St. John of Bletsoe CoA

"Awake, my St. John, leave all minor things
To low ambition and the pride of kings.
"
Attributed to Pope (???)


St. John originally from De Port, also De Sancto Johanne, also de Seint Johan

Normandy -> England 1066 -> Glamorgan, Wales (early to mid 1200s) -> Bedfordshire, England (late 1300s) then married into the Russell family in 1546
Please note that this is one of the QUESTIONABLE Lines on this site, though not due to any issue with the de Port/St. John info itself. REASON: Was Francis William Russell, Lord Russell (My 10th Great Grandfather, who's mother was a St. John - see below) really the father of Ann "Mary" or Mary Ann(e) Russell (My 9th Great Grandmother)? or was she the daughter of Thomas Russell?
There is also a possible second connection into this lineage via Catherine St. John and the ap Rhys's (FitzUryan's of Dynevor), but since that line's connection to the Royce's is questionable as well, the numbering of potential ancestors in this line is not carried up the tree from that potential connection.

There is also a line of de Port's, first of Maplederwell, Hampshire (and elsewhere), then of the Honour of Kington, descending from a Hubert de Port, mentioned in Domesday, said to be originally from St. Jean le Thonas in Western Normandy, who is however presumed to be a kinsman of some sort to the below Hugh de Port. There are a number of 'Adam de Port's' in this line, including the one who was founder of Andwell Priory (monks of St. Mary of Andwell, a cell of the Benedictine abbey of Tiron), who are thus often confused with the below Adam De Port.

The Field and Sparks Family History has my 16 through 18th GGrandfathers compressed into a single John St. John, born abt. 1335.

I am not sure what to make of the following title's:

  • Lord Saint John of Stanton (1264-?) for Roger de Saint John, expired in John, 2nd Lord
  • Lord Saint John of Lageham (1297-1330) for John de Saint John, expired in John, 3rd Lord in 1330 Other source has it as Lord St.John de Lageham (1299-1355) for John St. John (d. 1316) till the 5th Lord, Piers St. John who died in 1355 after passing through two other Johns and a Robert.
  • Lord Saint John of Vasing (1299-1347) for John de Saint John, extinct in family upon death of Edmund, 3rd Lord, then passed through daughters of Hugh Saint John, 2nd Lord to John de Saint Philibert (1348-1349) and then to Lucas de Poynings through wife Isabel (1368-1429) to Thomas Poynings, 2nd Lord Saint John and now is in the Duke of Bolton? NOTE: THIS IS BASING, see 21st GGUncle or more likely His son John but who is this 3rd Lord, Edmund St. John, he would have to be a son of 2nd Lord Hugh for the title to then pass through the daughter of Hugh.


    My 27th Great Grandfather, Hugh De Port
    Born abt. 1061 (or 1024?) in Port-en-Bessin, Calvados, Normandy, France. Died in 1096 in Basing, Hampshire, England after becoming having become a monk. Married 1084 at Basing to Orence ? (or Orenge ?)
    Note: apparently not the same as the Hugh de Port b.~1015 in Scarborough, N. Riding, Yorkshire.
    of Basing.
    "At the time of the survey he held fifty-five manors in Hampshire of the King, one of which was Basing, the head of his barony; likewise twelve more of Odo, Bishop of Bayeux (in whose company most likely he came); one in Dorsetshire, and two in Cambridgeshire; in all seventy lordships. We hear nothing more about him till the ninth of Rufus (1096), in which year he gave to the monks of Gloucester his lordship of Littletone, in northamptonshire, a subsequent acquisition, probably by marriage, and assuming the monastic habit at Winchester, ended his days there..." (J.R. Planché, The Conqueror and His Companions, 1874, Online)
    However, there are a number of issues regarding the above quote. First I have found no record of a "Littletone" in Northamptonshire, though Hugh did hold Littleton [and Shoddesden] in Hampshire in the Domesday survey which was later donated to the Abbey of St. Peter, Gloucester[VCH], and further Adam de Port of the Mapledurvell de Port's (presumably the same Adam de Port who founded the priory of Andwell) is recorded as holding Littleton in Wiltshire, of which he later donated the tithes to the priory of Deux Jumeaux, so it seems quite likely the county is wrong and it might even be confused with the other line of de Ports. Secondily he held far more than the 70 manors from the King and from Odo (for the record, the Bishop, sometimes recorded as Eudes I de Conteville, was also a half-brother of the king and was made Earl of Kent), though some were obviously not full manors, thus likely explaining the discrepancy. Thirdly, this quote makes no mention of the other holdings he held in from others than the King and Bishop, nor mention of his holdings in other counties, including several in Kent, and others inRutland, Berkshire, Surrey, nor Norfolk.
    I have complied this list of his recorded holdings in the Domesday survey, along with some notes and all mentions of the other de Port (Hubert de Port of Mapeldurwell) in Doomesday as well. Did he also have landholdings in Normandy? It seems likely and they would not show up in Doomsday
    Other sources also mention the following lands: some lands in Hambledon in Hambledon (possibly combined with Warnford), part of Lomer Turville (as a part of Warnford, other part held by Hyde abbey as part of Manor of Lomer), East Hoe in Soberton, Warnford and Upwarnford in Warnford (one held from Hyde Abbey, another independent, later merged), Wheely of Warnford, "Chantry Lands" in Warnford, Total service of all manor owed to Hyde Abbey= 6 knights.
    Sheriff of Hampshire.
    High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests 1081-1087.
    Baron of Seamer, Portreeve of Milton Regis, Sheriff of Kent?
      Three Children:
    • Henry De Port
    • Adelidis De Port
    • Emma De Port, m. William De Percy, 1st Baron Percy. Sometime before 1095 Hugh gave Snailwell to his daughter Emma which then descended with the Percy barony.[VCH] and "After 1086 Emma de Port gave one hide at Snailwell to Whitby abbey (Yorks.), but by 1130 her son Alan de Percy had granted the monks one hide at Isleham instead"[VCH]
      • Alan De Percy, 2nd Baron Percy (1069-1120), m. Emma de Gaunt. "Alan de Percy..., perhaps confirming a gift by his mother Emma, gave, possibly c. 1120, two carucates at Isleham to Whitby abbey (Yorkns. N.R.). Though confirmed to Whitby not only by King Stephen c. 1136, but by Edward II, the Isleham estate no longer belonged to that abbey in the 13th century. It may have been acquired by Ely priory, which had land at Isleham by the mid 1140s." (VCH 'Isleham' as above)
      • Walter De Percy
      • William De Percy, Abbot of Whitby
      • Richard De Percy

    My 26th Great Grandfather, Henry De Port
    Born Bef. 1091. Died abt. 1153 at basing, Hampshire, England. Married Hawise of Basing.
    Sheriff of (is it Southampton? or Hampshire?).
    "Founded the Priory of Shirebourn, near Basing." (J.R. Planché, The Conqueror and His Companions, 1874, Online)
      Three children:
    • Hugh, d. after 1108 but dvpsp
    • William, dvpsp
    • John De Port

    My 25th Great Grandfather, John De Port
    Born abt. 1121 at Basing, Northamptonshire, England (or abt. 1117 at Basing, Southamptonshire). Died 1167/8. Married Maud St John (???).
    Tudor Palace, attributing it to Burke's, has: "in the 12th Henry II (1165-6), contributed for his knights' fees (seven in number) to the assessment for marrying the king's dau., 47 marks. He was s. by his son, Adam De Port, Lord of Basing." However, Matilda, Henry's eldest is listed as marrying in 1168.
    My 24th Great Grandfather, Adam De Port
    Born abt. 1151 in Basing, Northamptonshire, England. Died 25 June 1213. Married 1st Mabel De Aurevalle/Orval/etc. (dau. of Reginald/Richard/Reynold De Aurevalle/Auraville/Orval/Aurea Valle/etc. & Muriell/Muriel De St. John through whom Mabel was heir of Roger De St. John & Robert/Richard De Haye/Hay/Haya/Hays, Lord of Halnac). Married 2nd aft. 1190 in Bramber, Sussex, England to Sibyl "the Countess" De Braiose (widow of William De Ferrers, Earl of Derby who d. 1190, daughter of William De Briouze, lord of Bramber & Bertha sister & co-heir of Mabel of Hereford, Lord of Abergavenny and Brecknock)
    Tudor Palace, attributing it to Burke's, has: "This feudal baron was governor of the castle of Southampton in the 15th (1213-14) King John, and in the 22nd Henry II [1176] he was fined 300 marks for trespassing in the king's forests. In the 26th of the same reign [1180], he gave 1000 marks to the King for livery of his wife's inheritance in Normandy, and that he might be restored to the king's favour and do his homage."
      Three, likely Four, Children w/Mabel De Aurevalle:
    • Alice De Port (~1168-<1213), m. Sir John FitzGilbert Le Marshall (Sir)
      • John Le Marshall (Sir),
    • William De St. John
    • Robert De St. John, presumably the Robert de Port de l'Arche who m. Maud Mareschal (sister of William, 1st Earl Pembroke)
      • Julian de Pont de 'Arche (?-1217), m. Robert de Berkeley. Is that supposed to be Julia?
    • likely Joan/Alice de Port, m1. John Marshal, "Master Marshal" though seeming confusion with her nephew, m2. Richard de Rivers.

    My 23rd Great Grandfather, William De St. John
    Born 1173 (or c.1180) in Portchester Castle, Hampshire, England. Died 1239 in Portchester Castle, Hampshire, England. Married Godechild(e) De Paganel/Godeheut de Paynel(l)/Godchilda Paynell/Godeheld Paynal (who m2. Richard de Lucy and they held West Shelford, Berks, of the inheritance of Robert de St. John).
    "Willielmus De Sancto Johanne filius et h�res Ad De Port" or "Ego Willielmus de Sancto Johanne filius et heres Adae de Port." first recorded in 1205.
    Sometimes seen as William the Second to distinquish from a William of the earlier St. John family.
    1st Baron St. John of Basing?
    Douglas Richardson on the RootsWeb GEN-MEDIEVAL-L newsgroup archives claims that his wife was actually Godeheut de Tony, dau. of Roger V de Tony and Constance de Beaumont, referencing John Ravilious' hypothesis. Source., though most sources seem to have that the Toeni/Tosny who married Constance de Beaumont was Sir Roger IV Lord of Flamstead, Knight, aka "do Conches" who was grandfather of Roger V
    Tudor Palace, attributing it to Burke's, has: "...and in the 15th John [1214-1215], gave 500 marks to the King for livery of all the lands of Adam De Port, his father. The two following years he executed the sheriff's office for the co. Southampton, but was subsequently in arms with the other barons against the crown, and did not return to his allegiance until some time after the accession of Henry III. He made his peace, however, effectually, for we find him in the 11th of that King [1227] appointed governor of the islands of Guernsey and Jersey."
    H. Tamer has: "On the conquest of Normandy William de St. John adhered to king John and his lands in Normandy were confiscated by Philip Augustus. ... William was the son of Adam de Port of Basing by Mabel, heiress of Oval and through her mother of the St. John honour of Halnaker; and William adopted the name of St. John. ... made profer in 1202 of 150 li. for the lands in England of his great-uncle William de St John, i.e. the honor of Halnaker. In 1203 he occurs on the Norman Exchequer Rolls as owing 12 li. 10s. for scutage on the service of 21 knights' due on the fees of William d'Orval. On the separation of England and Normandy in 1204 William adhered to King John and his lands in Normandy were confiscated. Southampton castle was committed to him on his father's death, and he was sheriff of Hants, 1214 and 1215. He was with John in his disastrous expedition in Poitou and Anjou, 1214. In February 1214/5 he was one of the King's emissaries to the Earls, Barons and people of Hants, and in November one of those charged to bring men from Angouleme, and stores from Corfe castle, to the King at Rochester; but later he joined the Daughin, probably at the siege of Winchester, July 1216. However, on 16 March 1216/7 he had a safe-conduct to speak with the Earl Marshal, his lands having been granted on the previous day to John Marshal. In February 1219/20 he was "with the King" at the siege of Bytham; in February 1224/5 he witnessed the Forest Charter and the confirmation of the Magna Carta. Bailiff of the Channel Islands, May 1227 to October 1232. In 1230 he served in Henry's abortive expedition into France, and in 1233 was employed in defence of the Southeast coast. ... Benefactor of Boxgrove and of Bromholm priory, Norfolk"
    concerning this Halnaker, A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848) Halling - Haltham-upon-Bain, pp. 379-83, under Halnaker Online here has "HALNAKER, a tything, in the parish of Boxgrove, union of West Hampnett, hundred of Box and Stockbridge, rape of Chichester, W. division of the county of Sussex"
    Sheriff of Southampton
    governor of Guernsey and Jersey.
      Five Children:
    • Geoffrey de St. John, d.v.p.s.p.
    • Robert De St. John
    • Adam
    • William
    • Godeheut, m1. William de Ros of Kent (or William de Ross of North Cray, Kent), m2. Hugh de Wyndleshores
    • Some sources have that Jane Saint John was born in 1215 and was the child of William and Godeheut, not of Robert & Agnes below.
    • There is apparently also some false information floating around out there in cyberspace, referencing 'Paget', identifying a Lucy de St. John, daughter of a William de St. John, who married a William de Ros/Roos of Helmsley. While I am not sure if this is this William or a William from the earlier St. John family, but it does make me wonder about the above Godeheut married to William de Ros/Ross of Kent

    My 22nd Great Grandfather, Robert De St. John of Basing (Sir)
    Born abt. 1199 in Portchester Castle, Hampshire, England. Died Bef. 25 Mar. 1266/7 in Basing, Hampshire, England. Married Agnes De Cantilupe/Cauntelo/Cantelowe (dau. of William De Cantilupe/Cauntelo/Cantelou d. 1251 of Calne Co. Wilts, and of Eaton Bray, co. Bedford, and of Aston Cantlow, co. Warwick, Sheriff of Worcester, Warwick, Leicester, & Hereford & of Millicent de Gournay widow of Amauri de Montfort, Count of Evreux).
    H. Tamer has: "Sir Robert De St. John... was holding the Honor of HaInaker of the Earl of Arundel in 1242-43. He seems to have served throughout Henry's campaign in Gascony, 1253-54. In August 1257 he was going on the Kings' service to Wales, and he was summoned for service there, 1258, 1260 and 1263. In Oct. 1261 he was summoned to London, cum equis et armis, and all possible forces, in a matter touching the King and Crown (d). Porchester castle was committed to him, during pleasure, 12 April 1266 .... He appears to have died between 11 March 1266/7 and the 25th of that month (g). His widow (h) married, before 4 June 1271, John De Turville; they were both living in 1279. [Complete Peerage XI:322-2" with the notes "(d) Two years later he was summoned to Windsor, with the horses and arms which he brought to London. He was appointed Joint Keeper of Hants, Dec 1263. On 14 May 1264--the day of the battle of Lewes, apparently before the fight--he had a safe-conduct for himself and his knights to his own lands. After the battle of Evesham, he was summoned to the King in London, with his whole service." "(g) Col. Patent Rolls 1266-72, which say that he d. in London. he was a benefactor of the abbeys of Titchfield and Netley; and he endowed a chantry in the chapel of St. Laurcence in the court of Chawton." "(h) Her marriage was granted, 3 Feb 1269/70 to William Belet, and bought by William la Zouche."
    Tudor Palace has: "Constable of Porcestre CastleRobert De St. John, who had a military summons in the 42nd Henry III [1258] to oppose the incursions of the Welsh and, in three years afterwards, obtained a license to fix a pale upon the bank of his moat at Basing, as also to continue it so fortified during the king's pleasure.* In the 50th of the same reign [1266] he was constituted governor of Porchester Castle and, dying soon after, 1266..."
    2nd Baron St. John. of Basin
    Constable, then Governor, of Porcestre Castle.
    Lord Lt. & Seneschal of Aquitaine.
      Three Children:
    • John De St. John (Sir) (1225-1302/29?), "Sire Jon de Seyn John, ke conust les countrez" Constable & Governor of Porcestre Castle, Seneschal of Gascony, Seneschal & Lieutenant of Aquitaine, Baron of Basin, Hants. "was one of the magnates de consilio Regis who declared Llewelyn a rebel, and initiated a campaign against him in 1276. In 1296 he took the City of Bayonne by assault and its castle surrendered after a seige of 8 days. 1297 was summoned to a military council at Rochester and for service in Flanders. From 1298 till his death he was engaged in military operations in Scotland, chiefly in Galloway, and in the Western Marches." (paraphrased from H. Tamer). m. Alice FitzPiers (dau. of Sir Reynold Fitzpiers of Alcester & his first wife Alice). Their descendents are considered the "Basing Line" (died out in the male line 1389 or 1347). 1294: "mon sire Johan de Seint Johan chevaler, tenant en la duchie de Guyenne" [1] [2] [3]
      • Agnes St. John (abt.1273-1345), m. Hugh Courtenay, Earl Devon
      • Edward St. John (b. Abt. 1259), m. Eve De Hauterive and/or Joan de Hever
      • Amadeus St. John
      • John St. John (abt. 1273-1329), m. Isabel Courtenay. Is this the John de St. John of the early 1300's who was 'guardian of the bishopric of Winchester' and overlord of the Tisted Manors? and the one who in 1322 was made keeper of Odiham Castle?
    • Jane De St. John (~1228-?), m. Sir Andrew De Wake. Other source's have that she was born 1215 and was the sister of Robert, not his daughter
      • Eleanor De Wake
    • William De St. John This line is considered the "Bletsoe Line"

    My 21st Great Grandfather, William De St. John
    Born abt. 1234/25/38 in Basing, Hampshire, England. Died 1305. Married 1266 in Faumont, Glamorgan, Wales to Isabel Combmartin/Cobmartin
    "of Faumont, Glamorgan"
    Note: As a younger son, he likely inherited little to nothing, is that perhaps why he went to Wales?
    My 20th Great Grandfather, John De St. John
    Born abt. 1267 in Faumont, Glamorgan, Wales. Married 1292 in Faumont, Glamorganshire, Wales to Beatrix ? (likely Beatrix Broye, dau. of John Broy)
    of Faumont.
      Two Children:
    • John St. John (Sir Knight)
    • Henry St. John

    My 19th Great Grandfather, John St. John (Sir Knight)
    Born abt. 1292 in Castle Faumont, Glamorganshire, Wales. Died in Faumont, Glamorganshire, England. Married abt. 1318 at Castle, Penmark, Glamorganshire, Wales to Elizabeth De/de Umfreville (b.~1296)
    One source skips this generation, while JDA lists this as a possibly alternate but has as an Oliver St. John of the above Basing line (descended from John & Alice FitzPiers).
    My 18th Great Grandfather, John St. John (Sir Knight)
    Born abt. 1319 in England. Married Isabel Paveley.

    My 17th Great Grandfather, Oliver St. John
    Born abt. 1346. Married Elizabeth De/de La/la Bere (d. 1428, dau. of John de la Bere & Agne (de) Turberville). Possibly had previously married abt. 1370 in Lanherne, Cornwall, England to ? Arundell.
    My 16th Great Grandfather, John St. John
    Born abt. 1383 in Castle Faumont, Glamorganshire, Wales. d. >1421. Married Elizabeth Paulet (dau. of either William Paulet & Eleanor De La Mere or of a brother of that William Paulet and thus the daughter of John Paulet & Elizabeth Creedy/Credy, though other sources say Elizabeth is actually Princess Aognes of Tir-eoghain b.~1375, the dau. of Prince Brian of Tir-eoghain. I have a note written about her that now I don't remember what it means "alt welsh ~1387")
      One or Three Children (the daughters are unsure):
    • Sir Oliver St. John, Knt.
    • Joan St. John (?-1463), m. Nicholas Arundell
      • Alexander Arundell
      • Leonard Arundell
      • Sir John Arundell, Sheriff of Trerise
      • Joan Arundell
    • Isabel St. John (?-~1437), m. William Sidney/Sydney MP
      • William Sidney
      • Elizabeth Sidney, m. John Hampden

    My 15th Great Grandfather, Sir Oliver (de) St. John, Knt.
    Born abt. 1400/14/1375 in Bletsoe, Bedfordshire, England. Died 1437 in Penmark, Gloucestershire, England (other sources say died in Rouen, France). Married Margaret Beauchamp (b.1410/~1412, d.1482, dau. of Sir John Beauchamp, lord Beauchamp of Bletsoe & either Elizabeth Stourton, Edith (de) Stourton, or Margaret Holand, she later remarried John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset & then Lionel Welles, Baron Welles. Through her marriage to the Duke of Somerset she was grandmother to king Henry VII)
    Name possibly John Olived St. John.
    Of Penmark, later of Bletsho.
      Seven Children:
    • Sir John St. John, K.B.
    • Oliver St. John (Sir Knight) (~1428-1497), died in Spain, m. Elizabeth Scrope/Scroope, founders of "the Lydirad Tregoze Line". Descendents include the Vicounts Bolingbroke and Viscount St. John. Other sources say married Elizabeth Bigod.
      • Sir John St. John (1478-1512), m. Jane Iwardby/Iwarby
      • Elizabeth St. John (1478-1516), m1. Gerald Garret Mor Fitzgerald (Gearóid Mór or Gerald the Great), 8th Earl Kildare, "The Great Earl" m2. Sir John Wallop, KG
      • Eleanor St. John (b. Abt. 1477), m. Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquis Dorset, KG
      • ?Margaret St. John?, lay abbess of Shaftesbury, or is she confused with her aunt?
    • Edith St. John (~1430-?), m. Sir Geoffrey Pole, Knt.
      • Sir Richard Pole, KG, m1. Alice Langford, m2. Margaret Plantagenet, Countess of Salisbury
      • Eleanor Pole, m. Ralph Verney (son of the Lord Mayor of London)
    • Elizabeth St. John (b.~1432, d. bet. 1488-1494), m1: William La/la Zouche, Baron Zouche of Harryngworth, m2: John (le) Scrope, K.G., Baron Scrope of Bolton
      • Mary Scrope, m. William Conyers, Baron Conyers of Hornby
      • Elizabeth Scrope, m. James Metcalffe of Nappa
    • Mary St. John (~1434-?), m. Richard Tregonwell/Frogentail
    • Margaret St. John (~1436-1492), unmarried, a lay abbess
    • Agnes St. John (~1438-?), m. David Malpas of Cheshire

    My 14th Great Grandfather, Sir John St. John, K.B.
    Born abt. 1426 in Bletsoe, Bedfordshire, England. Died aft. 1488. Married abt. 1455 (or 1447) in Bletsoe, Bedfordshire, England to Alice Bradshaw (b. ~1426/38 in Haigh, Lancashire, England, dau. of Sir Thomas Bradshaigh/Bradshaw of Haigh & ? Sherburne)
    "John St. John, K.B., Penmark, Glamorganshire."
    "of Blethso or Bletso" from his Mother at her death. Bletsoe (also Blachesou, Blechesho, Blechesham, Bletnesho, etc.) is in the half-hundred of Bucklow (later the Hundred of Willey), Bedfordshire
    (Half-)Uncle of King Henry VII ??
    K.B. Nov 1488 by Henry VII at same time as Arthur mad P. of Wales.
      Six, maybe seven Children:
    • Elizabeth St. John (1448-?)
    • John St. John, K.B.
    • Eleanor St. John (~1455-?), m. John Zouche of Codnor
      • Leonard Zouche (1479-?)
      • David Zouche, m. Margaret Bourchier
      • Margaret Zouche, m. Sir Robert Sheffield
      • Sir John Zouche of Codnor, m. Eleanor St. John (See below??)
      • Elizabeth Zouche, last Abbess of Shaftsebury
      • Agnes Zouche, nen at Sempringham
      • Cicely Zouche
    • Anne St. John (~1456-~1506), m. Henry (de) Clifford, Baron Clifford "the Shepherd Lord"
      • Sir Henry Clifford, Earl Cumberland, K.G., m1. Margaret Talbot, m2. Margaret Percy
      • Edward Clifford (abt. 1495-?)
      • Sir Thomas Clifford, Knight, m. Lucy Browne
      • Anne Clifford, m1. Robert Metcalffe, m2. Robert Clifton, m3. Ralph (Robert) Melford
      • Eleanor Clifford, m1. Sir Ninian Markenfiled, Knight (widower of Dorothy Gascoigne), m2. John Constable of Halsham
      • Elizabeth Clifford, m. Ralph Bowes
      • Margaret Clifford, m. Cuthbert Radcliffe of Dilston
      • Mabel Clifford, gentlewoman to Catalina of Aragon, m. William Fitzwilliam, 1st Earl Southampton, KG
      • Joan Clifford, m1. Ralph Bowes, m2. William Thonge
      • Mary Clifford (abt. 1503-?)
    • Margaret St. John (~1457-?)
    • Morris St. John (~1459-?)
    • maybe also Alice who m. Henry Parker, Lord Morley?

    My 13th Great Grandfather, John St. John, K.B.
    Born abt. 1450/65 in Bletsoe, Bedfordshire, England. Died 1525. Married abt. 1483 in Langstone, Glamorganshire, Wales to Sybil Verch Morgan aka Sybil Jenkyn, Lady St. John (b. abt. 1462 in Langstone, Glamorganshire, Wales, dau. of Morgan ap Jenkyn ap Philippe/Philip & Margred "Jane" Mathew)
    "Sir John St. John of Bedfords." "of Bletsole"?
    K.B. 17 Henry VII
      Eight Children:
    • Alice St. John (1484-1552/3), m. Henry Parker, Baron Morley
      • Sir Henry Parker, m1. Grace Newport, m2. Elizabeth Calthorpe
      • Jane Parker, m. George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford (Brother of Queen Anne Boleyn). She "Earned a notorious reputation." It was Lady Rochford's sworn affidavit which helped convict her husband of incest with his sister, and which lead to the arrest of Queen Anne Boleyn. As a part of the household of Queen Anne of Cleves she testified in July 1540 "That the queen had confided in her that their marriage had never been consummated" thus allowing the marriage to be annulled. Then as Lady of the Privy Chamber to Queen Catherine Howard she was found to have been the procuress and go-between for Queen Catherine's relationship with Thomas Culpepper and all three were executed.
      • Alice Parker, m. Sir John Shelton
    • Margaret St. John (~1486-?), m. Sir Thomas Gamage of Coity
      • Margaret Gamage (abt.1515-1581), m. William Howard, Baron Effingham, parents of Earl of Nottingham
      • Robert Gamage
      • Catherine Gamage
      • Mary Gamage, m. Mathew Herbert
    • Elizabeth St. John (~1488-?), m1: Thomas Rotheron, m2: Sir John Zouche of Codnor (same as above)
      • Elizabeth Zouche, m. Gerald 'Gearóig óg' Fitzgerald, 9th Earl of Kildare, Lord Deputy of Ireland
      • Catherine Zouche, m. Edmund Fitzmaurice, 1st Viscount of Kilmaule
    • Sybil St. John (~1490-?), m. Robert Kirkhan
    • Oliver St. John of Sharnbrook (~1492-?), m. Mary FitzGeoffrey (dvpsp? why else would Bletsoe Manor pass to John?)
    • Catherine St. John
    • John St. John (Esq.)
    • Alexander St. John (Esq.) of Thorley (1519/~1494-?), m1: Jane Dallison/Dalyson, m2: ?
      • Henry St. John (ab.t 1545-1598), m. Jane Neale

    My 12th Great Grandfather, John St. John (Esq.), M.P.
    Born 1498 at Bletsoe, Bedfordshire, England. Died 1595 (or ~1535 in Smallbudge, Suffolk, England or 1525 in Smallbridge, Suff.). Married 1st abt. 1515 at Smallbudge/Smallbridge, Bures., Suffolk to Margaret Waldegrave (b. 1485, dau. William Walegrave, K.B. & either Margerey Wentworth or Julian Rainsford). Married 2nd (Possibly illegitimately?) to Anne Neville (b.~1502 in Cotterstock, Northamptonshire, d. 1595, dau. of Thomas Neville).
    M.P. for Bedfordshire 1547-52.
    Thirteen Children:
      Nine or ten with Margaret Waldegrave:
    • Oliver St. John (1516-1582), 1st Baron St. John of Bletsoe/Bletshoe, m1: Agnes Fisher (granddaughter and heir of Sir Michael Fisher of Elstow from whom she inherited considerable estates in Bedfordshire), m2: Elizabeth Chamber
      • John St. John (1549-1596), 2nd Baron St. John of Bletsoe, m. Catherine Dormer
      • Oliver St. John (Abt. 1550-1618), Baron St. John of Bletsoe, m. Dorothy Read/Rede, parents of the 1st Earl of Bolingbrooke
      • Martha St. John (Abt. 1544-?), m1. John Cheney, m2. James Colebrond, m3. George Wingate
      • Judith St. John (Abt. 1545-?), m. John Pelham of Laughton
      • Margaret St. John (Abt. 1547-?), m. Nicholas Luke
      • Anne St. John (Abt. 1546/52-1601/2), m1. Robert Corbet of Salop, m2. Rowland Lytton of Knebworth
      • Thomas St. John (b. Abt 1553)
      • Margery St. John (b. Abt 1554)
      • Francis St. John (b. Abt 1555)
      • Agnes St. John (b. Abt 1556)
      • Joan St. John (b. Abt. 1563), m? Phillip Stourton
    • Anne St. John (~1518-?), m. Richard Dennis of Gloucestershire
    • Margery St. John (~1520-?), m1: Henry Grey, 8th Baron Grey of Ruthin, m2: Francis Pigot
      • Reynold Grey de Ruthin, 5th Earl of Kent, m. Susan Bertie
      • Henry Grey, 6th Earl of Kent, m. Mary Cotton (countess Derby?)
      • Charles Grey, 7th Earl of Kent, m. Susan Cotton
    • Alice St. John (~1522-?), m. Edmund Elmes
    • Margaret St. John
    • + four more sons
    • possibly also Dorothy who M. Sir Edward Bourchier, 4th Earl of Bath (note: likely not since that would mean Edward married his own grand-aunt. Edward was the son of Elizabeth Russell, dau. of Margaret St. John), other sources have her as being Margaret's grandniece- daughter of Oliver St. John & Dorothy Read, above.
      four or five with Anne Neville:
    • Cressit St. John (1534-1612), m. John Butler/Boetler of Starnbrooke
      • John Butler, m. Jane Elliott
      • Nathaniel Bulter, Gov. of Bahamas
      • James Butler
      • Elizabeth Butler
      • Sarah Butler
      • Martha Butler, m. Humphrey Barrell
      • Mary Butler, m. Richard Arkenstall
      • Anne Butler, m. George Digby
      • Jane Butler, m. Robert Wright
      • Oliver Butler
    • Charles St. John
    • Jane St. John
    • a Daughter, probaly Mary St. John who m. John Herrey/Harvey of Thurley
    possibly My 14th & 15th Great Grandmother (4x over), Catherine St. John
    Born circa 1496 or about 1477/82 in Wales.
    m1, about 1498 to Sir Griffith/Gruffydd ap Rhys, K.B., m2. Piers Edgecombe (Sir Knight)
    At least one child: Rhys ap Griffith/Gruffydd




    Please Note: This connection of the Royce line to the Rhys lineage is not confirmed, and there are various alternate possibilities. Please see the Royce page for more.

    My 11th Great Grandmother, Margaret St. John
    Born abt. 1524 in Bletsoe, Bedfordshire, England. Died 27 Aug. 1562 in Woburn, Bedfordshire, England. Buried 10 Sep. 1562 in Chenies, Buckinghamshire, England. Married 1st Sir John Gostwick. Married 2nd Francis Russell, Earl Bedford.
    Other source claims that Sir John Gostwick of Willington, Beds was not her first husband but her father-in-law and that she married William Gostwick, only son and heir of Sir John Gostwick. Other sources have that she also married Henry Grey, "younger of Kent" (who dvp 1545) son of the 4th Earl of Kent.
      Seven Children:
    • Anne Russell (1548-1603), m. Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl Warwick
    • Edward Russell (1551-1572), Lord Russell, m. Jane Sybilla Morrison 'of Cashiobury' (dau. of Bridget Hussey, his stepmother)
    • John Russell (Abt. 1553-1584), Lord Russell, m. Elizabeth Cooke
    • Francis Russell
    • William Russell (Abt. 1558/62-1613), 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, Gov. of Flushing, m. 1st Elizabeth Long, m. 2nd Lucy ?.
    • Elizabeth Russell (?-1605), m. William Bourchier, 3rd Earl Bath
    • Margaret Russell (1560-1616), maid of Honor to her Majesty. m. George Clifford, 3rd Earl Cumberland.

    See also: Margaret St. John.
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    Last Update: Apr 1st, 2011.