HORE, John II (d.c.1452), of Bridport, Dorset.

Early in Henry IV’s reign Hore, who had been born in Carmarthen, settled in Bridport, where he established a small business trading in wine imported through Southampton.Port Bk. 1439-40 (Soton Rec. Ser. v), 20. He was no doubt related to William Hore alias But, bailiff of Bridport in 1411-12, 1416-17 and 1424-5, who held property in Dorchester (Recs. Dorchester ed. Mayo, 165). In 1426 the cofferers of Bridport leased to him, his wife and their son, John, a tenement and four shops in East Street, and in 1432, when he himself was a cofferer, he granted another building there to John But (probably that same son, since But was an alternative surname frequently used by the Hores). He later held property in West Street and South Street also, and became a member of the local fraternities of St. Nicholas, St. Katherine and the Two Torches. Elsewhere in Dorset he acquired premises at Walditch and Weymouth.C146/1714; Dorset RO, B3/CD14, f. 1, 16, f. 2v, 22, f. 2; Q1; S4, 40. Hore was one of four delegates sent to the county court at Dorchester to notify the sheriff of the results of the Bridport borough elections to the Parliaments of 1425, 1429, 1431 and 1435. It was on the occasion of his own third return to Parliament that he addressed a petition to the Commons asking for letters patent of denization which, after consideration by the King’s Council and the Lords, were granted, and so he was allowed to continue owning property and filling official positions in Bridport. At the elections to the Parliaments of 1442 and 1449 (Feb.) he stood surety for William Oliver, Thomas Skargill and John Burgess. In 1444 he was one of the overseers of works in the harbour at Bridport, for which funds were raised from episcopal indulgences.C219/13/3; 14/1-3; 15/2, 6; SC8/93/4630; CPR, 1436-41, p. 62; J. Hutchins, Hist. Dorset, ii. 15.

Hore made his will on 12 Mar. 1450, requesting burial in the chapel of All Saints in St. Mary’s church. He left sums of £20 and ten marks, to be collected from his debtors, respectively to his son Roger and one of his daughters. Most of his property was to go to his widow with remainder to their children who, each year, were to distribute 10s. for the observance of his obit. The will came up for probate at Canterbury on 15 May 1452. Hore’s widow was still a member of the fraternity of St. Katherine in 1461.PCC 17 Rous; Dorset RO, B3/CD22.