There are many references to Thomas Duke of London in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. In 1365, Thomas Duke, with Walter Oxton, Robert Ive, and Richard Olneye (all of London) "mainperned under a pain of £100" (provided bail) for Robert Goderych [Goodrich], 'skynnere' of Devon, who was accused by John Pasford, 'cordewaner', of trespass. Robert had been outlawed in Devon for failure to appear to answer this charge. Thomas Duke may have known Goderych from common membership in a guild, since Thomas is also described as a 'skynnere' in later documents.
In 1374 Thomas Duke, a tenant of a house in the parish of St. Dunstan near Temple Bar, sued regarding obstruction of his right-of-way.
In 1388, Thomas Duke, skinner of London, was order to return to Joan de Salisbury, wife of the late John de Salisbury, knight, the clothing delivered to him by her husband in pledge for a sum of money, as an "order of the king's kindness." The clothing in question included "a short cloak of scarlet furred with 'menever,' two gowns of 'baudekyn' and cloth of gold furred with 'menever,' two plain gowns, one of 'baudekyn' the other of black velvet, one 'cote' of 'baudkyn' the other of black velvet, one 'cot of 'baudekyn' furred with 'pople,' and one mantle of bluet furred with 'menever.'"
In 1392 Thomas Duke, 'skynner,' provided security, with others, for a writ of supersedeas omnino in favor of John de Middelton of the parish of St. Dunstan in West London. In the same year, John de Middelton, clerk, was sent to the abbot and convent of Thorney, "to take such maintenance in that house as John Duke deceased had at the late king's command."
In September 1396 Thomas and his wife, Agnes, citizens of London, were granted papal indulgences, providing that they might choose a confessor, who could grant them absolution and enjoin a penance at the time of death, except in cases reserved to the aspolostic see (the papacy). This was a papal indulgence of the sort that lay at the heart of many of the complaints of the Reformation. However, it was not enough. Thomas and his wife apparently wanted to be very sure of their salvation. In September 1397 they are listed for a different form of indult:
This, a more expensive form of indult, provided for continuing absolution rather than that given only at the time of death.
Thomas Duke and John Twyford of London, esquire, in 1397 provided mainprise (surety) for the commitment to John Michel, king's serjeant-at-arms, and Thomas Mundevyle, of a messuage called "Wilbyes" in Edelmeton and Totenham, held in chief by the estate of John, Lord de Beaumond.
In 1402 King Henry IV partially compensated Thomas Duc and John Wodecok for debts that the king was unable to repay at that time:
This Thomas Duke, despite (or perhaps because of) being a "skinner" rather than a "chivaler" was very wealthy. In that year he served as executor for the estate of John Manyngton, late citizen and skinner of London.
A writ issued March 17, 1404, ordered the Sheriff of Wilts, by mainprise of Thomas Duyk 'skynner,' John son of Thomas Duyk, John Hadoun 'draper' and John Trom 'skynner,' all of London, in respect of taking a second time of John Duyk of Chiriton the younger security for keeping peace toward the prior or canons of Lanthony. A similar writ for John Duke of Conok was issued by mainprise of individuals in Suffolk, including Thomas de la Pole, Knight. Conok is an estate within Chirton, a few miles southeast of Devizes, Wiltshire. Conok was held by the Knights Hospitallers until 1324, when it became crown property. Later it was sold to the de la Pole family. Thomas de la Pole was obviously involved as owner of the estate. (It is likely that the dispute involved property lines, since Lanthony owned adjacent lands.) The Dukes of London were probably involved in this affair through kinship with the Wiltshire family.
In 1408 Thomas Duke and his son, John,were again loaning money to the powerful in London, this time £100 to Ralph de Nevylle [Neville], Earl of Westmoreland, and his son, John de Nevylle, knight. Ralph de Neville married Joan Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt, and was himself the head of one of England's most powerful noble families. English records show that in 1408-09, Thomas Duke and William Norton were sheriffs of London (Middlesex). In 1410 they were involved in efforts to correct proceedings initiated during their tenure in which error had occured.
In 1412, Thomas Duke was a witness to a charter of the lands, rents and services in Somerset and Gloucestershire of Nicholas Morys, granted to Roger Paternoster, chaplain, and William Marchissy, their heirs and assigns.
In the 14th year of Henry IV (1413), Richard Page, esquire, was charged for not appearing to answer Thomas Duke, citizen and skinner of London, touching a debt of £5. 6s. 8d. A similar debt, this time of £40, from William Langbrok was recorded in 1413. In 1413 Thomas Duke also issued with others a writ of mutatis mutandis in favour of William Forster of London.
Thomas Duke witnessed a quitclaim by Rober Thriske, Clerk, to John Deram, esquire, for a manor and lands in Hertfordshire and Middlesex in 1413. Thomas Beaufort, Earl of Dorset, was also a beneficiary. This is, again, a member of John of Gaunt's extensive family, which he established in very powerful positions before his 1399 death.
On the sixth of May, 1422, Thomas Duke's will was entered in the London Court of Husting:
Despite Thomas' good intentions, this chantry was not created due to legal ambiguity -- it could not be shown that the vicar of St. Dunstan had been canonically instituted as perpetual vicar. To correct this, William Pepyr, in his will (dated June 8, 1442, and enrolled in the Court of Hustings in 1451) created a chantry in his own name and that of Thomas and Agnes Duke, bequeathing the actual funding of £10/year to the Master of the Mistery of the Craft of Skinners and his successors.
Thomas Duke in 1423 brought a plea with John Wodecok (who had joined Thomas Duke in loaning money to Richard II) and several others, as administrators of the estate of Nicholas Loude of the county of Somerset, against Robert Yevelton, knight, of Wiltshire. Sir Robert was in debt to a long litany of individuals throughout southern England. This is probably a case in which the document was processed after Thomas Duke's death.
JOHN DUKE, SKINNER, OF WESTMINSTER
The preceding records show that Thomas Duke, citizen and skinner of London was assisted in his business affairs
by a son, John. This individual appears in the official records as John Duke, 'skinner,' and as John Duke of
Westminster.
In 1382 John Duke of Westminster was involved in a writ of supersedeas to the Sheriff of Canterbury. As we
shall see in later references, this was a son of Thomas Duke, skinner. William de Skelton, armorer, was among
the other witnesses.
John Duke was included in a will of 1391-2 in London. William Power (called "Wodehous"), skinner, provided
for aid to the Fraternity of Skinners, in aid of its chaplains. He also left a bequest to Custance, wife of
John Duk, and to others. His will gives some insight into the lifestyle of a "skinner" in London at this time,
at least those highly placed in the guilds and in the merchant life of the city. He left, besides his real
estate and money, silver vessels pertaining to his hall, chamber, pantry, and kitchen.
In 1400, a writ of supersedeas was issued to the sheriffs of London, by mainprise of John Duke 'skynnere,'
and others, to free a Robert Norburgh 'skynnere' and Margaret his wife, if taken by the sheriff in connection
with a suit by Thomas Tannere of Wells, Somerset, alleging threats.
In 1406, this John Duke again backed a writ of supersedeas, this time to the Sheriff of Northampton on behalf
of John Hegge of Hygham at suit of William Hosteler for trespass. In the same year, Richard Duke, 'skynner,'
presumably another son of Thomas, backed an order of supersedeas in favour of Walter Parkere, in London. In
1407, it was again John Duke, 'skynner,' who backed a writ of supersedeas for Richard Yve of Sandwich. In
1409 John Duke, 'skynner,' and Robert Austyn, 'coteler,' of London guaranteed 100 marks for the appearance
of William Multon, 'coteller,' in chancery to answer charges.
WILLIAM DUKE, CHAPLAIN
In 1389, William Duke, chaplain, with John Welbourne, enfeoffed John de Salisbury, knight, son of John Salesbury,
merchant, for the use of 29 acres of land and 6 acres of meadow in Little Merlawe and Cokeham. William was
probably a son of Thomas Duke, given the known association at this time between Thomas Duke and the family
of John de Salisbury, especially the king's order to Thomas to return the finery of the knight's wife.
WILLIAM DUK, 'DRAPER'
In 1376 William Duk, 'draper,' was a witness to a quitclaim to Robert de Thame, citizen and mercer of London
and Juliana daughter of Thomas de Betoyne sometime citizen of London, by John de Betoyne citizen and painter,
regarding the estate of Thomas, father of Julia.
WILLIAM DUKE
In 1391 Thomas Soche was pardoned for the death of William Duke, killed at Brichmanisshaye in Heampton on
Sunday before Midsummer, 9 Richard II.
AND OTHER LONDON RESIDENTS
In 1334 John Duk was vicar of the church of Great Bursted. Properties previously under his control at
Illford (now an eastern suburb of London) were given by Edward III to the convent of Stratford.
In 1338, Stephen Duke appeared as a juror and a witness in murder cases in the Tower District of London.
In 1380 Walter Duke was involved in an attempt to have a debt of £200 repaid by William Brundale, who also
owed others, although lesser amounts.
John Ecton, knight, was charged in 1398 with failure to appear to answer charges of Thomas Styward, esquire,
and John Duke, citizen and tailor of London, touching a debt of £15 6s. 8d.
In 1453, Agnes Hert of London, widow, listed William Duke, esquire, among beneficiaries of her will.
In 1454, John Duk was a witness of the will of William Chamber, at Ryselp in northwestern Middlesex, at the
periphery of London. The beneficiary was William Norton, "of the king's household." Earlier in the century,
a William Norton had been sheriff of Middlesex [London] with Thomas Duke. Now, this individual who was probably
his son or grandson was a member of the royal household, and still involved with the Duke family.
| HUNDRED | TOWN | NAME | TAX |
| Leightonstone | Spaldwick | William | 20d |
| Leightonstone | Spaldwick | Adam | 15d |
| Leightonstone | Old Weston | Alan | 12d |
| Leightonstone | Old Weston | Godfrey, sen. | 6d |
| Leightonstone | Old Weston | Godfrey | 2s.0d |
| Leightonstone | Ellington | Walter | 15d |
| Leightonstone | Ellington | Thomas (ob.) | 9d. |