Thomas de Cottingham

Who is Thomas de Cottingham?

Thomas de Cottingham was an English cleric and judge who held the office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland.

He took his name from his birthplace, Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire. He served as a clerk in the English Chancery for more than 30 years, and was Keeper of the Great Seal in 1349. He is said to have held the living of many churches, but only two seem to be known for certain: St. Mary the Great, Cambridge and St. Andrew, Holborn.

In 1356 he became Master of the Rolls in Ireland. It seems that this was expected to be a thankless task, since he was promised preferment both for his past services and "the labours which he would have to endure". Other than the rank of clerk of the first degree in Chancery, it does not seem that he received much reward. He did not entirely lack friends in the Dublin Government, and in 1356, during a period of confusion about clerical promotions, he was appointed joint prebendary of Kilmolran and Desart, in the Diocese of Lismore. However his critics objected to the appointment as irregular and in 1357 King Edward III cancelled it.

He died in 1370.