MILLE, John atte, of Chichester, Suss.

The MP was perhaps the John atte Mille who acquired property at Wisborough Green, Sussex, in February 1388, as a tenant of Richard, earl of Arundel, and who in the early 15th century was a suitor to the hundred court of Esewrith for lands at Nutbourne and Rudgwick, in the same part of the county, held of the earl’s successor, but the name was a common one, and there is no conclusive evidence to link that atte Mille with Chichester.W. Suss. RO, add. ms 12297; Two Fitzalan Surveys (Suss. Rec. Soc. lxvii), 108.

There can be no doubt, however, that the former MP was among the leading citizens of Chichester present at the laying of the foundation stone of the Vicars’ Hall on 6 Mar. 1397, and later that year welcomed Bishop Rede to the parish of St. Peter the Great when he was making a visitation of the city churches. Atte Mille served as a juror in Chichester both at an inquisition ad quod damnum in April 1397, and at a coroner’s inquest in March 1403.Chichester Diocesan RO, Cap. I/17/51A; Reg. Rede (Suss. Rec. Soc. viii), 106; C143/427/13; Suss. Arch. Colls. xcv. 53. The John atte Mille ‘of Petworth’ present at the shire elections held at Chichester, in May 1421 and 1426, also held lands at Kirdford and probably belonged to the family living at Greatham: C219/12/5, 13/4; W. Suss. RO, add. mss 12318-19.