John Frampton, MP

Family and Education b.c.1365, s. of Walter Frampton† of Buckland Ripers, Dorset by Margaret, da. and h. of Geoffrey Blount of Potterne, Wilts. m. (1) Isabel, da. of Walter Prewes, 1da.; (2) Edith, da. of Sir Matthew Stawell of Cothelstone, Som., 3s. inc. John†; (3) by 1397, Margaret.1

Offices Held

Commr. of array, Dorset Dec. 1399, May 1416.

Controller of customs and subsidies, Melcombe Regis and adjacent ports 28 Feb.-14 May 1416.

Biography On the death of his father, on 14 Oct. 1389, Frampton, then said to be aged 24, inherited the manors of Buckland Ripers and Moreton and lands in South Tatton, Bryant’s Puddle, Madjeston and elsewhere in Dorset. Most of these properties had come from his mother’s family, and Frampton similarly inherited through her the manors of Potterne and Etchilhampton in Wiltshire. In 1412 these Wiltshire estates were worth £23 6s.8d. a year, while, in Dorset, his own inheritance was valued at £20 and the lands which he held only for the life of his third wife at £23. Meanwhile, his second marriage, to Edith Stawell, had cemented a family relationship with Edith’s brother, Sir Thomas Stawell*, who was already married to Frampton’s sister.2

The details of Frampton’s career are somewhat obscure. However, it is certain that his family had close connexions with Melcombe Regis (indeed, Frampton’s father had sat in Parliament for the borough), and it is likely that it was this John Frampton who was a feoffee of property there in 1411 (apparently on behalf of Sir Humphrey Stafford II* of Hooke), and later, albeit briefly, served ill the port as controller of customs. In 1390 Frampton had provided securities at the Exchequer for John Frome*, and in October 1404, when attending his only Parliament, he performed a similar service for the lessee of the manor of Piddlehinton (Dorset). In 1409, as John Frampton ‘the elder’ he obtained a licence from Bishop Hallum of Salisbury to have mass celebrated at Moreton. It is uncertain whether it was he or his son John who served in the Agincourt campaign under Lord Mautravers.3 Frampton witnessed the election indentures drawn up at Dorchester prior to the Parliaments of 1407, 1410, 1421 (May), 1422 and 1425. The last of the series was dated 26 Mar. 1425, and he died on 20 May following. His widow, who retained most of his property in Dorset as her jointure, was still living in 1447. Frampton’s heir was his son Robert, aged 26. Another son, John, sat for Lyme in 1427 and became prominent in Dorchester.4

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Notes 1. J. Hutchins, Hist. Dorset, i. 398-9. 2. Ibid. i. 395; CFR, x. 316; Feudal Aids, vi. 425; Dorset Feet of Fines, 197, 205, 230, 249; CIPM, xvi. 854; VCH Wilts. vii. 210; x. 74; G. Stawell, A Quantock Fam. 38, 43. 3. CAD, i. C734; E101/24/1/22; Feudal Aids, v. 272; Hutchins, i. 395; CFR, x. 337; xii. 270. 4. C219/10/4, 5, 12/5, 13/1, 3; C139/22/22; CFR, xv. 82; Hutchins, i. 396; ii. 351; Feudal Aids, ii. 73, 114; Dorchester Recs. ed. Mayo, 207, 213, 251-4.