Thomas L'Archer

Thomas L'Archer (died 1329) was an English monk. He held the office of English Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, but his incompetence in matters of finance left the Order in severe financial difficulty.

He was born at Tanworth in Arden in Warwickshire, younger son of John L'Archer and Margery Barniville.[1] His father's family owned Umberslade Hall from the time of Henry II until the nineteenth century. Two of his brothers also entered the Church, while John L'Archers, prior of the Order's Irish house in the 1340s, was his great-nephew.[2]

In 1321, Thomas became English Prior of the Order. He proved to be a most unfortunate choice as Prior: through a combination of old age and financial incompetence, he appears to have bankrupted the English house. The Grand Master of the Order of St. John set up an inquiry into the state of the English house, which recommended Thomas's removal on grounds of old age.[3] He died soon afterwards, on 28 August 1329.

Under his priory the Hospitallers acquired 33 ex-Templar possessions, distinct more than under his predecessors and successors.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Lawrence-Archer J.H. Memorial of Families of the Surname of Archer London 1861
  2. ↑ Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926
  3. ↑ Lawrence-Archer, J.H. Families of the Surname of Archer
  4. ↑ Burgtorf; Crawford; Nicholson: The Debate on the Trail of the Templars (1307-1314), Franham/Burlington 2010


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