STAUNTON, William (d.1587), of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, Mdx.

Staunton’s return to Parliament for Westminster in 1571 needs no explanation. There is no record of his having made any contribution to the business of the House. He neglected the security of the receipt of the Exchequer at Easter 1573, and was held responsible for the break-in and theft of £380. After a period in the Marshalsea prison he was deprived of his offices, continuing, however, to reside at Westminster. When Westminster was granted its own municipal government in 1585 he became one of the ten assistant burgesses named to assist two chief burgesses under Burghley’s high stewardship. He was buried at St. Margaret’s 24 Mar. 1587.Vis. London (Harl. Soc. cix, cx), 92; Burke, Westminster Memorials, 287; J. D. Alsop, ‘Exchequer of receipt’ (Camb. Univ. PhD. thesis, 1978), passim; Hall, Antiquities, 96-104; W. H. Manchée, Memorials St. Margaret’s Westminster; M. E. C. Walcott, Westminster Memorials, 125; E. Smith, Westminster Recs. at Caxton Street, 89; information from Mr. C. H. D. Coleman.