SMITH, Richard I

More may be added to the earlier biography. The Commons 1386-1421, iv. 397.

Smith occasionally appeared in the records of the court of common pleas as a plaintiff in Sussex suits. For instance, in the Easter term of 1426 he brought actions against a husbandman from Climping for unjustly detaining goods worth £2, and against John Barbour, a servant from Arundel, for failing to relinquish a bond. However, at the same time he himself was being sued by John Godfrey*, to whom he allegedly owed the sum of £3 13s. 4d. In this last suit his occupation was given as ‘smith’. He appeared by attorney in the Trinity term of 1432 in an action to recover a debt of £4. CP40/661, rots. 193, 355d; 686, rot. 253.