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Thomas Palmer, c.1475-1518, and the Palmer family
Thomas Palmer first appears in Winslow records as a child in 1483, when he and his younger brother John received bequests from William Balky, who made their father Walter his executor. Walter was the bailiff of the manor and acquired a large property holding in Winslow which was eventually divided between his two sons.
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| Thomas Palmer became rich working in the law courts under Henry VII |
Thomas was sent to London for a legal education under his ‘master’ Thomas Pigott (c.1460–1520), originally of Little Horwood and later of Whaddon and Doddershall. Pigott was treasurer of the Inner Temple, counsel to the Duchy of Lancaster, serjeant-at-law and justice of assize.
Thomas Palmer is the first native of Winslow whose career as a lawyer can be traced. He acted as deputy for the Sheriff of Beds and Bucks in the Court of Common Pleas in 1495, and was an attorney in the Court of Common Pleas from 1500 and the King's Bench from 1510. He was a member of Lyon's Inn by 1500 and the Inner Temple by 1507. From 1508 he was a filazer (officer) of Common Pleas. He had a chamber in the Inner Temple at the time of his death, and there was a lawsuit about the books and writings in his chest there.
Thomas Palmer first appears in the Winslow court rolls in 1506 when he took over more than 80 acres of land and meadow, three messuages, a cottage and a toft, presumably purchased with the substantial money he earned as a lawyer. This may have been at the time of his marriage. In 1511 he was given more property by his father.
Thomas died in 1518, and his will shows that he was mainly interested in London, where he left bequests to the prisoners in all the gaols. He also owned property in Berkhamsted. However, his wife must have lived in Winslow as she remarried there.
After Thomas' death, there was litigation over his property in Winslow between his brother John and his son, also Thomas, later described as "gentleman" of Tring although he was brought up at Winslow. This went on to the next generation and was not settled until at least 1566. Thomas Palmer's grandson, a third Thomas, was the first lecturer in rhetoric at St John's College, Oxford, and the principal of Gloucester Hall there 1563-4.
Palmer family
1448 (WMCB p.635): Hugh & Agnes Palmer take over a corner messuage in Winslow market-place.
1452 (WMCB p.661): Hugh Palmer takes over a cottage called Hobbesberne Smyth's.
CP40/788 image 326 Hilary 1458
Hertf. John Abbot of the Monastery of St Alban otherwise called John by divine permission Abbot of the exempt Monastery of St Alban against Hugh Palmer of Wynslowe "mercer" otherwise called Hugh Chapman on a plea that he should render to him £30
1459 (WMCB pp.699-700): Hugh Palmer takes over a shop in Winslow market-place 12 x 12 feet.
CP40/814 image 1082d Hilary 1465
London. John Stokton citizen & alderman of London against William Staunton Abbot of Notley on a plea that he should render to him £6 14s 3d. And against Agnes Palmer of Wynslowe "wedowe" on a plea that she should render to him £27 13s 4d. And against John Terry of Bedford "chapman" on a plea that he should render to him £4 11s 10d.
CP40/847 image 42 Trinity 1473
Buk. Agnes Palmer & Walter Palmer plaintiffs against Richard Kene of Berton "husbondman". On 20 May 12 Edward IV [1472] at Wynslowe they bargained for a bowl [crateram]. Agnes & Walter supposed that Richard knew the bowl was made of copper and silver, and falsely and fraudulently sold it to them for a great sum as being made of silver only, to a loss for them of 40s. He guaranteed the bowl to be of silver only.
CP40/998 image 125d Hilary 1512
London. Simon Rice otherwise called Simon Ryce "mercer" of London by Ralph Caldwall his attorney against John Palmer late of Wynslowe "chapman" otherwise called John Palmer "chapman" of Wynslowe on a plea that he should render to him £16 5s 10d.
CP40/1023 image 314d Hilary 1519
Midd. Simon Ryce "mercer" of London by Ralph Caldewall his attorney put himself on the 4th day against John Palmer late of Wynslowe "chapman" otherwise called John Palmer "chapman" on a plea that he should render to him £7 10s ... Therefore the sheriff was ordered to have him sought from county to county until etc. Let him be outlawed if not etc. And if etc., then let him take him, and saving etc., so that he has his body here in the octaves of St John the Baptist. And hence etc. And for the statute etc. the sheriff of Bucks was ordered to make a proclamation in his whole county on three separate days, of which one proclamation should be made at the general session to be held in the parts of Wynslowe, that John should render himself to the sheriff of London, so that the sheriffs have his body here at the said octaves to respond to Simon on the plea. And it is to be known that the justiciars here on 27 Jan in the same term delivered the writ thereon to Henry Joy deputy sheriff of the said county to be pursued in form of law etc.
1521: will of Walter Palmer
CP40/1060 image 5207 Hilary 1529
Oxon. William Cownser by his attorney against John Palmer of Wynslowe "yoman", Thomas Freyn late of Hyllesdon "husbondman" & William Ardern late of Adstok "yoman", executors of the will of Walter Tayllour late of Stepyll Cleydon "husbondman", on a plea that they should render to him £4 which they unjustly withhold. And against John Warde late of Bodycote "husbondman", and against Thomas Besaunt late of Wardyngton Northants "yoman", and against Hugh Frebody late of Thrope Northants "gentilman", and against Robert Grace late of Bukkyngham "mercer", on a plea that each of them should render to him 40s which they owe him & unjustly withhold etc.
[image 5545 repeats the above for executors of Walter Taillour only]
CP40/1084 image 3021d Hilary 1535
Buk. Thomas Kyng & Edward Kyng executors of the will of John Kyng late of Stapulclaydon "husbondman" by their attorney against John Palmer late of Wynslowe "yoman" executor of the will of Walter Palmer late of Wynsloe "chapman", on a plea that he should render to them £18 13s 4d which he unjustly withholds etc.
CP40/1088 image 2332 Hilary 1536
Buk. John Stapleford, Arthur Bulkley clerk & Alan Hurde gentleman by their attorney against John Palmer of Wynslowe "husbondman" otherwise called John Palmer of Wynslowe in the county of Buk’ "husbondman", and against William Ardren [sic] of Addyngton "husbondman" otherwise called William Ardern of Addynton in the county of Buk’ "husbondman" on a plea that each of them should render to him [sic] £3 which they owe him & unjustly withhold. And they did not come. And the sheriff was ordered to summon them etc. And concerning William the sheriff now reports that (he was) summoned etc. (Let him be?) attached to be here 15 days from Easter. Concerning John Palmer the sheriff reports that he has nothing etc. Therefore let him be taken to be here at the same term.
1558: will and inventory of John Palmer
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