ABSTRACT
The Paston Letters and Papers, which date from 1425 to the early sixteenth century, are an extensive collection of letters to and from male and female members of the Paston family, together with associated documents such as wills. The first member of this family of Norfolk gentry whose letters are preserved was William Paston I (1378–1444), a successful lawyer who increased the originally modest family landholdings by purchase. He also married an heiress, Agnes Berry (c. 1400–79), who survived her husband to dominate the family for many years. She bore at least five children, the eldest of whom, John Paston I (1421–66), studied at Cambridge and at the Inner Temple (for law students) and married another heiress, Margaret Mautby (c. 1420–84). She brought lands in Norfolk and Suffolk to the marriage and bore seven children: John II (1442 –79), John III (1444 –1504), Edmond (c. 1450–before 1504), Margery (c. 1448– c. 1479), Anne (c. 1455–94/5), Walter (c. 1457–79) and William (1459–1504).
