Background
He was the eldest surviving son of Geoffrey Boleyn (d 1440) yeoman of Salle, Norfolk and brother of Sir Jeffery Boleyn, Lord Mayor of London.
He was the eldest surviving son of Geoffrey Boleyn (d 1440) yeoman of Salle, Norfolk and brother of Sir Jeffery Boleyn, Lord Mayor of London.
He was also the great grand uncle of Anne Boleyn, Queen consort of England. Boleyn was a fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge when he was ordained deacon on 8 March 1421 and then priest later in 1421. He served as rector of Hackford, Norwich 1436-1437, rector of Chelsea 1442, prebendary of Hereford 1441-1447, prebendary of Street Paulas 1447-1451 and sub-dean (1450) then precentor (1451-1472) of Wells Cathedral.
Boleyn was also Master of the College of All Saints, Maidstone in 1458.
He was chosen by Henry VI to attend the Council of Basle in 1434, and again to be one of only six to draft the founding statutes of Queens" College, Cambridge in 1446.