John Harman was born , probably about 1463, son of a yeoman farmer, in a farmhouse now known as Moor Hall Farm, Sutton Coldfield. He was educated at Magdalene College, Oxford where he was awarded a doctorate in Canon and Civil Law and after ordination the influence of his patron Bishop Arundel obtained for him the Rectorship of St Marys, Chester.

He becamea friend of Thomas Wolsey, also educated at Magdalene. In 1509 Wolsey became a Canon of Windsor and Chaplain to King Henry, and Vesey was appointed a Canon of Exeter.

Both rose rapidly . Vesey was promoted Bishop of Exeter in 1519 and the King awarded him the temporalities of the See, thereby making Vesey a rich man.

He is not remembered as the most dilgent in performing his religious duties; he was often absent at Court, despite enjoying an enormous income of over £1500 a year.

The town of his birth was to benefit greatly from his huge wealth even if his flock did not.

In 1527 he obtained permission to enclose a large plot of land close to his birthplace and built a grand house where he occassionally lived, in great style.

The township had fallen on hard times and he took it on himself to restore the fortunes of the town and its inhabitants.

He is credited with rebuilding the aisles of the Church, reviving the markets and building a Market place, paving the town, building two stone bridges, founding the Grammar School which bears his name, building 51 stone houses and many other munificent deeds.

His greatest achievement , almost certainly, was the creation in 1528, largely due to his influence at Court, of the town's Royal Charter