KIRTON, William (d.1428), of Southwark, Surr.

It is possible that Kirton was related to his two namesakes and contemporaries, the first an influential mercer and citizen of London, and the second a stockfishmonger, also with property in the City.William Kirton the mercer first appears in 1388 and was still alive in July 1434 (CCR, 1385-9, p. 517; Cal. P. and M. London, 1413-37, p. 273). The stockfish-monger was also a young man in 1388, the date of his father’s death (Cal. Wills ct. Husting London ed. Sharpe, ii (2), 269-70). All his known connexions lay in Surrey, however, and he was described as living in the county when, in January 1405, he offered joint sureties of £100 for the good behaviour of John Solas, a local lawyer with whom he was first returned to Parliament nine years later. Between September 1416 and February 1426 he witnessed a letter of attorney and five deeds (four dated at Southwark), relating to property in Kent and Surrey, most of which was being settled upon the wardens of London Bridge. Kirton died shortly before 8 Sept. 1428, the date of royal letters ordering the sheriff of Surrey to replace him as coroner, and was succeeded by his son, William, a wealthy man, who greatly extended the family property in Southwark over the next ten years.CCR, 1402-5, p. 484; 1413-19, pp. 365-6; 1422-9, pp. 148-9; Corporation of London RO, Bridge House deeds, portfolios H. 37, 42, 73, I.21; CP25(1)232/71/66, 72/90, 105.