HORTON, William, of Southwark, Surr.

Horton was first described as a resident of Southwark in April 1394, when he and seven other local men offered joint sureties of £100 in Chancery for various members of the Craft family. In July 1396 and again in October 1400 he witnessed deeds relating to property in the nearby manor of Bermondsey; and six years later he obtained recognizances from Robert Newell for a debt of £20 due to him and two of his associates. In February 1408 he served as a juror at an inquisition ad quod damnum held in Southwark to examine a proposed gift of land in Bermondsey to London Bridge. Nothing is known of Horton’s commercial activities at this time, although a reference made in 1410 to cases being heard before the admiral’s court at William Horton’s quay in Southwark suggests that he was personally involved in trade. This might explain the diversity of his social connexions, which were wide ranging. He again appeared as a mainpernor in December 1411, November 1412 and February 1413; and in July 1418 he was appointed executor of the will of John Solas, an influential Southwark lawyer.CCR, 1392-6, pp. 207-8; 1405-9, p. 241; Harl. Ch. 76C 50, 78B 50; C143/439/5; RP, iii. 642a. At some point before November 1422, he and the Londoner, William Galbrygge, settled unspecified rents and holdings in St. Olave’s parish, Southwark, upon William Fowler, who in turn created an estate of the same for Robert, Lord Poynings, and five other feoffees. Horton witnessed deeds in April 1423 and June 1425, the first relating to land in London and the home counties, and the second to property in Southwark. He had possibly been dead for some time, when, in January 1438, his widow was found to have given rents worth 8s. p.a., again from St. Olave’s parish, to John Tyngilden. Some four years later she made a formal conveyance of all her other goods and chattels to a group of feoffees, including Walter Moyle†.CCR, 1409-13, pp. 300, 399, 424; 1422-9, pp. 44, 70-71, 205-6; 1435-41, p. 261; 1441-7, p. 48; PCC 42 Marche.