WALTER, William (d.1555), of Horley, Oxon.

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Oct. 1553

Family and Education

m. Jane, 1da.1

Offices Held

J.p. Bucks. 1547-54; commr. relief 1550.2


The identity of William Walter ‘armiger’ is not easy to establish, but he was presumably the justice of the peace active in Buckinghamshire affairs under Edward VI and Mary. His designation suggests an origin in a Cambridgeshire family with property throughout the south-east midlands, almost certainly in a cadet line. Of the three namesakes traceable in the mid 16th century two were sprung from this family as in all likelihood was the third. The first, born in London, appears to have taken up the law and settled in Gloucestershire where he died in January 1559: the second, born in Northamptonshire in 1509, became clerk to the Attorney-general William Whorwood, and lived at Wimbledon, Surrey, until his death in 1587: while the third, a resident at Horley in Oxfordshire died in 1555. The legal attainments of the first two would have qualified either for a place on the Buckinghamshire bench but no reason has been discovered for their removal or for their failure to become magistrates in their own counties, whereas the death of the Oxfordshire man occurring about the time of the disappearance of the name of the justice from the liber pacis creates a strong presumption that he was the justice. His domicile at Horley further suggests that he was the Member, for Horley although some 18 miles from Buckingham formed with it and King’s Sutton the prebend of Sutton-cum-Buckingham in the diocese of Lincoln. This connexion with Buckingham could explain why Walter took precedence on the election indenture over Edward Gifford, whose family seems to have had a lien on the borough. Neither Walter nor Gifford opposed the reunion with Rome. By a will dated only 1555 and proved in October that year Walter asked for burial at Horley and provided for his wife (the sole executrix) and daughter.3

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: M. K. Dale


  • 1. Bucks. RO, D/A/WE/8, f. 137.
  • 2. CPR, 1547-8, p. 81; 1553, p. 351; 1553-4, p. 17.
  • 3. C142/48/120, 118/60; 219/21/11; Vis. Cambs. (Harl. Soc. xli), 19; PCC 30 Blamyr, 9 Holder, 13 Adeane, 26 Porch, 29 Wrastley; CIPM Hen. VII, ii. 752; L. I. Adm. i. 43; Cal. I.T. Recs. i. 110; Req.2/17/115; Vis. Glos. (Harl. Soc. xxi), 4; LP Hen. VIII, xviii; Gloucester consist. ct. wills 1559; VCH Bucks. i. 344.