Family and Education

Offices Held

Bailiff of the liberty of the bp. of Salisbury in Surr. by 23 May 1404-aft. 9 Oct. 1410.1

Bailiff, Guildford Mich. 1408-9; town clerk 1413-15, 1416-17; mayor 1417-18, 1422-3, 1425-6.2

Biography

Although he lived in Guildford for most of his life, Woking had probably begun to consolidate his holdings to the south-west in Artington by 1403, when he first appears as a witness to a deed there. Eight years later he acquired a messuage and over 200 acres of land in the manor from Ralph Eton, a citizen and skinner of London; and he is also known to have leased three smallholdings in Godalming, Surrey, at about this time. Besides possessing considerable influence as a man of property, Woking had already gained many years experience of local government and administration before his first return to Parliament in 1420, and was clearly one of the most prominent resident burgesses of Guildford. His presence at the county court for the election of the shire knights to the Parliaments of 1414 (Nov.), 1417 and 1427 is further evidence of his standing in the community.3

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: C.R.

Notes

Variants: Okkinge, Wokkynge, Wokynge.

• 1. E401/635, 654.
• 2. CCR, 1405-9, p. 509; Guildford Mun. Room, BR/OC7/1 ff. 147-51; O. Manning and W. Bray, Surr. i. 38.
• 3. Guildford Mun. Room, LM339/10, 1383; C219/11/5, 12/2, 13/1; CP25(1)231/68/17; CCR, 1409-13, p. 222.