The identity of Robert Carpenter, the brother of Town Clerk John, might well be revealed in the following legal documents. The nature of the cases is not clear. However, we can safely assume they are property related, families with means trying to increase their holdings and influence. Interesting is the designation of clerk for Robert Carpenter. Those of us who have read Chaucer will remember the Clerks Tale. Clerks in the Middle Ages were very well known people indeed. The term clerk would be better rendered as lawyer , a clerk being half accountant, half lawyer in a society where illiteracy was common. Powerful interests were in real need of educated individuals who would take care of business. Clerks were educated at universities like Oxford and other institutions. We can assume that anyone who was a clerk came from a family of means, a family that could support a son through his course of education, for a career of clerkship for some powerful economic organization, or family like an aristocratic one. The place in the dispositions is Kyngeston upon Thames (modern spelling is Kingston on Thames). In the same town is a Thomas Carpenter, relation unspecified. Thomas has no specified trade connection, which is very interesting. The proximity to the Thames is also suggestive that Robert and Thomas were somehow connected to ships and trade. The town is also connected to the crown. To the sherrif of Surrey.Like writ, mutatis mutandis, by mainprise of Thomas Grenewort, Robert Carpenter clerk, both of Kyngeston upon Thames, John Stokes of Someset, and William Rason of Kyngeston upon Thames, in favor of Robert Rugge wever and Agnes his wife. (Close Rolls, 1407, June 2nd) To the sherrif of Surrey.Like writ. Mutantis mutandis, by mainprise of John Smart, Thomas Richard cordwaner, Thomas Glover and Thomas Avery cordwaner of Middlesex in favor of Thomas Carpenter of Kyngeston upon Thames, Joan his wife, Nicholas Fisshere of Kyngeston on Thames and Agnes his wife at suit of John Prynce shoutman and alice his wife. (August 8th)