DONSTALL, Roger

Roger was probably related to the Donstall family living at Cowfold, some six miles from Horsham,1 Suss. Feet of Fines (Suss. Rec. Soc. xxiii), 2929, 2940, 3069; VCH Suss. vi (3), 178. although he himself resided in the town which he represented in five Parliaments. As one of the leading townsmen, he served as a juror at the inquisition post mortem held there in April 1433 following the death of the lord of the borough, John Mowbray, duke of Norfolk,2 C139/60/43. and on other occasions he witnessed local deeds.3 Add. Ch. 18757. In the winter of 1450-1 he acted as a feoffee of lands and tenements at Horsham on behalf of the Bradbrigge family.4 Bodl. Chs. Horsham, 156-9. When last recorded, in May 1460, he was once more providing evidence at a post mortem, this time about the landed possessions of Alice Lovell, widow of both Sir Hugh Cokesey* and Sir Andrew Ogard*.5 C139/178/49.

John Donstall, bailiff of Horsham and ex officio party to the borough’s electoral indenture of 22 Sept. 1472, may have been his son.6 C219/17/2.