James Wilsford

Sir James Wilsford or Wilford (about 1516–1550) was an English soldier and politician, who was commander at the Siege of Haddington in the war known as the Rough Wooing and also sat as Member of Parliament for Barnstaple.

[4] Ulpian Fulwell wrote of Sir James in his Flower of Fame (1575);"He was so noble a capitaine, that he wonne the hartes of all Souldiers.

[5] Sir James was one of the captains who supervised and garrisoned the fort at Lauder, the future site of Thirlestane Castle, in April 1548.

Lord Grey of Wilton recommended him for the command of the English and Italian mercenary force occupying Haddington on 28 April.

[6] On 3 June 1548, Wilford and Thomas Wyndham captured Dalkeith Palace, burnt the town, and took prisoner James Douglas, the future Regent Morton.

[11] Mary of Guise described his capture as a "bonne prise", a good catch, in a letter to her brother, the Duke of Aumale.

[15] In February and March 1550, Wilsford was granted the keeping of the Bailiwick of Gravesend and Milton and the Little Park of Otford, Kent for his lifetime.