WHITCOMBE, Robert

More may be added to the earlier biography. The Commons 1386-1421, iv. 827-8.

The frequency with which Whitcombe was returned for Shrewsbury probably arose in part from his willingness to serve at considerably less than the daily wages of 2s. to which borough MPs were theoretically entitled. In his last Parliament, which met for 62 days between 25 Jan. and 27 Mar. 1442, he accepted total wages of only 40s., in other words less than 8d. a day, making no allowance for travelling time. While sitting in this assembly, he performed another small service for his fellow townsmen by purchasing four pewter pots for the town at the cost of 3s. 5d. Salop Archs. Shrewsbury recs., bailiffs’ accts. 3365/377, m. 1.

No evidence has emerged to show how Whitcombe came to be associated with Newark, but in the last years of his life he took up residence there. This explains why he was omitted from the body of 12 aldermen nominated under Shrewsbury’s new constitution, and it was in Newark church that he was buried after his death on 3 Nov. 1447. RP, v. 121 (cf. PROME, xi. 508); R. Thoroton, Notts. ed. Throsby, i. 393 . Two disputes followed his death. One concerned the alleged failure of one of his feoffees, Thomas Don, parson of Smethcott near Shrewsbury, to complete a sale of land as required by his will. C1/18/140-3. This is detailed in the earlier biography. The other was more complicated. In its essentials, it was a dispute between Whitcombe’s widow and his son-in-law Thomas Luyt* over certain of his goods. The basis of the quarrel is not revealed in the surviving documents, although it is known that it was put to the arbitration of Thomas Salisbury, archdeacon of Bedford, and the vicar of Newark, John Burton. The arbiters awarded that Mabel should give Luyt an obligation in £73, arising out of a sale of wool, together with certain goods; in return Luyt was to pay £8 for prayers for Whitcombe in Newark church and to discharge all Whitcombe’s debts in Shropshire. C1/18/47-48; C4/1/94.