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STOWFORD, Paul (d.1555/57), of (?Exeter), Devon.
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Paul Stowford was of gentle birth and presumably a kinsman of George Stowford. He lived by trade and his business links, which explain his single appearance in the Commons, stretched from Devon and Cornwall to London. His interest in tin took him occasionally to Truro and on his way to the coinage there he probably passed through Mitchell. One of the producers from whom he bought tin was John Beauchamp: Beauchamp was a figure in the borough and may have been the returning officer at the election. Stowford heeded the chancellor’s remarks about attendance and he did not follow the example of so many of his colleagues from the west country in absenting himself before the dissolution. His conscientiousness was not rewarded by reelection a year later and by 1558, when the next Parliament was called, he was dead. He was a sick man when he made his will on 30 Oct. 1555. He named the men who owed him money, including John Beauchamp and Valentine Dale, and several London merchants to whom he himself was in debt. He asked his executor, his ‘brother’ William Maynard of London, to settle his debts and made Maynard his residuary legatee. The will was witnessed by several Exeter citizens and was proved on 8 Jan. 1557.
C219/23/27; PCC 1 Wrastley.