VEYR, John, of Reading, Berks.

Veyr’s only recorded election to Parliament came early in his career, before he had taken much part in the administration of Reading. However, from then on he took an active interest in local affairs. He was present at the parliamentary elections for the borough held in 1423, 1431, 1433, 1435, 1437 and 1442, and during this period he witnessed a large number of deeds relating to property in the town.4C219/13/2, 14/2, 4, 5, 15/1, 2; Reading deeds 107-9, 119, 121, 122, 124. Having served as cofferer of the merchant guild in two successive years, he frequently stood surety for those wishing to join the fraternity, and in 1432 was one of the 24 burgesses elected by the guild to negotiate with the abbot of Reading concerning the merchants’ privileges. A fishmonger by trade, Veyr hired a single stall in the market from the commonalty between 1422 and 1428, but then expanded his business by increasing his tenancy to four and then five more stalls over the years 1429 to 1444. He is not recorded thereafter.5Reading Recs. i. 1, 4, 11, 14-16; cofferers’ accts. 1422-45.