Family and Education

Offices Held

Wardman, Maldon Jan. 1399-1400, 1416-17; bailiff 1406-7, 1418-23, 1427-8; constable 1408-9; tax assessor 1417-18.1

Biography

Paffe was engaged in the local cloth trade. He acquired a messuage in Maldon in 1400, and from 1411 until 1417 he leased the town common jointly with John Flower*, for 10s. p.a. In 1424 Flower gave him tenure of a tenement in All Saint’s parish.2 For many years a prominent figure in the community, Paffe was among the townsmen named in the charter of privileges granted to Maldon in October 1403 by the bishop of London; and at the parliamentary elections of 1407, 1413 (May), 1422, 1426 and 1432 he acted as mainpernor for the burgesses chosen to represent the borough. He occasionally witnessed deeds sealed locally.3

Paffe died shortly before January 1433.4

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: K.N. Houghton

Notes

• 1. Essex RO, Maldon ct. bk. i. ff. 9, 13v, 15, 17-23v; ct. roll 10.
• 2. E101/342/14; Essex Feet of Fines, iii. 235; ct. roll 9 m. 2, 10 m. 3; ct. bk. i. f. 22v.
• 3. CPR, 1401-5, p. 307; C219/10/4, 11/1, 13/1, 4, 14/3; CCR, 1419-22, p. 193; ct. bk. i. f. 25v.
• 4. Essex RO, Maldon deeds DB 3, 3/11/16.