Richard Wakehurst (died 1455)

Richard Wakehurst was a lawyer, a justice of the peace for 48 consecutive years, and M.P. for Sussex in 1413. The History of Parliament gives a biography of him.

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Date of Death: 4 January 1454/5.

The date is on a monumental inscription made about 1500, given by Davidson-Houston (p. 53).

Relationships

(probable) Father: John Wakehurst.

Blaauw (p. 151) states that Richard was “probably” John’s son. Woodger also states that Richard was probably his son, but possibly John was Richard’s elder brother. John held lands at Wakehurst which Richard acquired in a possibly collusive suit.

Mother: unknown.

Spouse: Elizabeth Etchingham (died 1464). Married before October 1409.

Woodger gives the marriage.

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)

Anne Wakehurst married John Gainsford.

Richard Wakehurst (died 1454) married Agnes Gainsford.

Margaret Wakehurst married Edward Sackville.

Isabella Wakehurst married Roger Woodchurch.

Evidence

Richard is mentioned as a feoffee of the manor of Wrentham in Suffolk in the 1446 inquisition post mortem of Sir Robert Ponynges (Mapping the Medieval Countryside, E-CIPM 26:526).

Monumental Inscription (Davidson-Houston p. 53):

Orate p(ro) a(n)i(m)ab(u)s Ric(ard)i Wakeherst Armig(er)i et Elysabeth / ux(or)is ei(us) filia Rob(er)ti Echyngham Armig(er)i q(ui) quide(m) Ric(ard)us / Obijt iiij die Januarij A(nn)o d(omi)ni M CCCCLIIII & p(re)dict(a) Elysa / beth obijt XIX die Julij A(nn)o d(omi(ni M^oCCCCLXIIII q(u)or(um) a(n)i(m)ab(u)s p(ro)piciet(ur) de(us).

References

Baker, Sir John. Men of Court 1440 to 1550. (London: Selden Society, 2012).

Blaauw, W.H., “Wakehurst, Slaugham, and Gravetye,” in Sussex Archaeological Collections (London: Sussex Archaeological Society, 1858) Volume X, pages 151-167.

Davidson-Houston, C.E.D. “Sussex Monumental Brasses” in Sussex Archaeological Collections Volume 76 (Oxford University Press, 1935) pages 46-114.

Lower, Mark Antony. “The Monumental Brasses of Sussex,” in Sussex Archaeological Collections (London: Sussex Archaeological Society, 1849) Volume II, pages 307 - 312.

“Sir Richard Wakehurst” at FindaGrave.com has photographs of his monument (accessed 25 April 2014).

Will of Richard Wakehurst, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/4/66.

Woodger, L.S. “Wakehurst, Richard (d. 1455), of Wakehurst in Ardingley, Suss. and Ockley, Surr.”, in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421 ed. J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe. (Boydell and Brewer, 1993).