Constituency Dates
Exeter 1417, 1435, 1437, 1439, 1442
Family and Education
s. of John Cook I*. m. (1) Katherine, da. of Reynold Seynesbury of Dunster, Som., by his w. Margaret; (2) by 1432, Joan, 1da.
Offices Held

Attestor, parlty. election, Devon 1432.

Steward, Exeter Mich. 1428–9; receiver 1430 – 31; member of the council of 12, 1431 – 32, 1433 – 35, 1436 – 41, 1442 – 55, of the council of 24, 1455–d.;1 Devon RO, Exeter mayors’ ct. rolls 34 Hen. VI-1 Edw IV. mayor 1432 – 33, 1435 – 36, 1441 – 42.

Constable of the staple, Exeter 20 Nov. 1429 – 28 Oct. 1430, 12 Nov. 1438–30 Oct. 1439,2 C241/230/17. 14 Dec. 1459–d.;3 C67/25; C241/243/22, 244/14. mayor 4 Feb. 1434 – 12 May 1435, 4 Nov. 1445 – 26 Jan. 1447.

Warden of the Magdalen hospital, Exeter Sept. 1442–5.4 Devon RO, Exeter city recs., mayors’ ct. rolls 21–22 Hen. VI, rot. 2; 22–23 Hen. VI, rot. 2; 23–24 Hen. VI, rot. 3.

Commr. of gaol delivery, Exeter castle May 1454.

Address
Main residence: Exeter, Devon.
biography text

More can be added to the earlier biography.5 The Commons 1386-1421, ii. 646-7.

In the autumn of 1428 Cook quarreled with the influential John Shaplegh* (his fellow MP of 1417), who accused him of having forged several deeds relating to his estates in an attempt to deprive him of them.6 KB27/670, rot. 77.

It is indicative of Cook’s standing both in the city of Exeter and the wider county that in 1442-3 he was paid 6s. 8d. and given wine to persuade him to intercede with the earl of Devon, one of the royal loan commissioners, to exonerate the citizens from lending any money.7 Exeter receivers’ accts. 21-22 Hen. VI, m. 2. Cook last occurs among the men present at the mayoral elections in the autumn of 1460, and probably died not long after, for although he was re-elected to serve on the council of 24 at that time, his name was subsequently crossed out, and replaced by that of Vincent Hert.8 Exeter mayor’s ct. roll 39 Hen. VI-1 Edw. IV, rot. 1d. The execution of Cook’s will was entrusted to his second wife, Joan, and his son-in-law, John Gambon, who for some years were occupied with the settling of his affairs.9 CP40/818, rot. 44; 820, rots. 24, 26d, 214; 826, rot. 2.

Author
H.W.K.
Volume
Commons 1422-1461
Notes
  • 1. Devon RO, Exeter mayors’ ct. rolls 34 Hen. VI-1 Edw IV.
  • 2. C241/230/17.
  • 3. C67/25; C241/243/22, 244/14.
  • 4. Devon RO, Exeter city recs., mayors’ ct. rolls 21–22 Hen. VI, rot. 2; 22–23 Hen. VI, rot. 2; 23–24 Hen. VI, rot. 3.
  • 5. The Commons 1386-1421, ii. 646-7.
  • 6. KB27/670, rot. 77.
  • 7. Exeter receivers’ accts. 21-22 Hen. VI, m. 2.
  • 8. Exeter mayor’s ct. roll 39 Hen. VI-1 Edw. IV, rot. 1d.
  • 9. CP40/818, rot. 44; 820, rots. 24, 26d, 214; 826, rot. 2.