Family and Education
2nd s. of Sir John FortescueAccording to the generally accepted pedigrees, Clarissa, to whom the father was married by 1408 (Cornw. Feet of Fines (Devon and Cornw. Rec. Soc. 1950), 884; Reg. Stafford ed. Hingeston-Randolph, 275) was prob. the MP’s stepmother. and yr. bro. of Henry. 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 Oct. 1442.
Offices Held

Gov. of L. Inn 1424 – 26, 1428–30.LI Black Bk. 1–4, 6, 8, 15.

Commr. of inquiry, Devon Feb. 1429, July 1435, July 1439, Aug. 1455, Kent. Feb. 1443, Essex Sept. 1447, London May 1450, Dorset Dec. 1452; oyer and terminer, Som. June 1436, Mar. 1445, Devon Oct. 1439, July 1450, Norwich Feb. 1443, Kent Dec. 1445, Lincs. May 1448, Suff. Sept. 1448, London Mar., July 1450, Apr., Oct. 1451, Feb., Apr. 1455, Surr. Apr. 1450, Oxon. May 1450, Hants, Wilts. May 1451, Wilts. Mar., July 1452, Bristol July 1452, Midlands and south-east England Sept. 1452, Jan. 1453, Cornw. Dec. 1452, July 1455, July 1456, June 1459, Newcastle-upon-Tyne June 1454, Mdx. Nov. 1455, Devon, Som., Dorset Mar. 1456, Kent, Suss. June 1456 Glos., Herefs., Worcs. Mar. 1457, south-east England Sept. 1458, Staffs., Salop, Worcs., Glos., Herefs. Oct. 1459, Wales, the marches and the estates of the Yorkist magnates Mar. 1460, Kent Mar. 1460, Yorks. May 1460, south and west England June 1460; gaol delivery, Ilchester Feb. 1438, May 1440, Nov. 1441, Newgate Nov. 1445, Oct. 1451, Exeter July 1458; to raise royal loans, Bristol Mar. 1442, Som. May 1443; examine vessels for smuggled goods June 1444; hear appeals from the mayor’s ct. London June 1444, July 1455; of sewers, river Thames July 1448, Oct. 1455; to raise a force of archers, Mdx. Dec. 1457.

Controller of the stannaries, Cornw., Devon 5 May 1430–22 July 1432.

J.p. Som. 12 Feb. 1433–60, Bucks. Nov. 1439 – Feb. 1444, Cambs. Nov. 1439-c.1442, Hunts. Nov. 1439–46, Suff. Nov. 1439–42, Norf. May 1441–2, Kent Apr. 1442 – Nov. 1460, Essex May 1442–60, Suss. Oct. 1442–60, Herts. May 1443–6, Surr. May 1443 – Dec. 1460, Beds. Nov. 1443–9, Mdx. Feb. 1445–50.

Justice of assize, eastern circuit Oct. 1439, home counties Jan. 1442, Aug. 1444.

C.j.KB 20 Jan. 1442 – Mar. 1461.

Trier of petitions (English) in the Parliaments of 1444, 1447, 1449 (Feb.), 1449 (Nov.), 1450, 1453, 1455.RP, v. 66, 129, 141, 171, 210, 227, 278.

‘Chancellor’ for Hen. VI and Margaret of Anjou in exile, c.1461–1471.

Main residence: Devon.
Author
Volume
Commons 1386-1421
Web Title

FORTESCUE, John (-d.1479)

Will
Estates
Oxford 1644
No
Addresses
Religion
Image