John Wadham facts for kids
Sir John Wadham (born around 1344, died 1412) was an important judge and politician in England a long time ago. He served as a top judge, called a Justice of the Common Pleas, from 1389 to 1398. This was during the time of King Richard II (who ruled from 1377 to 1399). King Richard II chose him because he wanted people he trusted to help him rule. Many people from Devon, like Sir John, were known for being very good at studying law.
Sir John Wadham was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Exeter in 1379. An MP is like a representative who helps make laws. Later, King Richard II was replaced by his cousin, King Henry IV (who ruled from 1399 to 1413). After this, Sir John Wadham asked to stop being a judge for local courts. He became an MP again in 1401, this time for Devon, working alongside Sir Philip Courtenay.
A writer named John Prince included Sir John Wadham in his book about famous people from Devon. Prince said that Sir John was "free of speech," meaning he spoke his mind. But he also used his words wisely, so he never upset anyone, no matter how unimportant they seemed. He handled all his work with a cheerful spirit and a clear understanding.
Prince also pointed out that during this time, five of the top lawyers, called serjeants-at-law, were from Devon. These included Sir John Wadham, John Cary, John Hill, Robert Hill, and William Hankford.
Sir John's Family and Early Life
Historians like William Pole and John Prince believed Sir John Wadham was the son of another Sir John Wadham. This family lived at a place called Edge in the village of Branscombe, Devon. Edge was definitely his family's old home.
However, some modern historians think he might have been the son, not the nephew, of Gilbert Wadham. Gilbert Wadham lived at a place called Wadham (or Wadeham) in the village of Knowstone. This is where the family originally got their name. According to Sir William Pole, the Wadham family had lived there since at least the time of King Edward I (1272–1307).
In 1383, Gilbert Wadham gave Sir John Wadham some rights to rent money from the Wadham estate. Sir William Hankford, who later became a very important judge, witnessed this agreement. It's interesting that even though Sir John Wadham was so important, we don't know much about his early life or where he studied law. We do know that in 1367, he was working as a lawyer in Westminster.
Sir John's Legal Career
In 1383, Sir John Wadham became a Serjeant-at-Law. This was a very high rank for a lawyer. In 1384, he received a special payment from Edward de Courtenay, 3rd Earl of Devon, for his legal advice. Just three years later, in 1387, he was made the King's Serjeant, which meant he was a lawyer who advised the King directly.
John Prince wrote that Sir John Wadham had a very busy legal practice. This helped him gain a lot of wealth and buy more land. He added to his family's estates at Wadham and Edge in Devon.
He also bought land and houses in other parts of England, including Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Dorset. In 1386, he bought the manor of Silverton. Around 1400, he built a large, fortified house with a moat at Merryfield, Ilton in Somerset. This became the main home for his family. In 1403, he bought the manor of Lustleigh on Dartmoor. Both Lustleigh and Edge stayed in the Wadham family for the next two hundred years.
In May 1398, when he stopped being a judge, he received a special payment from the courts in Somerset and Dorset. This was given to him for his "good service." When he died in 1413, his land and properties were valued at about £115 per year, which was a large sum back then.
Sir John's Family and Children
Sir John Wadham was married twice. His first wife was named Maud, and they had one son. Before 1385, he married Joan Wrottesley. She was the daughter of Sir William Wrottesley and Joan Bassett. Joan Wrottesley's family were ancestors of Nicholas Wadham (1531–1609). Nicholas Wadham and his wife, Dorothy Wadham, later helped create Wadham College, Oxford, a famous university college.
Sir John Wadham had eight children:
- Robert Wadham, who died without having any children.
- Sir William Wadham, who became the Sheriff of Devon in 1442. He was the oldest son who survived and inherited the family homes at Merryfield and Edge. He is buried with his mother in a beautiful tomb in the 'Wadham aisle' of the Church of St Mary, Ilminster, in Somerset.
- John Wadham
- Walter Wadham, who became a rector (a type of priest) in Cornwall.
- Thomas Wadham
- Margery Wadham, who married Sir John Stourton, 1st Baron Stourton. They were ancestors of Queen Jane Seymour, who was the wife of King Henry VIII and mother of King Edward VI.
- Joan Wadham
- Isabella Wadham (sometimes called 'Elizabeth'), who married Sir Robert Hill. He was also a judge from 1408 to 1423. Their oldest son, Robert Hill, also became the Sheriff of Devon in 1428.
