John Stamford of Bristol, son and heir of Christina Burton, and Thomas Stamford,...

Petitioners

John Stamford of Bristol, son and heir of Christina Burton, and Thomas Stamford, his eldest son.

Name(s)

Stamford; Stamford, John; Thomas

Addressees

[Humphrey of Lancaster], Duke of Gloucester, Guardian of England, and the lords of parliament.

Nature of request

John Stamford of Bristol states that he has inherited certain lands and tenements in the suburb of Bristol, which were left to his mother, Christina Burton, in the will of William Curteys, her father, which was enrolled in the book of testaments in the Guildhall in Bristol. Thomas Norton of Bristol, holding part of the tenements and wishing to disinherit him, altered the entry in that book, when he was Mayor of Bristol, and then enfeoffed various people, whose names they cannot discover, with the part he held of the tenements, to prevent their suit. He and his sons then lay in wait to murder Thomas Stamford, and wounded him severely, and still threaten him so that he does not dare to sue them or go about his business. They have also presented a petition to the Duke and lords, and another to the commons of parliament, against Thomas Stamford, to prevent his suit, and have slandered him to various justices. John and Thomas request writs to have Thomas Norton and his sons, and the book, before the Duke and lords in the present parliament, or before the council and the justices of both Benches, to have this matter proved, and that Thomas and his sons might be imprisoned until they have made fine to the King for the assault and battery, and satisfied the petitioners for their costs and damages; and that the petitioners might be restored to their lands and tenements - considering that they cannot sue at common law because of maintenance and the alienation of the tenements, and considering Thomas Stamford's twelve years and more of service to the King and his father in Chancery.

Nature of endorsement

[None]

Places mentioned

Bristol.

People mentioned

[Humphrey of Lancaster], Duke of Gloucester

Christina Burton

William Curteys, father of Christina Burton

Agnes [Curteys], mother of Christina Burton

Thomas Norton, Mayor of Bristol

Richard Curteys, father of William Curteys

Roger ...ntle, Mayor of Bristol

Thomas [Norton], son of Thomas Norton

Walter [Norton], son of Thomas Norton

John Wode (Wood), son in law of Thomas Norton

[Henry IV], King of England.

For a related petition by Thomas Stamford, see SC 8/141/7033

For a later petition by Thomas Staunford, see SC 8/198/9897

For a later petition by Thomas Norton on this matter, see SC 8/27/1307