Men of Kent and Kentishmen/Sir John Philpot
Sir John Philpot,
LORD MAYOR OF LONDON, 1378,
Was a Kentish man, born at Upton Court. He became possessed by marriage of the manor of Gillingham, in the reign of Henry III. He was at that time an Alderman of London, of the Grocers' Company, and an active and worthy magistrate of the city which he for three years represented in Parliament. In 1379 he was knighted by Richard II. in Smithfield, for his services in assisting Sir William Walworth in resisting Tyler's rebellion. Before this he had performed a remarkable service in fitting out a fleet of ships to clear the seas of the pirates that infested them. He surprised and took John Mercer, a Scotch pirate, who had greatly destroyed the trade of the city, together with fifteen sail of Spanish ships richly freighted, of which he made prizes. The wealth thus acquired he placed at the king's disposal, to maintain a thousand men in his war with France. He died in the year 1385, bequeathing many charitable legacies to the poor. He was buried with his wife, Lady Jane Stamford, in the Grey Friars Church, London.
[See "Stow's Survey of London," by Strype, and "Hasted's Kent."]