John Philipot ca.1589-1645

John PHILIPOT ca.1589-1645

Biographical Note

Born at Folkestone, Kent, son of Henry Philpot (1543/4–1603). Apprenticed to Edmund Houghton in the Drapers' Company and made free in 1611. In 1613 he became Blanch Lyon pursuivant-extraordinary and Rouge Dragon pursuivant in ordinary in 1618. Appointed land and water bailiff of Sandwich, Kent in 1623 and Somerset herald the following year. MP for Sandwich in 1628 and appointed steward of the royal manors of Gillingham and Grain in Kent in 1630. Admitted a member of Lincoln's Inn in 1635 and appointed registrar of the College of Arms in 1637. In 1642 he accompanied Charles I to Oxford and at the siege of Gloucester in 1643. On his return to Oxford in 1645 he was captured by parliamentarian soldiers and his estates were sequestrated.

Books

A collector of heraldic manuscripts and charters, Philipot bequeathed some of his books to his son Thomas, but by 1648 many were acquired by Onslow Gardiner and later by Arthur Annesley, earl of Anglesey. Many of his heraldic manuscripts were bought by the College of Arms in the late 17th century for £50, where ca.130 now survive. 108 of Philipot's charters were copied into Sir Christopher Hatton's Book of Seals, and some of these are now in the British Library Harley and Cotton collections. Examples: State Library of Victoria RAREEMM 222/18.

Philipot's inscription from the head of the titlepage of State Library of Victoria RAREEMM 222/18, A. Vincent, A discoverie of errours, London, 1622

Sources

• British Armorial Bindings.
• Woodcock, Thomas. "Philipot [Philpot], John (c. 1589–1645), herald." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.