WOOTTON, Roger, of Warwick.

The Wootton family had lived in Warwick since the early 14th century. Roger, who trained to be a lawyer, sometimes took on briefs at the assizes held in the town. From 1396 onwards he was often named as a surety for men from Warwickshire brought before the local and central courts for breaches of the peace or other misdemeanours, and in addition he occasionally provided securities for persons in receipt of royal grants in Chancery and the Exchequer. During the two years from January 1403 to 1405 he spent some time in Ireland; in 1404 he was appointed by John Burbache of Coventry to look after his affairs in the province, and in the following year he received the attorneys appointed by Burbache’s executors.CCR, 1396-9, pp. 63, 124, 236, 297, 314; 1399-1402, pp. 496, 535; 1402-5, p. 170; 1405-9, p. 136; 1413-19, p. 200; CPR, 1401-5, pp. 190, 384; 1405-8, p. 20; 1408-13, p. 26; CFR, xi. 257; xii. 196; xiii. 7; JUST 1/1514 m. 48d. On occasion Wootton brought suits in the central courts on his own behalf: in 1411 and 1417 he was suing for the recovery of debts, one of which was owed to him jointly with the affluent Middlesex landowner, Walter Green II.CPR, 1408-13, p. 329; 1416-22, p. 24. It was possibly because of Wootton’s ability as a spokesman that he was returned to eight Parliaments for his home town. He attested the shire elections held at Warwick prior to the Parliaments of 1420, 1421 (May), 1421 (Dec.) and 1425, and the borough elections of 1426.C219/12/4-6, 13/3, 4.

The Roger Wootton who represented Warwick in the Commons in 1442, 1447, 1449 and 1459 may have been his son.