Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Family and Education
s. and h. of John Wood (d.c.1449), of Bracklesham in West Wittering, Suss. by Joan, da. and h. of Thomas Sarceller of Midhurst; For further details about the Speaker’s life, see J.S. Roskell, ‘Sir John Wood of Molesey’, Surr. Arch. Collns. lvi. 15-28. As Roskell found, it is difficult to determine with certainty which offices the Speaker held in the course of his career, and which were occupied by his many namesakes. Yet it can be shown that he was not (as stated on pp. 16, 20 and 23) the same person as John Wood of Hampton Court, the ‘King’s servitor’ who was keeper of swans in the Thames from 12 Apr. 1461 (CPR, 1461-7, p. 15), and served in the 1460s and 1470s on comms. of inquiry regarding the illegal taking of swans, and offences relating to weirs in the Thames. That John, called ‘esquire of Hampton Court’ was still alive in Feb. 1487 (CCR, 1485-1500, no. 166), but died later that year, whereupon his annuity of £40 charged on the Suss. estates of the earl of Northumberland ceased to be paid: J.M.W. Bean, Estates Percy Fam. 131n. The accts. for the earl’s estates make clear that both office and annuity pertained to the John Wood† who had served as constable of Newcastle-upon-Tyne by royal appointment: Petworth House, Suss. mss, 7229, 7231, 7232, 7234 (MAC/22, 24, 25, 27). He, the MP for Newcastle in 1467, held a number of offices by grant of Edw. IV, including those of keeper of the Council chamber and usher of the Receipt of the Exchequer, both from the very same day that he was made keeper of the swans: CPR, 1461-7, p. 18; CCR, 1461-8, p. 344. It was he too who occupied the posts of warden of the mints in the Tower and master of the ordnance (E159/252, recorda Hil. rots. 11, 37, 38), and continued to be warden until Mich. 1484. Exchequer process against him continued until Hil. 1486: E159/261, recorda Hil. rot. 6d. er. bro. of John Wood† (d.1485), of Midhurst and London. educ. Winchester Coll. 1426; ? Staple Inn. Winchester Scholars ed. Kirby, 50; J.H. Baker, Men of Ct. (Selden Soc. supp. ser. xviii), ii. 1688-9. m. (1) by July 1452, PCC 2 Stokton (PROB11/4, ff. 17v-18). Elizabeth (d. 26 Mar. 1464), er. da. and coh. of John Mitchell I* by Margaret (d.1455), da. and coh. of Hamelin Matham (d.1382) of Molesey; E159/238, recorda Mich. rot. 3. wid. of William Fitzharry (d.1431) of London and of Thomas Morstead (d.c. May 1450) of London and Rivers Hall in Boxsted, Essex; (2) Margery (d. 20 Nov. 1502), CIPM Hen. VII, ii. 629. da. of (Sir) Roger Lewknor*. s.p. Kntd. 18 Feb. 1483. W.A. Shaw, Knights of Eng. ii. 21.
Offices Held

Attestor, parlty. elections, Suss. 1449 (Feb.), 1460, Surr. 1467.

Commr. of sewers, Suss. Nov. 1442, Sept. 1455; to take musters, Barham Down, Kent Aug. 1453; of array, Suss. Aug. 1456, Surr. Sept. 1458, Dec. 1459, Suss. Oct. 1469, Feb. 1470, Surr. Oct. 1480, May 1484; to assign archers, Suss. Dec. 2026; of gaol delivery, Battle Aug. 1459 (q.), Guildford June 1460 (q.), Nov. 1460 (q.), June 1463 (q.), Mar. 1466 (q.), Sept. 1479, July 1481 (q.), Guildford castle Feb., June 1474 (q.), July 1475, Oct. 1475 (q.), Nov. 1477 (q.), Chichester Feb. 1478 (q.), Winchester Dec. 1481 (q.); C66/487, m. 10d; 489, m. 8d; 490, m. 19d; 505, m. 8d; 515, m. 11d; 532, m. 12d; 534, m. 23d; 536, m. 3d; 537, m. 14d; 541, mm. 20d, 24d;544, m. 18d (as senior); 547, m. 18d (as senior); 548, m. 6d (as senior). inquiry, Surr. Apr. 1460 (escapes of prisoners), July 1462 (lands of John Busbrigge), Calais July 1463 (wages owed to garrisons), C76/147, m. 3. Surr., Suss. Oct. 1470 (felonies), Aug. 1473 (unpaid farms), Surr. Apr. 1478 (lands of the duke of Clarence), Suss. Aug. 1480 (smuggling), Dec. 1483 (treasons and insurrections); arrest Mar. 1461 (servants of Thomas, Lord Roos), July 1465; oyer and terminer, Surr., Suss. June 1465, Surr. Oct. 1470, Berks., Essex, Herts., Kent, London, Mdx., Oxon., Surr., Suss. Aug. 1483; to take an assize of novel disseisin, Surr. Mar. 1475; C66/535, m. 11d. seize lands of the late duke of Clarence, Mdx., Surr. Mar. 1478; survey lordship of Cheshunt and land of the abbot of Waltham, Essex, Herts. June 1481; assess subsidy on aliens, Suss. Aug. 1483.

Under treasurer to John Tiptoft, earl of Worcester, Apr. 1452-c. Mar. 1455, to Henry Bourgchier, earl of Essex, 18 June 1480 – Apr. 1483; treasurer 17 May 1483–d. PRO List, ‘Exchequer Offices’, 198–9.

J.p.q. Surr. 29 June 1452 – Jan. 1459, 24 Dec. 1460 – July 1461, 8 Apr. 1464 – Nov. 1475, 15 Jan. 1477 – d., Suss. 23 July 1453 – Sept. 1460, 5 July 1461 – Feb. 1468, 8 July 1469 – Nov. 1470, 12 July 1480 – d.

Steward of the estates of Syon abbey in Suss. by Mich. 1453-aft. Dec. 1479. SC6/1037/10–15; E326/5227. His fee was £6 13s. 4d. p.a.

Keeper, great wardrobe 13 Nov. 1458–31 Aug. 1460. E361/6, rot. 51d.

Alnager, Bristol 4 Dec. 1458–26 Aug. 1459. CFR, xix. 218–20; E159/239, recorda Mich. rot. 30.

Prob. victualler of Calais 20 Jan. 1462–4 July 1465. E101/196/7, 11; C76/145, m. 11; 149, m. 13.

Sheriff, Surr. and Suss. 5 Nov. 1475–6, Essex and Herts. 5 Nov.1478–9.

Dep. to Henry, earl of Essex, as chief steward of the duchy of Lancaster, south parts 20 May 1481-c. Apr. 1483. R. Somerville, Duchy, i. 431.

Speaker 1483.

Vice Admiral 8 Apr. 1484 – d.

Parlimentarian
WOOD, John III (d.1484), of Midhurst, Suss. and Molesey, Surr. and London.
Main residences: Midhurst, Suss.; Molesey, Surr.; London.
Author
L.S.C.
Volume
Commons 1422-1461
Will
Estates
Oxford 1644
No
Addresses
Religion
Image