Family and Education

s. and h. of Richard Hornsea (d. by 1426) of Kingston-upon-Hull. m. Rose Gerlyng.

Offices Held

Biography

This MP described himself in his will as ‘master Robert Hornsea, clerk of Hull’, which suggests that he may have been town clerk or keeper of the borough records at the time of his death. He is first mentioned in May 1413, when he and his father, Richard Hornsea, acquired land in Denton Lane. Richard was himself a shipwright, and a few months later he took on a long lease from the mayor and corporation of other property for redevelopment purposes. It was probably from him that Robert inherited his chief messuage in Hull Street, as well as a garden in Finkle Street and six tenements, one of which had previously belonged to Adam Tutbury*. Robert appears to have been childless, for in his will of 1 Mar. 1426 he left most of his property to his wife, Rose Gerlyng, on the condition that she remained single after his death. He asked to be buried in the chapel of Holy Trinity, Hull, next to the tomb of his father. Rose and his friend Robert Holme II* were appointed as executors, with William Gray, deacon of the cathedral church of York, as supervisor. On 28 Aug. following, while he lay ill at the manor of ‘Wibeham’ in the diocese of London, Robert added a codicil bequeathing all his goods to his wife as well. He died within the next two weeks, and on 13 Sept. Rose swore on oath to maintain his property in a good state of repair while it remained in her possession.

Borthwick Inst. York, York registry wills ii, ff. 496-96v; Cal. Hull Deeds ed. Stanewell, D218, 223.

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: C.R.

Notes