Family and Education

Offices Held

Mayor, Wilton Mich. 1391-2.1

Biography

In November 1376 Chitterne acted as a juror at an inquisition ad quod damnum held at Wilton. Over three years later he stood surety for the attendance of Richard Stoke, MP for Wilton, at the first Parliament of 1380, and later did so, too, for John Cole I*, who was elected to Parliament in 1382 (Oct.) and 1385. In April 1387 he acquired three shops and a garden in the borough, these properties to be held jointly with John Chitterne, clerk, a relative of his who afterwards became archdeacon, first of Wiltshire (1407-17) and then of Salisbury (1417-19).2

In 1388, along with Thomas Cuttyng* and John Cole, he was made responsible for the repair of the borough’s bridges, a royal grant of portage for two years being accorded to them on 2 May that year. In July 1401 he completed a gift of land in Fugglestone, Quidhampton and other villages round Wilton to the local hospital of St. Giles; and two years later he added a further gift of 12½ acres of land in the same area, this second grant being for the maintenance of a lamp in the chapel of the hospital. During Hilary term 1404 he was acting as an attorney in the county court (held at Wilton) on behalf of Nicholas Woodhull, who was then at odds with Thomas Calston*, over their respective claims to a rent in Little Durnford. In March 1405 he went surety for the appearance in court in London of one Isabel Walsingham, a servant accused of breaking her indentures.3

Chitterne was still alive in February 1412, when his lands at Wilton and Salisbury were assessed at the comparatively large amount of £20 p.a. By Michaelmas 1413, however, he had died, leaving 6s.8d. to Wilton corporation in his will, of which a fellow burgess, John Harleston*, was executor.4

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: Charles Kightly

Notes

• 1. Wilton Corporation, deeds 218.
• 2. Wilts. IPM Edw. III (Brit. Rec. Soc. Index Lib. xlviii), 398; C219/8/4, 7, 12; CCR, 1385-9, p. 314.
• 3. CPR, 1385-9, p. 437; 1401-5, p. 189; Wilton deeds 274; Tropenell Cart. ed. Davies, ii. 275; CCR, 1402-5, p. 495.
• 4. Feudal Aids, vi. 533; Wilton deeds S.6; guild steward’s accts. 1412-13.