SHARP, John III (d.1465), of Bristol.

Attestor, parlty. elections, Bristol 1425, 1426, 1427, 1431, 1433, 1437, 1447, 1449 (Feb.), 1449 (Nov.), 1450, 1453, 1455. Difficulties in distinguishing Sharp from his father and namesake make it impossible to establish which of the two men attested the Bristol elections to the Parls. of 1417, 1419, 1420, 1421 (May) and 1421 (Dec.).

Bailiff, Bristol Mich. 1424–5; CCR, 1422–9, p. 330. sheriff 9 Oct. 1427–12 Oct. 1428; CFR, xv. 191, 239. mayor Mich. 1432–3, 1439–40. Trans. Bristol and Glos. Arch. Soc. xxvi. 131; CCR, 1435–41, p. 372; CPR, 1436–41, p. 411.

Commr. of inquiry, Bristol May 1428 (illegal conveyance of pilgrims), Nov. 1434 (non-payment of customs), Apr., June, July 1440 (piracy), Feb. 1441 (ownership of Irish salmon shipped to Bristol), June 1441 (conduct of the King’s officers); to assess subsidy Jan. 1436; distribute tax allowance Mar. 1442; collect subsidy May 1444; assess tax Aug. 1450; of arrest Jan. 1455. But it may have been his son who served on the last two of these commissions.

Constable of the Bristol staple 8 Oct. 1428–9, 1 Oct. 1431–2, 1433 – 35, 16 Oct. 1438–9, 21 Oct. 1452–3, 14 Oct. 1457–61; C67/25. mayor 1 Oct. 1432–3, 20 Oct. 1439–40. Ibid. But it is possible that his son served some of these terms as constable.

Collector of customs and subsidies, Bristol 27 June 1443–31 Jan. 1447. CFR, xvii. 235–7; xviii. 50–52; E122/18/46; E403/769, m. 6; E356/19, rots. 6d, 7; Little Red Bk. Bristol ed. Bickley, ii. 49–51.

?Dep. to Ralph Butler, Lord Sudeley, chief butler of England, Bristol by June 1454. Little Red Bk. i. 236–8. Again, it is not clear whether this John Sharp was the MP, his son or another man altogether.