Sir John Darcy Knight

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
Sir John Darcy, styled le neveu and le cosyn, and (long afterwards) le piere, of Knaith, Kexby, and Upton, co. Lincoln, son and heir of Sir Roger Darcy, of Oldcotes and Styrrup, Notts (who died before 12 May 1284), by Isabel, daughter of Sir William d'Aton, of West Ayton co. York, which Roger was a younger brother of Sir Norman Darcy of Nocton. He was under age, 15 June 1292. Was outlawed for felony in or before 1306, and lost hls lands in Oldcotes, &c. Pardoned, 19 May 1307, at the instance of Aymer de Valence, in whose retinue he was in 1313, 1320, and 1321, and again in the expedition to Scotland in 1322. He was appointed Constable of Norham Castle, 20 January 1316/7. Sheriff of cos. Notts and Derby, 1319-22. Knight of the Shire for co. Notts, 1230. Sheriff of co. Lancaster, February 1322/3 to July 1323, and was on the King's service against the Scots, 24 February 1322/3 to 4 April 1323. A banneret, 12 August 1323. Justiciar of Ireland, 18 November 1323 to 12 March 1326/7. Sheriff of co. York, 1327-28. Justiclar of Ireland, 21 August 1328 to 27 February 1330/1. With Guillaume de Seintz (or Sans), Seigneur de Pommiers, he was commissioned to treat with the nobles of Aquitaine, 27 April 1330. Appointed a special envoy to the King of France concerningi the marriage of Prince Edward, 15 July 1331. He was summoned for MiIitary Service, 20 September 1322 and 2 October 1322, by writs directed Johanni Darcy le neveu, to a Council, 25 February 1341/2, and to Parliament 27 January 1331/2 to 2 January 1333/4, by writs directed Johanni Darcy le cosyn, whereby he is held to have become Lord Darcy. Justiciar of Ireland, 30 September 1332 to 28 July 1337. He took an army to Scotland in 1335 (after 15 August), and wasted Arran and Bute. Steward of the King's Household from March 1336/7 to December 1340. Appointed to treat with the King of France, the Emperor, the Count of Flanders &c, 3 October and with the King of Scots, 7 October 1337. A proxy to sign the treaty with the Flemings, 10 June 1338. Appointed justiciar of Ireland for life 3 March 1339/40; as the King could not dispense with his continual attendance a deputy was appointed, 16 March 1340/1: he resigned the office, 10 February 1343/4, Chamberlain to the King from 1341 to September 1346 or later. He accompanied the Earl of Northampton in his expexpedition to Brittany in August 1342. Appointed Constable of Nottingham Castle, 2 March 1343/4, and of the Tower of London, 12 March 1345/6, both for life. He was at the battle of Crecy, and was one of those sent from before Calais, 8 September 1346, to announce the victory in Parliament.

Sir John Darcy married, 1^stly, Emmeline, daughter and heir of Walter Heron, of Silkstone, co. York (son and heir apparent of Sir William Heron, of Hadstone, Northumberland, and Notton, co. York), by Alice, daughter of Sir Nilcholas de Hastinges, of Allerston, co. York, and Gissing, Norfolk. She was aged 7 1/2 years in May 1297.

Sir John Darcy married, 2^ndly, 3 July 1329, at Maynooth, co. Kildare, Joan, widow of Thomas Fitz John, Earl of Kildare: (who died 5 April 1328, at Maynooth, being then justiclar), and 4^th daughter of Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, by Margaret, his wife.

Sir John Darcy died 30 May 1347, on which day he had received a pardon for all homicides, felonies, robberies, &c., for all oppressions by colour of any office he had held, for all trespasses of vert and venison, and of any consequent outlawries, and for all arrears and debts. His widow died 23 April 1359, and was buried, with her 1^st husband, in the Church of the Friars Minors at Kildare.

~Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, Vol. IV, pp. 54-58, Vol. XIV, p. 234

John married Emmeline Heron, daughter of Walter Heron and Alice de Hastings, in 1310 in Knaith, Lincolnshire, England ¹⁴¹.^,1170 (Emmeline Heron was born in 1290 in Siklstone, West Riding Yorkshire, England ^141,1170 and died before 1329 in Knaith, Lincolnshire, England ^141,1170.)