Sir John Wingfield, Knt.

Sir John Wingfield, Knt., son of John de Wingfield and Elizabeth Honypot, was born say 1306.^1,2 John died of the plague shortly before 18 October 1361,² and was buried at Wingfield Church, Suffolk, England.²

John married Eleanor de Brews, daughter of Sir Richard de Brewes, Knt. and Johanna Boyton, before 1337/38.^3,2

Sir John Wingfield, Knt. appears to be the founder of Wingfield family fortune. He was taxed 6/ in the Subsidy of 13217 at Stradbrook cum Wingfield. In 1335 Sir Edmund de St. Maur conveyed to him the manor and advowson of Earsham and the manor and advowson of Sylesham (Powerscourt). In 11 Edward III (1337/8), John de Wingfield and Eleanor, his wife, were querants against Giles de Wingfeld, parson of Earsham, et als. (feoffees) deforciants in a fine for lands in Sternefeld, Saxmundham, Benhale, Farnham, etc, and for the advowson of Saxmundham church. In 17 Edward III (1343/4), John de Wingfeld chivaler was querant vs. John de St. Maur, deforciant, for the manor of Wydenton. In 1356 he, together with his wife Eleanor, present to the Stradbrook church (Powerscourt). In 1348 and 1349 he had present alone to Saxmundham church. After he died, Eleanor settled the chapel at Earsham and the advowson of Sylesham church on the chantry founded by her husband at Wingfield.

By his will he made his wife Eleanor executrix, and she, together with his brother, Sir Thomas de Wingfield, established, as provided by the will, a chantry at Wingfield for the souls of himself, Sir John, and of his father and mother, and of Sir Richard de Brews, and of John (Thomas?) Varley and Joan his wfie. There was a monument of Sir John Wingfield, Knt. in the Wingfield church at Powerscourt. He is stated to have risen in the French War and to have been a trusted councillor of the Black Prince in Guienne.³