The Pastons in London - A Timeline
While the Paston land holding were mostly in their home county of Norfolk as members of the family became lawyers,courtiers and parliamentarians, they were often to be found in London.
1392
William Paston attends the Inns of Court.
An approximate year for his first appointment in London.
1421
William Paston appointed Serjeant at Law
1429
William Paston I becomes Justice of Common Pleas.
William takes on a further responsibility with the main court of common law.
1442
John Paston I admitted to the Inner Temple
He lodges there until at least 1450
1444
William Paston 01 dies.
William died within the parish of St Brides, Fleet Street.
1445
Edmund Paston attends Cliffords Inn
1449
Edmund Paston dies and is buried at Whitefriars
1450
June
Jack Cade's rebellion in Kent
London is ransacked in June but the rebels are then defeated. Sir John Fastolf of Southwark and Caister, a cousin to Margaret Paston, negotiates with Cade. Cade is killed in July.
1461
John Paston II serves in the royal household of Edward IV.
John Paston I imprisoned in the Fleet.
1464
John Paston I briefly imprisoned again in the Fleet
1465
John Paston I imprisoned in the Fleet
John Paston II jousts on the King's side at Eltham Palace
1466
John Paston I is again in Fleet prison.
He is possibly in prison when he dies.
May
John Paston I dies in London.
His body is processed to Norfolk for burial at Bromholm Priory.
1474
Agnes Paston living with son William at Warwick's Inn, Warwick Gardens near Newgate
1477
John Paston II lodges at the George Inn, Paul's Wharf, Lombard Street
Now Bennets Hill, opposite the College of Arms.
1479
John Paston II dies and is buried at Whitefriars, Bouverie Street.
1488
Elizabeth Paston is buried next to her husband, Sir George Browne, at Blackfriars, Ludgate.
1496
William Paston is buried at Blackfriars, Ludgate.
1501
John Paston III attends a royal marriage
Katherine of Aragon and Prince Arthur were at St Pauls Cathedral.
1538
Thomas Paston appointed to Henry VIII's Privy Council
1541
Thomas Paston appointed Head of Royal Armouries at Greenwich.
1552
Alice Packington marries Richard Lambert
He is a grocer and Sheriff of London in 1567. They marry in St Michael Bassishaw near Smithfield.
1565
About this time Edward Paston studies at the Inns of Court.
1567
Death of Richard Lambert at St Mary Bow, Cheapside
1570
At about this time Edward Paston marries Elizabeth Lambert.
She is daughter of Richard Lambert and Alice Packington, who by this time had married Edward's Uncle, Clement Paston of Oxnead.
1628
Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice, husband of Bridget Paston, presents the Petition of Right to Charles I
The Petition upholds the rights of the People and Parliament.
1631
Sculptor Nicholas Stone is friend to the Pastons.
He sculpts their family tombs at Paston and Oxnead, and creates the remarkable effigy of John Donne, still visible in St Pauls Cathedral.
1641
Robertt Paston attends Westminster School at about this time.
1660
Robert Paston rides out from London
Robert is one of those who rides out from London to greet the future Charles II on the Restoration of the Monarchy.
1663
Robert Paston is appointed a founding Fellow of the Royal Society.
At Gresham College, Bishopsgate.
1666
Robert describes a game of cricket played on Richmond Green.
1675
Robert is wounded by highwaymen in Kensington.
1683
Robert lodges at The Golden Ball, Suffolk Street.
Robert dies in London.
1787
John Fenn of Dereham publishes his first edition of the Paston Letters.
He presents the first publication of the Letters to King George III.
1865
Herman Merivale publishes an article.
He questions the authenticity of the medieval Paston letters.
1866
The Society of Antiquaries at Somerset House declares the Letters to be genuine.
The Society recommends that they be purchased by the British Library where the medieval Letters remain to this day.
