Walter Cotterell

Walter FitzWilliam Cotterell (died c. 1388/9) was an Irish barrister and Crown official of the late fourteenth century. He was Serjeant-at-law (Ireland) and acted from time to time as a judge of gaol delivery and of assize, although he was never a justice in the Royal Courts. The evidence suggests that he was a conscientious and hard-working official who enjoyed the complete trust of the English Crown.

He was born in Kells, County Kilkenny, the son of William Cotterell. The family had a long-standing association with Kells, and later lived in Kilkenny city. His father was acting as a judge in the 1360s, as was John Cotterell, who was presumably Walter's uncle.

Career

He was appointed King's Serjeant in 1374. As was often the case his appointment was limited in area, in his career to Munster, County Wexford and County Kilkenny. By that time he was already a valued Crown servant, who had been entrusted in 1359 with collecting a subsidy. The inquisitions in question lasted for four weeks and his travels on official business required the use of eight horses. Shortly afterwards he was appointed to a three-man commission into the Crown's right of treasure trove in County Wexford, which lasted for 2 weeks; he did not receive a fee. The other two members were both serving High Court judges, John Keppock and William de Karlell, an indication of Cotterell's high standing with the Crown.

He never became a High Court judge, but in addition to sitting in gaol delivery as required, in 1380 in his capacity as "Narrator Regis" (King's Serjeant), In addition he and John de Sotheron, during his brief tenure as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, were appointed to deal with those petitions which would normally be dealt with by the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, William Tany, who was then absent in England. Cotterell's precise date of death is not recorded. Patrick Cotterell of Kilkenny received a royal pardon for various offences in 1407. A later William Cotterell, probably a direct descendant, was appointed justice and Keeper of the Peace for Kilkenny in 1431.