Family and Education

b. c.1560, 2nd s. of Robert Wingfield I of Upton, Northants. by Elizabeth, da. of Richard Cecil^† of Little Burghley, Northants.; bro. of Robert II. educ.Westminster; Trinity Coll. Camb. 1578. m. (1) Elizabeth (d.1602), da. and h. of Paul Gresham, at least 3s. 1da.; (2) Margaret (d.1618), da. of Robert Thorold of Haugh, Lincs. and wid. of John Blyth of Denton, 2s. 3da.

Offices Held

?J.p. Lincs. (Kesteven) from c.1583; feodary, Lincs. 1594-1600.

Biography

Wingfield’s father left the upbringing of his children to his brother-in-law, Lord Burghley. The £120 which his maternal grandmother, Jane Cecil, had given for his advancement Wingfield probably laid out upon the purchase of his marriage to Elizabeth Gresham, which brought him the manor of Tickencote, his principal residence thenceforward. Burghley appointed him to the lucrative post of feodary in Lincolnshire. It was perhaps partly on the profit of this office that Wingfield was able to purchase further lands in Rutland, and to leave his children substantial sums in his will. His return at Peterborough in 1597 was probably promoted by Burghley with the support of Wingfield’s elder brother Robert, who was resident within the soke of Peterborough. He was inactive in the House and was licensed to depart on 5 Dec., well before the end of the session. He died in 1626 and was buried, as he requested, in the chapel of Tickencote church with his first wife.

Vis. Rutland (Harl. Soc. iii), 32; Blore, Rutland, ii. 70; PCC 104 Hele, 19 Carew; Burke, Commoners, ii. 480; Lincs. Peds. (Harl. Soc. lii), 979-80; E101/667/43; C142/422/55; VCH Rutland, ii. 142, 246, 276-7, 281; D’Ewes, 568.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: S. M. Thorpe

Notes