Thomas de Dent
Thomas de Dent (died after 1361) was an English born cleric and judge who held high office in Ireland. He was born at Dent, Cumbria.[1] He took holy orders and is first heard of as defendant in a lawsuit for trespass at Ingleton, North Yorkshire.[1]
He came to Ireland as King's Attorney (the office which was later called Serjeant-at-law) in 1331 and in 1334 he was appointed a justice of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland).[2] He transferred to the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) in 1337, became Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in 1341, and was Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas 1344-58.[2] He was granted a lease of the royal manor of Esker, near Lucan in 1351:[1] Esker was often leased out to royal servants who were in high favour with the Crown. He is last heard of in 1361, when he was visiting England.[3]
References
Notes
Sources
- Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926
- Hart, A. R History of the King's Serjeant-at-law in Ireland Dublin Four Courts Press 2000
- Smyth, Constantine Joseph Chronicle of the Law Officers of Ireland Henry Butterworth London 1839