General Notes

Sir John de St. John, d. 20-29 Sep 1302, of Basing, Hampshire, Constable of Porcestre Castle, Seneschal of Gascony, Seneschal of Aquitaine, son & heir of Sir Robert de St. John, d. c 1269, of Basing, Hampshire, Constable of Porcestre Castle & Agnes, daughter of William de Cauntelo, d. 1251, of Calne, co. Wilts, and Eaton Bray, co. Bedford, & Millicent de Gournay.  [Ancestral Roots]

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John was also Governor of Porchester Castle. This baron acquired a high military reputation in the wars of Edward I and in his capacity of Lieutenant of Aquitiane achieved some important conquests. In 1296 he took the City of Bayonne by assault and its castle surrendered after a seige of 8 days. After engaging in many other conflicts he was finally made prisoner, but was redeemed and afterwards deputed Ambassador to France with John, Earl of Warren and other persons of rank. Gov. of Porchester Castle.

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Sir JOHN DE ST. JOHN, 1st or 1st surviving son and heir (j), received the custody of Porchester castle upon his father's death, and his relief was forgiven on account of his and his father's notable services. He was one of the Council who notified Prince Edward in Palestine of the death of Henry III and their proclamation of his successor. In 1276 he was one of the magnates de consilio Regis, who declared Llewelyn a rebel, and initiated a campaign against him. In 1283, summoned to the Assembly at Shrewsbury. He was one of the magnates whom Edward took with him (May 1286) on his prolonged political tour in France and Spain; and, after their return, a commissioner (October 1289) to hear complaints against the King's officials during his absence. In November he was "now staying continually with the King." He participated in the "parliament " after Easter 1290. From October that year he was engaged on foreign political missions. In 1292 he was one of the Auditors on behalf of the King at the trial of the claims to the crown of Scotland. Appointed Lieutenant of Aquitaine, 12 July 1293, Sire Jon de Seyn John, ke conust les countrez, went out to organize the campaign. He went out again in 1294, as seneschal of Aquitaine and a plenipotentiary to deal with Castile and was on the staff of the Earls of Richmond, Lancaster and Lincoln, successively Lieutenants. He was captured by the French, 1296 or 1297. On his return, 1297, he 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. His seal is attached to the Barons' letter to the Pope, February 1300/1. He married, before 29 June 1256, Alice, daughter of Sir Reynold FITZPIERS, by his 1st wife, Alice. He presumably died between 20 and 29 September 1302. His widow was living in 1305.  [Complete Peerage XI:323-5, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

(j) The William de St. John, who d. 9 Mar 1353/4 at St. Macaire, with 92 days' pay due him, may have been the elder son of Robert de St. John, who in Nov 1353, was to have a reasonable aid for the knighting of his eldest son.  This son can hardly have been Robert's successor John, who in 1256 was not yet of marriageable age.