Nicholas de Snyterby

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Nicholas de Snyterby (died after 1354) was a senior judge in Ireland in the fourteenth century, who held office as Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) and justice of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland).[1]

Church of St Nicholas, Snitterby, Nicholas' birthplace

He was born at Snitterby in Lincolnshire, England. The de Snyterby name is derived from the village of Snitterby; it was occasionally spelt de Sueterby. He was a close relative, possibly a nephew, of Thomas de Snyterby, who came to Ireland in an official capacity in 1285 and served on the Court of Common Pleas 1295–1307.[1] Unlike Thomas, he was not a priest, being described in 1352 as Nicholas de Snyterby, layman, of the Archdiocese of Dublin.[2]

Nicholas is first heard of in 1326, when he was apparently already a Crown servant of some seniority. He was listed that year in the Close Rolls as one of the officials who were ordered to take charge of and account for the goods and chattels of Walter de Islip, lately Lord Treasurer of Ireland, who was then in deep disgrace, facing charges of fraud and corruption and liable to forfeiture of his property.[3]

Nicholas was appointed second Baron of the Irish Court of Exchequer in 1337 and evidently settled permanently in Ireland the following year.[4] He was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas in 1340 and apparently held both offices at once,[1] possibly due to a shortage of judges. He was forced to contend for the office of Baron with William de Epworth, who was eventually compensated with another office, being appointed steward of the Crown lands.[1] Nicholas was superseded as Baron in 1342 but reappointed in 1347, and was still serving on both Courts in 1354.[1] In 1351 he sat on a commission of inquiry into the lands of Maurice FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond.[1] In 1352 he was given permission to name his own confessor.[5]

In 1346, prior to his reappointment to the Court of Exchequer, he petitioned for full payment of his fees as Baron, which were two years in arrears. The Crown ordered the Lord Treasurer of Ireland and the other Barons of the Exchequer to undertake an inquiry and to examine all the relevant records. On foot of the inquiry, which confirmed that the salary was in arrears, the Crown ordered him to be paid the full amount due of 45 marks.[6]

Yet another member of the family, Reginald, was like Nicholas a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) in the 1420s and 1430s.[7]He appears to have owned property in Dublin, which passed to his daughter Joanna, who married John Bennet, Mayor of Dublin.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926 pp.75-7
  2. ^ Calendar of Papal Registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland Vol.3 1342-1362
  3. ^ Close Roll 19 Edward II 10 February 1326
  4. ^ Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III 1st May 1338
  5. ^ Calendar of Papal Registers 1342-62
  6. ^ Close Roll 20 Edward III >
  7. ^ Ball p.175
  8. ^ Ball p.175
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