Robert Wingfield
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Wingfield of Letheringham
, Suffolk
(1403 - between 6 October 1452 and 21 November 1454) was an English
knight.
and Easton, Suffolk
, was the site of a small priory which passed to Sir Anthony Wingfield at the Dissolution
. The church, which became ruinous in the 18th century and was afterwards restored, contained early Wingfield memorials.)
The ancestral home of the Wingfield
family was Wingfield Castle
in Suffolk
.
ed at Hereford
by King Henry VI of England
. From 1427 to 1436 he was Knight of the Shire
for Suffolk
. On 28 November 1436, Robert was appointed Steward
of the Honour of Richmond
in Norfolk
.
In 1443 he became Steward to John de Mowbray
, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
. He accompanied the Duke on his embassy to the court of King Charles VII of France
. He was accused of riot
ing in 1447 and was imprisoned in the Marshalsea
. He was pardoned in 1448. He was appointed Knight of the Shire for Hertfordshire
in 1449.
He became a Member of Parliament
under Henry VI. In 1450, Robert was denounced in the Parliament of England
as one of the King's "evil
advisors". He received a Royal Commission
in 1451 and died in 1454.
, Nottinghamshire
, and Elizabeth FitzAlan. They were parents to thirteen children:
Letheringham
Letheringham is a sparsely populated civil parish in the Suffolk Coastal in Suffolk, England, on the Deben River.-Sights:St Mary is a tiny church, the remains of the tower and nave of a Priory church, and sits in a farmyard...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
(1403 - between 6 October 1452 and 21 November 1454) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
knight.
Family
He was son of a senior Sir Robert Wingfield (c. 1370 – 3 May 1409) and Elizabeth Russell. (Letheringham, which is near Wickham MarketWickham Market
Wickham Market is a large village situated in the River Deben valley of Suffolk, England, within the Suffolk Coastal heritage area.It is on the A12 trunk road thirteen miles north-east of the county town of Ipswich, five miles north-east of Woodbridge. Its railway station is located approximately...
and Easton, Suffolk
Easton, Suffolk
The former estate village of Easton in England is situated on the River Deben around three miles south of Framlingham. Following the end of the World War 1 the British government imposed super taxes on the rich to help defray the cost of the war...
, was the site of a small priory which passed to Sir Anthony Wingfield at the Dissolution
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. The church, which became ruinous in the 18th century and was afterwards restored, contained early Wingfield memorials.)
The ancestral home of the Wingfield
Wingfield
Wingfield could be:People* Sir Charles John Wingfield, MP* Edward Maria Wingfield, first President of the Jamestown colony, Virginia, US* Sir John de Wingfield, aide to Edward the Black Prince* Peter Wingfield, an actor famous as Methos...
family was Wingfield Castle
Wingfield Castle
Wingfield Castle, Wingfield, Suffolk, England was the ancestral home of the Wingfield family and their heirs, the De La Poles, Earls and Dukes of Suffolk, but is now a private house....
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
.
Life
On 19 May 1426, Robert was knightKnight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed at Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
by King Henry VI of England
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
. From 1427 to 1436 he was Knight of the Shire
Knights of the Shire
From the creation of the Parliament of England in mediaeval times until 1826 each county of England and Wales sent two Knights of the Shire as members of Parliament to represent the interests of the county, when the number of knights from Yorkshire was increased to four...
for Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. On 28 November 1436, Robert was appointed Steward
Steward (office)
A steward is an official who is appointed by the legal ruling monarch to represent him or her in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his or her name; in the latter case, it roughly corresponds with the position of governor or deputy...
of the Honour of Richmond
Honour of Richmond
The Honour of Richmond in north-west Yorkshire was granted to Count Alan Rufus by William the Conqueror in 1071AD. The honour, which was assessed for the service of 60 knights, was one of the most important fiefs in Norman England. - Territory :...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
In 1443 he became Steward to John de Mowbray
John de Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
Sir John de Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk KG, Earl Marshal was an important player in the Wars of the Roses.He was the son of John Mowbray, 2nd Duke of Norfolk and Lady Katherine Neville...
, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
Duke of Norfolk
The Duke of Norfolk is the premier duke in the peerage of England, and also, as Earl of Arundel, the premier earl. The Duke of Norfolk is, moreover, the Earl Marshal and hereditary Marshal of England. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the...
. He accompanied the Duke on his embassy to the court of King Charles VII of France
Charles VII of France
Charles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
. He was accused of riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
ing in 1447 and was imprisoned in the Marshalsea
Marshalsea
The Marshalsea was a prison on the south bank of the River Thames in Southwark, now part of London. From the 14th century until it closed in 1842, it housed men under court martial for crimes at sea, including those accused of "unnatural crimes", political figures and intellectuals accused of...
. He was pardoned in 1448. He was appointed Knight of the Shire for Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
in 1449.
He became a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
under Henry VI. In 1450, Robert was denounced in the Parliament of England
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
as one of the King's "evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
advisors". He received a Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
in 1451 and died in 1454.
Marriage and children
He was married before 18 August 1401 to Elizabeth Goushill or Gousell (1396–1491), daughter of Sir Robert Goushill or Gousell of HoveringhamHoveringham
Hoveringham is a small village in Nottinghamshire about northeast of Nottingham and on the west side of the River Trent, just off the A612 trunk road to Southwell...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, and Elizabeth FitzAlan. They were parents to thirteen children:
- Richard Wingfield (c. 1428 – before 1509).
- Sir John Wingfield of Letheringham, Suffolk (c. 1430 – 10 May 1481), High Sheriff of Norfolk and SuffolkHigh Sheriff of Norfolk and SuffolkThis is a list of High Sheriffs of Norfolk and Suffolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
, Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
under both Henry VI and Edward IV of EnglandEdward IV of EnglandEdward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
. Knight of the BathOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
. He married Elizabeth FitzLewis. They were parents of ten children, including Richard WingfieldRichard WingfieldSir Richard Wingfield, of Kimbolton Castle was an influential courtier and diplomat in the early years of the Tudor dynasty of England.-Life:...
. - Sir Robert Wingfield (c. 1432). ComptrollerComptrollerA comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
for Edward IV. Member of Parliament, representing HertfordshireHertfordshireHertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. Married Anne Harling. - Sir Henry Wingfield of OrfordOrford, SuffolkOrford is a small town in Suffolk, England, within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.Like many Suffolk coastal towns it was of some importance as a port and fishing village in the Middle Ages. It still has a fine mediaeval castle, built to dominate the River Ore.The main geographical feature of the...
, Suffolk (c. 1435 – May 1493/1494). Served the House of YorkHouse of YorkThe House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
during the Wars of the RosesWars of the RosesThe Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
. Knighted by Edward IV for his accomplishments during the Battle of TewkesburyBattle of TewkesburyThe Battle of Tewkesbury, which took place on 4 May 1471, was one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses. The forces loyal to the House of Lancaster were completely defeated by those of the rival House of York under their monarch, King Edward IV...
(4 May 1471). Appointed Governor of Orford CastleOrford CastleOrford Castle is a castle in the village of Orford, Suffolk, England, located 12 miles northeast of Ipswich, with views over the Orford Ness. It was built between 1165 and 1173 by Henry II of England to consolidate royal power in the region. The well-preserved keep, described by historian R...
. Married first Alice Seckford and secondly Elizabeth Rookes. Ancestor of the Wingfields of TickencoteTickencoteTickencote is a small village in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England.-Geography:The parish essentially stretches along the A1 from the Bloody Oaks to the Casterton junction. At the far north of the parish, the Warren Plantation is on the north-east side of the A1. To the...
. - Sir Thomas Wingfield (c. 1438 – 1475). Knighted by Edward IV for his accomplishments during the Battle of Tewkesbury. Married Philippa Tiptoft, daughter of John Tiptoft, 1st Baron TiptoftJohn Tiptoft, 1st Baron TiptoftSir John Tiptoft, 1st Baron Tiptoft was a Knight of the Shire for Huntingdonshire and Somerset, Speaker of the House of Commons, Treasurer of the Household, Chief Butler of England, Treasurer of the Exchequer and Seneschal of Landes and Aquitaine.-Early life:This English nobleman was the eldest...
and Joyce Charleton and widow of Thomas de Ros, 9th Baron de RosThomas de Ros, 9th Baron de RosThomas de Ros, 9th Baron de Ros of Helmsley was an English nobleman.-Lineage:He was the second son of William de Ros, 7th Baron de Ros and Margaret Fitzalan...
of Helmsley and remarried as his third wife to Edward Grimston. - William Wingfield (c. 1440 – 1509).
- Elizabeth Wingfield (c. 1441 – 28 April 1497). She married in 1462 Sir William BrandonWilliam Brandon (Marshal of Marshalsea)Sir William Brandon of Wangford, Suffolk and of Soham Court, Suffolk was an English knight.-Life:While still an Esquire, in 1479, in the eighth year of reign of Edward IV, he became Knight Marshal of Marshalsea prison...
of WangfordWangfordWangford is a village in Suffolk, England, just off the A12 trunk road on the edge of the Henham Park estate just outside Southwold. .Wangford is connected to the rest of Suffolk by two main roads...
, SuffolkSuffolkSuffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
and of Soham Court, Suffolk (1425 - 4 March 1491). They were grandparents to Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of SuffolkCharles Brandon, 1st Duke of SuffolkCharles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1st Viscount Lisle, KG was the son of Sir William Brandon and Elizabeth Bruyn. Through his third wife Mary Tudor he was brother-in-law to Henry VIII. His father was the standard-bearer of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond and was slain by Richard III in person at...
. - Anne Wingfield.
- Katharine or Catherine Wingfield (born c. 1444). Married Sir John Bonville of HalnakerHalnakerHalnaker is a hamlet in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It lies on the A285 road 3.5 miles northeast of Chichester, where it follows the line of the Roman road to London called Stane Street. There is a traditional pub, The Anglesey Arms and a blacksmiths shop. Goodwood House is...
, SussexSussexSussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. Daughter Florence Bonville (1472 - October 1524) married without children Sir Humphrey Fulford and John Bourchier, 1st Earl of BathJohn Bourchier, 1st Earl of BathJohn Bourchier, 11th Baron FitzWarin, created 1st Earl of Bath was born in Essex, England to Fulk Bourchier, 10th Baron FitzWarin and Elizabeth Dinham.-Marriages:...
. - Anthony Wingfield of GlossopGlossopGlossop is a market town within the Borough of High Peak in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the Glossop Brook, a tributary of the River Etherow, about east of the city of Manchester, west of the city of Sheffield. Glossop is situated near Derbyshire's county borders with Cheshire, Greater...
, DerbyshireDerbyshireDerbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
(born c. 1446). Married Mary Duke. Ancestor of the Wingfields of OnslowOnslowOnslow can represent:People*Denzil Onslow , British politician, Member of Parliament for several constituencies*Denzil Onslow , general in the British Army and amateur cricketer...
. - Agnes Wingfield (born c. 1448). Married John de Fremingham.
- Alice Wingfield.
- Margaret Wingfield.