John Wase

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Leicester, Leicestershire, England
• Occupation: Merchant of the Staple

Notes:

MERCHANTS of the STAPLE

The trade and industry of north western Europe in the Middle Ages was based on wool. The best wool was produced in the Cistercian abbeys of Yorkshire and in the Cotswolds, in western England. By the 12th century, raw English and Welsh wool was being widely exported, mostly to Flanders. Flanders seems to have been a cloth making area since Roman times. In Bruges (the name means " landing place " ), Ghent, and Leper, the wool was turned into high-quality cloth. It was then resold in the markets of Europe and the Mediterranean. By the I5th century, Bruges was part of the Duchy of Burgundy. Its cloth trade was on the decline.

Once the English kings realised the high value of wool, they decided to make certain towns official centres for the sale of wool and other staple goods, such as hides, lead, and tin. The tax on goods like these became a major source of income. When overseas sales were concentrated in one town, the king could easily organise and collect the tax. In the 14th century, the MERCHANTS OF THE STAPLE " became an official company. Usually, only members of this company could legally sell wool to foreigners. The Staple was variously fixed at several towns: St. Omer, Antwerp, and from 1340 to 1353, Bruges. Political trouble in Flanders, plus the conquest of Calais in 1347, led to the main wool Staple being fixed in CALAIS from 1363 lost Calais in 1558. The Scottish Staple remained in Bruges from1359 to 1498.By taxing wool at its point of export, clamping down on the import of cloth, and taxing its export lightly, the Crown encouraged the growth of the native cloth industry. Rural labour was cheaper and less likely to be organised in guilds, so cloth making moved from the towns into the country areas. Eventually there were at least 14 Staple Towns in England most in East Anglia.

Fine : Oct Trinity Henry VIII 1533

Between John Porte and Elizabeth his wife plaintiffs and John Ware and Alice his wife deforciants of 3 Messuages 3 gardens 70 Acres of land 10 of meadow and 4 of pasture in Rotherby. Grant to Elisabeth for her life and after her death the property will wholly revert to the heirs of the body of Richard the son of John Ware and Alice for ever in default to the said Alice and her rightful heirs. Consideration 80 silver marks.

John married Alice Bailey about 1495. Alice (daughter of John Bailey) was born about 1475 in Rotherby, Leicestershire, England; died after 1533. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Richard Wase was born about 1500 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: London, England
• Occupation: Merchant

John married Unknown UNKNOWN in UNKNOWN. Unknown was born about 1450. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]