Henry de Thrapston

Henry de Thrapston (died c.1333) was an English cleric, judge and Crown official who spent most of his career in Ireland, where he became Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland and Archdeacon of Cork.

He was born at Thrapston in Northamptonshire. By the early 1300s he was already a senior Crown official, and his Irish career began around 1301. He frequently returned to England, where he had a number of official duties, such as keeper of the lands of the leading minister Hugh Despenser the Elder. He was also entrusted with arresting the attendees at a tournament (presumably illegal) in Staffordshire.

In Ireland he became custodian of the writs and rolls of the Court of the Justiciar of Ireland in 1301, and he was appointed second Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) in 1328. He was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1330 so long as he was of good behaviour, and "so long as his bodily health allowed". This was presumably a reference to his advancing years and ill health, although he held the office for about three years, being replaced by Thomas de Brayles in 1333.

He was something of a pluralist: in addition to being Archdeacon of Cork he was parish priest of Mallow, County Cork, and of Gamston, Nottinghamshire.

Sources[]

• Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926
• Close Rolls of Edward I 18 June 1301