Family and Education

?s. of Ralph Stikelane*.

Offices Held

Biography

Thomas Stikelane’s interests were divided roughly between Bridport and Lyme, in both of which places he owned property. In 1397 he leased 20 acres of land in Netherbury (some four miles from Bridport), and in 1413 he was acquitted of 30s. rent due at Easter following for holdings at Pymore. In the meantime, however, it had been as a parishioner of the church at Lyme that, in 1408, he had given evidence about the neglected state of the church to the dean of Salisbury, and in 1412 he had acted as proctor on behalf of the absent rector (a role which Ralph Stikelane had performed earlier). As ‘of Lyme’ in 1431 he demised to John Burgess† his house in ‘Stakelane’, Bridport.2

Thomas was one of the deputation sent to the shire court at Dorchester to report the results of the Lyme elections of 1417, 1420, 1421, 1422, 1425, 1426, 1427, 1429, 1432 and 1437. Meanwhile, at Wimborne in July 1427, he had been bound over in £40 to keep the peace towards Thomas Salesbury of Lyme. His sureties included his kinsman Edward Stikelane, who had sat for Bridport in 1417. Thomas was described on this occasion as a merchant, but nothing is known in detail of his trading concerns. It was perhaps through them, however, that he came into contact with the Herefordshire knight, (Sir) John Skydemore*, who in December 1429 entered into recognizances for £100 undertaking that he would appear in Chancery to answer accusations brought by John Stokes, clerk. Even though Stikelane had taken out royal letters of protection in November, as travelling abroad in Sir John Keighley’s retinue, he presented himself in Chancery in Hilary term following; but the nature of the charges he was required to answer is nowhere specified.3

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: L. S. Woodger

Notes

• 1. The Christian name has been torn off the return; C219/12/3.
• 2. Dorset Feet of Fines, ii. 232, 286; Dorset RO, B3/D2, ff. 120, 129v; CAD, iii. C3124; vi. C4605; Reg. John Chandler (Wilts. Rec. Soc. xxxix), 204, 314.
• 3. C219/12/2, 4-6, 13/1, 3-5, 14/1, 3, 15/1; C244/3/76; CCR, 1429-35, p. 34; DKR, xlviii. 266.