WINTERSHALL, John

More may be added to the earlier biography. The Commons 1386-1421, iv. 879-80.

As is indicated by Wintershall’s service as either sheriff or escheator of the joint bailiwick of Surrey and Sussex for ten of the 28 years between 1404 and 1432, he was a man on whom the government could rely in administrative matters. This is also suggested by his long lieutenancy of Windsor castle, where he served under John Waterton† and Sir Walter Hungerford†, Lord Hungerford, performing his duties to their satisfaction for 20 years. CPR, 1413-16, p. 118; E404/48/255.

While the Parliament of 1425 was in progress, Wintershall, then a Member of the Commons for at least the fifth time, took the opportunity of being at Westminster to bring a number of suits for debt in the court of common pleas: he appeared in person to sue for recovery of sums amounting to £60. CP40/657, rot. 280. Perhaps some of these debts had been owing to him in his official capacity as sheriff. During his fourth shrievalty he may well have played a part in the election to the Parliament of 1429 of his younger son, Robert, as one of the burgesses for Guildford. Robert, again representing Guildford four years later, accompanied his father to the latter’s final Parliament, which assembled on 8 July 1433. John died during the second session, on 4 Nov. E149/155/14; C139/68/5. Following the dissolution on 21 Dec. his name was listed on two royal commissions, dated 27 Dec. 1433 and 1 Feb. 1434, which were automatically issued to the shire knights of the Parliament. It must be presumed that the names of commissioners were compiled from records made at the start of the assembly. CFR, xvi. 187, 191. John’s elder son and heir, Thomas, was to take his accustomed place as a knight of the shire for Surrey in the next Parliament, which met in 1435.