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As promised to @HistoricalSoton - a thread about Massias Salman, who I believe was actually Southampton's first Jewish 'councillor' (although not known as such then!). He served as steward in 1483, junior bailiff 1483, senior bailiff 1485, sheriff 1489, & mayor in 1494.
Salman's origins are obscure. He was a cordwainer by trade with connections to Jersey. His family seem to have been Christian converts of Jewish descent. At one point, his son John was wanted for manslaughter but this doesn't seem to have harmed his career.
He lived in English St (now the High St, Below Bar), between tenements held by St Denys' priory, & also had property in Above Bar... His parish church was St Lawrence's & the rector there his confessor.
He was involved in preparations for a visit from Henry VII in early 1487 & may well have met the new king. Southampton's town officials all had a whip round to get him a present, to which Salman contributed 20s.
Salman died while in post as mayor in 1495 & was buried at St Mary's. He was replaced as mayor by John Walsh, & there's an entry in the accounts about Salman's wife, Agnes, from that time which I find quite moving:
‘Item brought in to the audite hous bi the saide Massie is wife of perqisites in the said Massie is tyme and delyvered to the same John walssh 24s. 1d.’ Agnes personally brought the cash, possibly along with her husband’s mayoral accessories, & handed the bundle to his successor.
This was a symbolic act for herself as much as the town. The bishop's registers at Winchester record that she then took a vow of formal chastity, becoming a vowess. [Image from Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library MS 49, early c15th]
![This was a symbolic act for herself as much as the town. The bishop's registers at Winchester record that she then took a vow of formal chastity, becoming a vowess. [Image from Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library MS 49, early c15th]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Elu2TopWMAAn2JY.jpg "This was a symbolic act for herself as much as the town. The bishop's registers at Winchester record that she then took a vow of formal chastity, becoming a vowess. [Image from Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library MS 49, early c15th]")
Argh! Typo. He was steward in 1480, not 1483.
