STONE, Edward

While it is tempting to identify Stone with the synonymous receiver of the Dorset estates of Richard, duke of York, it seems that the Guildford Member of 1453 was in fact a local man from nearby Chertsey. P.A. Johnson, Duke Richard of York, 239; Egerton Roll 8774; CPR, 1429-36, p. 382. There were also two further namesakes in London: Cal. P and M. London, 1437-57, pp. 151, 156; Cal. Letter Bk. London, L, 86. The family was evidently established at Chertsey by 1417 when another Edward, perhaps the later MP’s father, held property there. Chertsey Carts. ed. Jenkinson, iii. 363. Relatively little is recorded of Stone’s activities in Surrey before his election to Parliament, although he was evidently of some standing by 1462 when, styled a gentleman, he was named as a feoffee of Richard Byndewyn who had acquired properties in Kingston-upon-Thames. CP25(1)/232/75/3. The paucity of information for his career in Surrey is almost certainly a result of his move to the city of London, where he had by November 1443 married Alice, the widow of both John Broke, a prominent London waxchandler, and Thomas Newton, serjeant of the cellar in the royal household. The marriage brought to Stone Alice’s jointure in her first husband’s lands in Chobham and Windlesham in Surrey, as well as in property in St. Bride’s parish in Fleet Street. These London properties were in the hands of Edward and Alice by November 1443, when (soon after their marriage) they conveyed several tenements near Fleet bridge to William Broke, possibly a brother of John. Corp. London RO, hr 173/9; 184/14; 188/17; Cal. Letter Bk. London, K, 41; CPR, 1436-41, p. 388; CCR, 1413-19, p. 151; 1435-41, p. 167 In the first instance, the couple were burdened by the settlement of the debts accrued by Newton in his household office, as well as further charges arising from Newton’s executorship of the will of Robert Barbot, but in the summer of 1446 and autumn of 1447 they secured two royal pardons of any outstanding amercements. CPR, 1446-52, p. 119; E159/222, brevia Trin. rot. 1; 225, brevia Mich. rot. 5. Stone continued to be active in the capital until 1466 when, described as an esquire, he was one of two recipients of the gift of goods and chattels made by John Newton, perhaps a relative of Thomas. CCR, 1461-8, p. 381. He was, however, still resident at Chertsey in June 1468, when he was appointed as a tax collector for Surrey, and it is likely that he was the father of Richard Stone of Westminster (d.1504) who, like another relative, Henry Stone of London (d.1472), owned property at Chertsey. Guildhall Lib. London, commissary ct. wills, 9171/6, ff. 123v-24; PCC 9 Holgrave (PROB11/14, f. 72). It was one of his namesakes, a London ironmonger and from 1469 one of the wardens of London Bridge, who in 1468 provided a loan of £200 to the Crown: E403/840, m. 11; E405/48, rot. 1d.