Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Starkey, Humphrey
STARKEY, Sir HUMPHREY (d. 1486), chief baron of the exchequer, was descended from the Starkeys of Oulton and Wrenbury, Cheshire. He was a member of the Inner Temple, and is first mentioned as a lawyer in the year-books in Hilary term 1454. There are references to him as counsel for John Paston in lawsuits in 1464 and 1466 (Paston Letters, ii. 144, 258). In 1471 he was elected recorder of London, and in Trinity term 1478 became a serjeant. He resigned the recordership on being appointed chief baron of the exchequer during the short reign of Edward V, on 15 June 1483. On the accession of Richard III he was knighted, and was continued in his office. He also acted as a justice of the common pleas during the reign of Richard III (Rot. Parl. vi. 332, 341), and was continued in both his offices by Henry VII. The last fine levied before him was at midsummer 1486, and he died before 29 Oct. of that year. He was buried at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, with his wife Isabella, by whom he left four daughters. Starkey purchased the manor of Littlehall in Woldham, Kent, to which he gave his own name, and where he built a house.
[Hasted's Kent, iv. 404; Foss's Judges of England; Dugdale's Orig. Jurid. et Chron. Series; Archæologia Cantiana, x. 256; authorities quoted.]