Either Thomas Lok, who purchased admission as a burgess of Lynn in 1371-2, or, as is more likely, John Lok, who was a merchant trading in cloth with Prussia, served as borough chamberlain in 1384-5, and was still alive in 1393, might have been William’s father.
William was unusual among the parliamentary burgesses of Lynn in never (so far as the records go) having held local office, even as a jurat. In fact, with regard to internal affairs of the borough, all that we know of him is that he was one of the group of 23 burgesses who, in July 1402, each had to provide securities of £100 and undertake before the sheriff of Norfolk not to molest the borough’s overlord, Bishop Despenser of Norwich, or his sevants.