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Stamford Local History Society
A List of Stamford Aldermen, 1398-1457
Chris Hunt 2022
Francis Howgrave in his 1726 book: An Essay of The Ancient and Present State of Stamford,
listed ‘Aldermen of the Gild’ from 1398 to 1457.
He states that Stamford was governed by prescriptive Magistrates long before King Edward IV’s Charter, but due to rebellious times, ill kept records and the town consumed by fire, many of Stamford’s records were lost. But, George Hill, Steward of the Town, and Alderman in 1662, had preserved a Roll listing sixty Aldermen prior to George Chapman who is mentioned as Alderman in the Edward IV Charter, sealed in 1462.
1398 George Wyches
1399 Stephen Maxey
1400 Robert Locksmith
1401 John Stanby
1402 Thomas Storine
1403 Thomas Spicer
1404 Ralph Harwood
1405 John Palfreeman
1406 Ralph Browne
1407 John Stacy
1408 Alexander Haine
1409 Robert Locksmith (2)
1410 Thomas Basset
1411 John Browne
1412 William Locksmith
1413 John Stanby (2)
1414 John Palfreeman (2)
1415 Alexander Mercer
1416 John Allock
1417 Andrew Draper
1418 Thomas Basset (2)
1419 John Browne
1420 Thomas Ralph
1421 Thomas Spicer (2)
1422 John Palfreeman (3)
1423 John Whitsade
1424 John Browne
1425 Robert Bendboar
1426 Thomas Basset (3)
1427 Thomas Spicer (3)
1428 John Longe
1429 John Page
1430 Richard Lee
1431 Laurence Melton
1432 William Marwood
1433 Richard Lee (2)
1434 Laurence Melton (2)
1435 William Browne
1436 William Marwood (2)
1437 Richard Lee (3)
1438 Robert Browne
1439 William Sturton
1440 Thomas Balksay
1441 William Browne (2)
1442 John Page (2)
1443 Richard Lee (4)
1444 Laurence Melton (3)
1445 John Browne
1446 William Browne (3)
1447 William Sturton (2)
1448 Richard Blagwin
1449 Thomas Gregory
1450 John Browne
1451 Laurence Melton (4)
1452 John Gregory
1453 John Page (2)
1454 William Hickham
1455 William Sturton (3)
1456 Thomas Gregory (2)
1457 William Browne (4)
Notes
The ( ) next to an aldeman indicates the number of times he held that office.
There is no such number against John Browne as not all the persons listed above in the name are the same Alderman. For instance a John Browne died in July 1442, and a John Browne was again Alderman in 1462. Some genealogists list four generations of John Browne in Stamford.
However, the William Browne who was Alderman in 1435, 1441, 1446 and 1457, did go on to be an Alderman in 1466 and 1470.
Francis Howgrave does not list Aldermen for the years 1458, 1459, and 1460.
The late Professor Alan Rogers published an article in Lincolnshire History & Archaeology Vol 41 (2006) which lists earlier Aldermen, variants, and analysis on the above list using deeds and leases.