Robert Sutton

Robert Sutton (c. 1340 – 1430) was an Irish judge and Crown official. During a career which lasted almost 60 years he served the English Crown in a variety of offices, notably as Deputy to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, Master of the Rolls in Ireland, and Deputy Treasurer of Ireland. A warrant dated 1423 praised him for his "long and laudable" service to the Crown. Early career Little is known of his early life: the surname Sutton has been common in Ireland since the thirteenth century, especially in the south. William Sutton, who acted as his deputy from 1423 onwards and succeeded him as Master of the Rolls in 1430, is thought to have been his nephew. William was a clerk in Crown service by 1404, and became Chief Engrosser (copier) in the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) in 1410. Robert was appointed to the living of St. Patrick's Church, Trim (now Trim Cathedral) in 1370; later he became Archdeacon of Kells and prebendary of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, and later Prebendary of Ossory. In 1423 he was removed as Archdeacon of Kells, on the ground that he had "unlawfully detained" the office.