliament, in which Legh represented Downton, may have already assembled at Reading. Medford, sitting in the Commons for Guildford, was described in the plea roll as ‘formerly of Walworth’, and when the suit came to pleadings in Michaelmas term 1455 it was contended that he had leased from Legh 68 acres of land in Walworth in the autumn of 1448, in return for the sum of money in contention, which he had failed to pay. Medford, then appearing by attorney, denied the charge.4 CP40/768, rot. 365; 779, rot. 512. Evidently not a burgess of the borough he represented in Parliament, Medford did nevertheless have some dealings with the townsmen of Guildford, for in the autumn of 1459 he was one of the recipients of the goods and chattels of Richard atte Noke, a resident there.5 CCR, 1454-61, p. 438. In Medford’s will he was to refer to his lands and tenements elsewhere in Surrey, in Pirford, Woking, Chertsey and Walton-upon-Thames, but how he had come by them is not explained. He became an associate of another MP for Guildford, John Weston III*, by whom he was enfeoffed in September 1464 of his extensive lands at Ockham, and it was perhaps around this time that arrangements were made for the marriage of his elder daughter, Margaret, to Weston. After the latter’s death in 1483, seven years after that of Margaret, a commemorative brass portraying the couple and the arms of the two families was placed in Ockham parish church.6 C141/6/22; VCH Surr. iii. 262; Surr. Arch. Collns. xxxi. 96-98.

More is known of Medford’s career after what was almost certainly his second marriage, to Blanche, the widow of a London grocer, John Bolle. In his will, enrolled in October 1461, Bolle had left Blanche a life interest in properties in several places in Kent, together with buildings in the London parish of All Hallows Barking. These last Medford and Blanche made over in February 1466 to a group of feoffees including Thomas Mauncell† and John Young†. Other premises, in three different parishes in the city, were acquired by Medford from Juliana Whapshote of Horsell in Surrey, the heiress of a London draper, Walter Chertsey.7 Corp. London RO, hr 191/3; 196/4, 5, 32, 33. Medford’s presence in London, combined with his standing as an esquire, were probably important factors in his appointment in September 1467 to the ceremonial office of swordbearer to the mayor. This post brought with it an annual stipend of 20s. as well as a reward of 40s., and in addition Medford was assigned a permanent residence over the gate of the Guildhall. He held this office until July 1485 when, perhaps because of failing health, he was replaced.8 Corp. London RO, Research pprs. 5/22; jnl. 7, f. 197; CCR, 1461-8, p. 445.

In spite of his post in London, Medford maintained his connexion with Surrey throughout his career, and in May 1467 he was among those who attested the county election at Guildford (at which his feoffee John Young was returned for the borough). Five years later he was asked to witness a quitclaim by (Sir) Robert Fiennes* of lands formerly belonging to Sir Robert’s late father-in-law William Massy.9 C219/17/1; CCR, 1468-76, no. 896. An indication of his continuing interests in Kent is provided by his service as a feoffee for John Septvance, the owner of the manor of Sherte on the Isle of Thanet, although this led to him being accused, in a petition submitted to Chancery between 1480 and 1483, of frustrating the sale of the manor to John Wygmore.10 C1/32/278; 65/128.

In his will, dated 19 Oct. and proved on 7 Dec. 1487, Medford left a gold chain to his grand-daughter Bridget Weston (daughter of Margaret) for her marriage and gowns to his ‘cosyns’, John, Richard and William Medford. These and other bequests, including a gold chain inset with two pearls and a diamond given to Elizabeth, the child of another daughter, Isabell Castell, suggest that he had acquired a certain amount of wealth by the time of his death. He left his lands and tenements in Surrey to his widow for her lifetime, after which they were to pass to his son-in-law and executor John Castell, a London mercer. Medford asked to be buried in his parish church of All Hallows Barking, next to the stone erected, in advance, for Blanche.11 PCC 36 Milles (PROB11/8, ff. 288v-9). It is not known for how long she survived him.