Family and Education

Offices Held

Tronager, Ipswich 5 July 1393-22 Sept. 1397, 26 Nov. 1397-8 Sept. 1399.

Coroner, Ipswich Sept. 1404-7, 1427-8; bailiff 1407-8, 1410-12, 1413-14, 1415-16, 1420-2.1

Biography

In October 1394 Knepping acquired land in the parish of St. Matthew, Ipswich, from a local weaver. Two years later, in association with John Arnold I*, he obtained from Henry Wall* rights to a quay with shops and a crane pertaining to it. To these properties he added in 1410 land in St. Peter’s parish next to the garden of the priory and, together with William Debenham II*, shops in St. Lawrence’s (1411) and a tenement and gardens in St. Nicholas’s (1417). On occasion described as ‘pelter’ (a dealer in skins), Knepping also traded in woollen cloth, which he shipped from Ipswich.2

As bailiff, Knepping was responsible for making returns to the Parliaments of 1407, 1411, 1420 (when he himself was elected) and 1421 (May). He was also party to the elections of 1410, 1413 (May), 1414 (Nov.), 1417 and 1422, on the last occasion acting as mainpernor for John French^†. He is last recorded in October 1429 when serving as a member of the body of portmen in Ipswich.3

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: K.N. Houghton

Notes

• 1. N. Bacon, Annalls of Ipswiche ed. Richardson, 87-88, 93; E368/181-94.
• 2. Ipswich RO, recog. rolls 16-23 Ric. II, 6-14 Hen. IV, 1-10 Hen. V; E122/51/39.
• 3. C219/10/4-6, 11/1, 4, 12/2, 4, 5, 13/1; Bacon, 93.