Mede, Philip

[Mead8.FTW]

Philip Mede was bailiff of Bristol in 1444-45 and sheriff in 1454-55. He was the mayor three times, in 1458-59, 1461-62 and 1468-69, and once the MP for Bristol. According to John Smyth in The Berkeley Manuscripts he was descended from the Mede family of Wraxall, Somerset. Master John Mede, Rector of Wraxall, Somerset, witnessed Philip''s will.

In 1457 Philip Mede bought a messuage,10 acres land, 70 acres pasture, 10 acres meadow at Rolveston near Banwell, Somerset.

Brass Rubbing in Ashmolean Museum, Oxford:
Parish: St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
Inscription: Philip Mede Esq. and 2 wives (1475)
Coat of Arms: Gules a chevron ermine between three trefoils slipped argent

From the verger of St. Mary Redcliffe:
"The tomb of the Mede family is approx. 10 ft high by 18 ft by 3 ft. It contains in one compartment the effigies of Thomas and his wife and in the other a brass of Philip and his two wives. This rectangluar brass shows Philip kneeling with his wife. Philip''s helmet is seen in front of him leaving his head uncovered and showing his long hair.
Philip Mede''s daughter married Maurice the younger brother of William 12th Lord Berkeley. He was disinherited for marrying her but later became the 13th Lord Berkeley. Philip also supported with his men the Berkeley family at the last private battle fought on English soil at Nibley Green in 1470.
Philip Mede was Mayor of Bristol in 1459, 1462 and 1469. Thomas was also Mayor but is dressed in merchant clothing and as he had the tomb built with its fine carving I suppose he managed to gain the family wealth."