Family and Education

?s. of William Pistor alias Baker by Rebecca, da. of William Skilling of Wilts. m. Emmeline, 2da.1

Offices Held

Gent. pens. 1549-64; regarder, Gillingham forest, Dorset 1568.2

Biography

In 1564 Pistor disposed of his appointment as a gentleman pensioner to Richard Zouche of Somerset, brother-in-law of the 3rd Lord Monteagle, in return for an annuity of 40 marks. In 1571 the Privy Council began to press Monteagle to pay up, and perhaps Pistor’s return for Wareham to the Parliament of that year had something to do with this. In any event Pistor was in all probability returned through the influence of the 2nd Earl of Bedford. One of Pistor’s relations was a deputy in the ordnance department to Bedford’s son-in-law the Earl of Warwick,3 and another was the puritan Tristram Pistor who sat for Stockbridge in 1571. Except for a reference to the fraudulent conveyances committee (11 Apr. 1571),4 which could be to either Tristram or John, the entries in the journals for 1571 refer to Tristram Pistor.

Pistor died in 1574, his will being proved 3 Aug. Despite repeated applications, Monteagle had still not paid the annuity, and on 6 Dec. the Privy Council wrote to him again, telling him to pay the arrears to Pistor’s daughter Grace, the executrix and residuary legatee. On 4Jan. 1575 they warned Monteagle to pay the money ’without delay’ or he would be brought before them. Pistor left bequests to the poor and to his daughters said ‘I wish you both your heart’s desires’.5

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: P. W. Hasler

Notes

Browne Willis, Notitia Parliamentaria (1715-50), ii. 493 has Baker; the ms Pistor.

• 1. W. Berry, Co. Genealogies, Hants, 262-3; Hutchins, Dorset, iv. 180; Som. Wills. iii. 118; PCC 32 Martyn.
• 2. LC2/4/1, f. 23; Hutchins, iii. 621.
• 3. CSP Dom. 1581-900, p. 283.
• 4. CJ, i. 84.
• 5. APC, viii. 9, 137, 320, 331; PCC 32 Martyn.