Sir Walter Hungerford Knight of the Garter

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
Walter Hungerford, 4^th but 1^st surviving son and heir of Sir Thomas Hungerford, of Farleigh and Wellow, Somerset, and of Heytesbury, Wilts, by his 2^nd wife, Joan, daughter and coheir of Sir Edmund Hussy, of Holbrook, Somerset, and widow of John Whyton, was born about 27 June 1378. He was nominated K.B. in 1399; returned to Parliament 1400, 1404, 1407 (Wilts), 1409 (Somerset) and 1413 and 1414 (Wilts), in which last year he was Speaker, and Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset, having served for Wilts in 1406. In Oct 1414 he was one of the ambassadors nominated to treat for a league with the Emperor Sigismund, and was present at the Council of Constance, subsequently being appointed Master of the Household to that monarch on the occasion of his visit to England in Apr 1416. He was preeminently distinguished in the French wars. He fought at the battle of Agincourt, 25 Oct 1415.

In May 1416 Waler was one of the ambassadors nominated to treat with the Archbishop of Cologne. In Aug 1416 he commanded the naval expedition to Harfleur. As Steward of the Household to Henry V he was appointed, 1 Nov 1417, Constable of Windsor Castle. In 1418 he was one of the English Commissioners sent to Rouen, and received for his many services a grant of the castle and lordship of Hommet in Normandy. Installed K.G. 3 May 1421. He was one of the executors of the will of Henry V, and was on the Council of Regency in 1422. In 1424 he was Steward of the Household to Henry VI, and from 1426 to 1432 Lord High Treasurer.

Walter was summoned to Parliament from 7 Jan 1425/6 to 2 Jan 1448/9, by writs directed Waltero Hungerford Chivaler, whereby he is said to have become Lord Hungerford. In 1431 he was carver at the coronation of Henry VI in Paris, was one of the ambassadors at Arras in 1435 and at Calais in 1439. In 1443 he received thanks for the suppression of riots at Salisbury.

Walter married, 1^stly, before 18 Sep 1402, Katherine, younger daughter and coheir (whose issue in 1439 became sole heir) of Thomas Peverll, of Parke, Hamatethy, Penhale, &c., co. Cornwall, by Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas de Courtenay and coheir of her brother, Hugh de Courtenay. She, who was living 14 Jun 1426, was buried in Salisbury Cathedral. He married, 2^ndly, before 8 May 1439, Eleanor, daughter and heir of Sir John Berkley, of Beverstone, co. Gloucester, by his 1st wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir John Betteshorne, of Betteshorne in Sopley, co. Hants, widow (1stly) of Sir John d'Arundel, de jure Lord Mautravers and, by the admission of 1433, Earl of Arundel, and (2^ndly) of Sir Richard Poynings, Lord Hungerford died 9 Aug 1449, and was buried (with his 1st wife) in Salisbury Cathedral. His widow died 1 August 1455.

~Cokayne's The Complete Peerage, Vol. VI, pp. 613-616

• Web Reference: History of Parliment Sir Walter Hungerford. ¹¹⁷⁴

Walter married Katherine Peverell, daughter of Sir Thomas Peverell Knight and Margaret de Courtenay, in 1399 in St. Breward, Cornwall, England.¹⁴¹ (Katherine Peverell was born in 1389 in St. Breward, Cornwall, England, died after Jun 1426 in Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset, England ¹⁴¹ and was buried in Salisbury Cathedra., Wiltshire, England ¹⁴¹.)