FORTESCUE, John (c.1397-1479) of Devon.

Family and Education

b. c.1397, 2nd s. of Sir John Fortescue (d.c.1435) of Whympstone, Devon, and yr. bro. of Henry†. educ. adm. L. Inn c.1417. J.H. Baker, Men of Ct. (Selden Soc. supp. ser. xviii), i. 699. m. (1) by 1423, Elizabeth (d. 26 Apr. 1426), da. and coh. of Robert Brytte of Doddiscombsleigh, Devon, s.p.; (2) by 1436, Isabel, da. of John James of Norton St. Philip, Som., 1s. d.v.p. 2da. Kntd. by Aug. 1442. C66/451, m. 26d. Summ. as c.j.KB 1442-60.

Offices Held

Gov. L. Inn 1424 – 26, 1428 – 30.

Under sheriff of London by 1424. C.M. Barron, London in the Middle Ages, 357; Baker, i. 699.

Commr., Bristol, Cornw., Devon, Dorset, Essex, Exeter, Glos., Hants, Herefs., Ilchester, Kent, Lincs., London, Mdx., Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Oxon., Salop, Som., Staffs., Suff., Surr., Suss., Wilts., Worcs., Yorks., Midlands, south-east Eng., south and west Eng., Wales, the marches and the estates of the Yorkist magnates Feb. 1429 – June 1460; of gaol delivery, Old Sarum castle Jan. 1433, May 1434, Aug. 1436, Ilchester Aug. 1436, Huntingdon Jan. 1440, Ilchester May 1440 (q.), Huntingdon June 1441, Ilchester Nov. 1441 (q.), Hertford Aug. 1442 (q.), Canterbury castle June 1444, Newgate Nov. 1445, Mar. 1446, Maidstone June 1447, Newgate Jan. 1448, Feb. 1449, Hertford May 1450, Newgate Oct. 1450, Maidstone Aug. 1451, Newgate Oct., Nov. 1451, Mar. 1453, Mar. 1454, Colchester castle Nov. 1454 (q.), Newgate Dec. 1455 (q.), Nov. 1456 (q.), Nov. 1457, Hertford castle Feb. 1458, Maidstone June 1458, Exeter July 1458 (q.), Newgate Nov. 1458, Hertford May 1459, Oxon., Berks., Hants, Wilts. June 1460 (q.), Maidstone Aug. 1460; C66/433, m. 14d; 435, m. 6d; 438, m. 4d; 445, m. 21d; 446, m. 5d; 449, m. 21d; 451, m. 26d; 458, m. 17d; 461, mm. 29d, 35d; 464, m. 23d; 465, m. 15d; 467, m. 28d; 471, m. 23d; 472, m. 18d; 473, m. 17d; 474, mm. 21d, 24d; 476, m. 2d; 478, m. 14d; 479, m. 20d; 481, m. 20d; 482, m. 16d; 485, mm. 2d, 8d, 19d; 486, mm. 4d, 20d; 489, mm. 6d, 10d. to treat for loans, Bristol Mar. 1442, Bristol, Som. May 1442; investigate alchemical means for the settlement of the King’s debts Nov. 1457. CPR, 1452–61, p. 390.

Controller of the stannaries, Cornw., Devon 5 May 1430–22 July 1432. SC6/1291/1/8/12–13; 9/2, 5, 12.

J.p. Som. 12 Feb. 1433–60 (q.), Bucks. 28 Nov. 1439 – Dec. 1440, 30 Dec. 1440-Feb. 1444 (q.), Cambs. 28 Nov. 1439-July 1442 (q.), Hunts. 28 Nov. 1439-July 1442 (q.), 6 June 1443-Apr. 1446 (q.), Suff. 28 Nov. 1439-Aug. 1442 (q), 12 Aug.-Nov. 1442, Norf. 28 May 1441-Mar. 1444 (q.), Kent 12 Apr. 1442-July 1444 (q.), 15 July 1444-Apr. 1446, 28 Apr. 1446-Nov. 1460 (q.), Essex 10 May 1442-c. Aug. 1460 (q.), Suss. 20 Oct. 1442-c. Aug. 1460 (q.), Herts. 18 May 1443-c. Aug. 1460 (q.), Surr. 16 May 1443-Dec. 1460 (q.), Beds. 10 Nov. 1443-June 1455 (q.), Mdx. 6 Feb. 1445-c. Aug. 1460 (q.).

Serjeant-at-law 26 Jan. 1439; King’s serjeant-at-law by June 1440; E403/739, mm. 1, 7. c.j.KB 20 Jan. 1442 – Mar. 1461.

Justice of assize, eastern circuit Oct. 1439, home counties by Jan. 1442 – Aug. 1460.

Trier of petitions, English 1445, 1447, 1449 (Feb.), 1449 (Nov.), 1450, 1453, 1455.

‘Chancellor’ for Hen. VI and Margaret of Anjou in exile c. 1461 – 71.

Parlimentarian

FORTESCUE, John (c.1397-1479) of Devon.

Main residence: Devon.

Forscu, Fosceu, Foscow

Author

H.W.K.

Volume

Commons 1422-1461

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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