WHITTOCKSMEAD, John (d.1482), of White Ox Mead, Som. and Beanacre by Melksham, Wilts.

Attestor, parlty. elections, Bath 1437, Wilts. 1442.

Under sheriff, Wilts. 1443–4. E13/143, rot. 33; CP40/734, rot. 309.

Bailiff of the liberties of Glastonbury abbey, Wilts. by Mich. 1446-c.Easter 1460, E368/219, rot. 4; 232, rots. 3d, 9d. of the bp. of Salisbury, Wilts. Apr. 1447-Mich. 1471. E368/220, rot. 4; 234, rot. 7d; 242, rot. 9d; 244, rot. 6d; Tropenell Cart. ed. Davies, i. 251–2, 261; KB9/135/78; 320/3. He succeeded Robert Long (d. 31 Mar. 1447), and left office by 1472, when John Fitzjames was bailiff of the bp.’s liberties: R. Benson and H. Hatcher, Old and New Sarum, 698; KB9/136/86.

Commr. of inquiry, Hants, Southampton July 1448 (piracy and misdeeds of John Fleming*), Wilts. July 1459 (goods of William Temys*), E159/235, commissiones, Trin. May 1461 (wastes at Devizes and in royal forests), Sept. 1461 (land late of Edward Stradling), Som. Mar. 1465 (land late of John Butler), Dorset June 1468 (lands of James, late earl of Wiltshire), Wilts. June 1470 (assaults by the rector of Barford), Oct. 1470 (felonies), Feb. 1472 (offences against John Cricklade*), Aug. 1473 (unpaid farms), Sept., Dec. 1473, June 1474 (concealments), Dorset, Wilts. Dec. 1475 (treasons and heresies); to treat for loans, Wilts. Sept. 1449; assemble the King’s lieges to move against the rebels, Sept. 1450; of oyer and terminer Oct. 1450, June 1459, Berks., Hants, Oxon., Wilts. June 1460, Comms. dated June 1460 refer to William Whittocksmead, almost certainly by mistake: C66/489, mm. 6d, 8d. Wilts. Feb. 1462, Dorset, Som., Wilts. May 1462; gaol delivery (q.), Old Sarum castle Mar., Dec. 1451, Jan., Nov. 1452, Feb. 1454, July, Dec. 1455, May 1457, May, Oct. 1458, Dec. 1461, Dec. 1463, Mar. 1464, Feb. 1465, July 1466, Nov., Dec. 1467, Aug., Sept. 1470, Apr., Nov. 1472, Sept. 1473, Dec. 1475, Southampton Nov. 1462, Salisbury July 1467, Dec. 1475; C66/470, m. 3d; 472, m. 8d; 474, m. 21d; 476, m. 21d; 478, m. 14d; 480, m. 13d; 481, m. 20d; 483, m. 17d; 484, m. 13d; 486, mm. 20d, 21d; 494, m. 19d; 500, m. 14d; 506, mm. 1d, 11d; 508, m. 20d; 515, m. 8d; 518, m. 12d; 519, mm. 4d, 12d; 526, m. 6d; 529, m. 21d; 530, m. 25d; 531, m. 5d; 537, m. 10d. to hold assizes of novel disseisin, Wilts. Feb. 1457, Feb. 1472, Mar. 1473; C66/483, rot. 16d; 528, rot. 17d; 531, rot. 9d. assign archers Dec. 1457; of array Sept. 1458, Dec. 1459, Aug. 1461; arrest, Bristol, Dorset, Som., Wilts. June 1459, Berks., Hants, Herts., Kent, Mdx., Oxon., Surr., Suss., Wilts. June 1460 (adherents of the Yorkist lords); Called William, see note above: C66/489, mm. 6d, 8d. to supply ships, Wilts. [recte Dorset?] July 1461.

J.p.q. Wilts. 20 May 1450-Feb. 1457, Although he was not named on the comm. of the peace of Mar. 1447, payments were made to him for attending three sessions in 1447–8: E101/594/29, m. 6. 28 Jan. 1458 – June 1471, 4 Apr. 1472 – d.

Jt. alnager, Wilts. and Salisbury 26 June 1451–8 May 1459. CFR, xviii. 193; xix. 219.

Escheator, Hants and Wilts. 29 Nov. 1451 – 13 Nov. 1452.

Steward of Hyde abbey’s manor of Chiseldon, Wilts. by Mich. 1457. CAD, vi. C6375.