People Property and Charity

The Clothworkers' Company 1500-1688

Guildford

Extract from Sir Robert Parkhurst's Will, Book of Deeds and Wills, 1636

Sir Robert Parkhurst (d.1638), Knight, Alderman and Clothworker, bequeathed an interest in lands in Guildford, Surrey to The Clothworkers’ Company in 1648.[1] The only reference to the property in the Company Court Orders refers to the appointment of feoffees in 1668 for the estate trust.[2] A total of eight feoffees were appointed. These were Mr. Chaplin, Francis Dorrington, Michael Davison, Richard Beckford, John Lane, William Burton and James Young.[3] Many of these men had been noted previously in the company court orders as members of the Court. The Company sold the lands at Guildford at an unknown date.[4] The Company accounts include reference to the Guildford property in 1660, with an income of forty pounds and expenditure of five pounds record for the property.[5]

Individuals associated with this property

  • Robert Parkhurst, Late owner, 4-8-1646. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 147v-148r
  • Robert Parkhurst, Owner, 24-11-1636. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 157r (Manor of Poyle, Guildford, Surrey)
  • Robert Parkhurst, Owner, 21-10-1646. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 152v-153r (Manor of Poyle, Guildford, Surrey)
  • Augustine Phillips, Petitioner, 19-10-1647. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 174r (The Mills at Guildford, Surrey)

[1] TNA PROB/11/173, Will of Sir Robert Parkhurst, 22 February 1637.

[2] The Clothworkers' Company Archive (hereafter CCA), Court Orders, CL/B/1/10, p. 156, Appointment of feoffees for the lands at Guildford, p. 156.

[3] Ibid.

[4] A. Buchanan, ‘The Sources of the Wealth of The Clothworkers’ Company’, unpublished paper

[5] CCA, Renter Warden Accounts,CL/D/5/10, Renter Warden account of Mr. Dennis Gawden,  1660, f. 5 and f. 28.