Family and Education

b. c.1537, s. and h. of William Pepper of St. Martins by his w. Margaret. m. Anne, da. of Michael Hall of Leventhorpe, at least 1s. suc. fa. 1572.

Offices Held

Alderman (i.e. mayor), Richmond 1586-7, 1594-5.

Biography

Pepper’s father bought the manor, site and precinct of the late cell of St. Martins in 1551, he and two others paying Lord Clinton £800 for the property. On dividing the estate with his partners, he retained the manor, which thus descended to John Pepper, giving him sufficient status to secure his return for the borough in two Parliaments, and to have his son Christopher appointed recorder in succession to Cuthbert Pepper, who was probably John’s cousin. As the representative of a Yorkshire borough Pepper may have served on committees concerned with cloth (23 Mar. 1593) and weirs (28 Mar. 1593). Pepper died 14 June 1603, leaving the estate to Christopher.

C142/160/50, 280/73; C219/30/66; Foster, Vis. Yorks. 298; Yorks. Fines (Yorks. Arch. Soc. rec. ser. ii), 380; Clarkson, Richmond, 173, 329, 341-3; D’Ewes, 507, 512.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: B.D.

Notes