Family and Education

Offices Held

Collector of taxes, Beds. Mar. 1442.

Biography

In October 1419 Marston, who was then described as ‘of Bedford, gentleman’, joined with others in offering securities of £10 to the Crown. He attested the borough elections to the Parliaments of May and December 1421, but no more is heard of him until 1434, when he was listed among the Bedfordshire gentry who were to take the general oath that they would not support anyone disturbing the peace. He did not keep his word for long, however, since he was involved, as a retainer of Reynold, Lord Grey of Ruthin, in the riots of January 1439, at the Bedford sessions-house. The adherents of Grey and his rival, John, Lord Fanhope, who had come to blows on this occasion, eventually obtained royal pardons in the following May, Marston’s being addressed to him as a resident of Shefford, which lies some ten miles southeast of Bedford. He evidently retained property in the borough, because in the same year he conveyed some of it to Walter Kirton.

CCR, 1419-22, p. 59; CPR, 1429-36, p. 374; 1436-41, p. 282; C219/12/5, 6; Beds. RO, DDTW167.

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: C.R.

Notes