Family and Education

m. at least 1s. John I*.

Offices Held

Mayor, Devizes 1388-9.1

Biography

The progenitor of an influential local family, William Coventre is first heard of when he paid 6d. towards the contribution made by Devizes to the poll tax of 1379. His only known term as mayor occurred between his two returns for Parliament. In 1407 he stood surety for the attendance in Parliament of John Peyntour, burgess-elect for Devizes. He was officiating as a churchwarden of St. Mary’s church in 1411, and witnessed deeds on behalf of other churchwardens in 1414 and 1416. Meanwhile, he had presumably continued in his occupation as weaver (as so described in 1379), for in 1414 he had paid alnage on six woollen cloths offered for sale. It was probably he who in 1420 leased to Roger and Helen Birbur a shop, solar and cellar in the New Port in Devizes; he was evidently still alive in 1422 for William Coventre III* was then being still described as ‘junior’.2 William I was the father of John Coventre I; and William III and Thomas II* were most likely other sons of his.

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: Charles Kightly

Notes

• 1. Wilts. Arch. Mag. ii. 304; CAD, vi. C6767.
• 2. E179/239/193 m. 5; Wilts. Arch. Mag. ii. 304-5; E101/345/4; C219/10/4, 13/1.