WENSLEY, Sir Thomas (d.1403), of Wensley, Derbys.

Collector of a tax, Derbys. Nov. 1377, Dec. 1384; assessor May 1379.

Commr. to suppress the insurgents, Derbys. Dec. 1381, Mar., Dec. 1382; of inquiry Mar. 1384 (attacks on the servants of the King’s mother at Chesterfield), Nov. 1390 (rights of way at Baslow), Feb. 1392, May 1395 (illegal use of dogs and ferrets), Cheshire Nov. 1399 (cattle thefts at Macclesfield); array, Derbys. Aug. 1384,Wm. Salt Arch. Soc. xiv. 242. June 1388, Mar. 1392, Dec. 1399, Aug. 1402; oyer and terminer Nov. 1387 (attacks on the property of John of Gaunt); to make arrests Feb. 1388 (persons charged with damaging Gaunt’s property), Derbys., Yorks. June 1402; enforce the statute on weirs and kiddles, Derbys. June 1398; prevent the spread of treasonous rumours May 1402.

J.p. Derbys. 12 July 1383–9, 10 Nov. 1389 – June 1390, 24 Dec. 1390 – d.

Steward and constable of the High Peak, Derbys. for the duchy of Lancaster by 1391-aft. Mich. 1393, by 7 July 1400 – d.; surveyor of the forest of the Peak 1396–7.Somerville, Duchy, i. 382, 550; DL43/15/7 m. 1; Coll. Top. et Gen. i. 334.

Steward of the royal honour of Macclesfield, Cheshire, and surveyor of the forests there 13 Oct. 1399–8 Oct. 1401.DKR, xxxvi. 145, 511.

Steward of the manors of Ashford and Chesterfield and the wapentake of Scarsdale, Derbys. confiscated by the Crown from Thomas, earl of Kent, Feb. 1400–d.CIMisc. vii. no. 47.