MERCHAM, John, of Wallingford, Berks.

Mercham can most likely be identified with the individual who, described as a weaver of London, stood surety in 1406 for Walter Hyndon and William Ravenyng in their dispute with the prior of Wallingford. Assuming this to have been the case, he must subsequently have spent most of his time in Wallingford, for he witnessed the parliamentary elections there in 1420, 1426, 1435 and 1437. In 1421 and 1425 he was returned himself, on the first occasion while holding the office of alderman. In 1428 he acted as an assessor in St. Peter’s parish, Wallingford, for the parliamentary subsidy levied on parishes generally.2CCR, 1405-9, p. 149; C219/12/4, 13/4, 14/2, 5, 15/1; E179/73/8.