BORN_SHORT ‎25 jun 1623 Tickencote, Rutland, England, baptised ‎ Tickencote, DIED_SHORT ‎30 dec 1678 King's Bench Prison, Southwark, Surrey, England‎, 55 years, BURIED_SHORT ‎ St. George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey, England
KINSHIP: 2nd son.

MILITARY: Battles and Wars> Served in the Royal Army, 1641-1648.
OFFICE: York Herald - sold this office to Francis DEVENISH.

RESIDENCE: Of Tickencote, Rutland {Tickencote, Rutland, England}.

John Wingfield was born c.1619 in Tickencote, Rutlandshire, a younger son of Sir John Wingfield of Tickencote (d.1631) and his wife Frances (nee Cromwell).6 He was educated in the law but does not seem to pursued law as a career. After he married Mary Owen, daughter and heiress to George Owen (d.1665), he came into the orbit of the St George family, a major force in the College of Arms for two generations. His new father-in-law was a member of the College (Rouge Croix pursuivant, later York herald), and a brother-in-law of Sir Henry St George (1581-1644; Norroy king of arms, later Garter king at arms).

During the Civil Wars, most of the St George connection went from apparent royalists to apparent parliamentarians, thus retaining or temporarily increasing their status within the College. George Owen was no exception: despite adherence to the king's party in the early 1640s, he deserted to the parliamentary side in 1646 and was not only confirmed as York herald but later intruded as Clarenceux king at arms c.1658. Owen was able to obtain advancement for son-in-law John Wingfield as well: although John had served with the royal army from 1641 to 1648, he was nominated to be Richmond herald by Richard Cromwell, Oliver's son, in 1657.

At the Restoration, Owen was forced to revert to the post of York herald and John Wingfield, who had never actually become Richmond herald, was created Portcullis pursuivant. Three years later, in 1663, Owen resigned in John Wingfield's favour and John became York herald in 1664. Neither this office nor his post as collector of customs at Berwick nor Mary's inheritance in 1665 were sufficient to support John and his family.

In 1670 he was seeking to farm out his post at Berwick because he had not sufficient income to support his wife and nine children. In 1674 he sold his office as York herald to Francis Devenish, a cousin by marriage of his wife and another member of the St George coterie. It is not known for what sum he made the sale, but it cannot have been sufficient for his needs or his debts, because he died in King's Bench prison in Southwark (where debtors were confined) in December 1678. He was buried in St George's, Southwark, the parish nearest the prison and a traditional burial place for those who died there.