John le Strange of Knockin

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
John le Strange, son and heir. In 1196/7 he acquired rights in land at Knockin, Salop, from his cousins, daughters of his uncle Guy. In 1198 he took the place of his cousin Ralph, who was ill, in the King's servlce. In 1204 the King asked Llewelin, Prince of North Wales, to grant John a safe conduct to go to and return from him. In 1206 he had sent his knights overseas. In 1212 he was concerned in the management of Album Monasterium; and was returned as holding the manors of Ness and Cheswardine of the grift of King Henry II. In 1213 he was given the custody of the castle of Carreghova; and in 1214 was sent to Llewelin to exact an oath to keep the truce. In 1216 the King committed to him the counties of Staffs and Salop during pleasure, and directed that he was to be treated as sheriff; and in the same year he was to have the manor of Kidderminster during pleasure.

In March 1217/8 John le Strange was, with Hugh de Mortimer and Henry de Audley, directed to give safe-conduct to the Magnates of North Wales, that they might do homage at Worcester; and in the same month the sheriff of Staffs and Salop was directed to give him an aid from the counties for strengthening his castle at Knockin. On 7 Jun 1218 he was present at the dedication of Worcester Cathedral. In January 1223/4 he was granted a market at his manor of Hunstanton. On 29 Aug 1226, as John Lestrange senior, he was granted a pardon for debts and the vill of Wrockwardine for his maintenance during pleasure, for his services to the King and his father; and on 2 September he was appointed to sit with the Bishop of Hereford and others at Album Monasterium to accept the surrender of lands by the Prince of North Wales. He married Amice. He was dead by 20 Jan 1233/4, when his son did homage.

~Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, Vol. XIIA, pp. 349-350

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ⁸⁰²
John le Strange, II, often appears attesting the Charters of his father, also named John le Strange. The next appearance of his name, which happened after his father's death, was in connection of Holme, a considerable Mamor in Norfolk, which he held under the Earl of Arudel, and which adjoined Hunstanston.

John, bishop of Norwich, in an earlier deed institutes William le Brun in the Church of Hulm, at the presentation of John le Strange, the Patron. He says "John le Strange, son of John le Strange," for the souls' health of himself and Amicia, his wife, gave the Church of Hulum to Lilleshall Abbey; with "Mater William le Strange, the Grantor's brother attesting the gift." By other Deeds, "John le Strange, son of John le Strange, gives for the sustentation of the poor at the gate of Lilleshall Abbey the Chapel of Church of Sanketon." He gives it "with the body of Amicia his wife, when she shall have gone the way of all flesh."

In May 1195, John le Strange was employed in the King's service as a substitute for his dying cousin, Ralph le Strange of Alveley. The Pipe-Roll of 1194 shoiws that the Liveries of the Knights and Servientes who guarded the silver mines worked at Carrechova Castle had been paid by the Sheriff, after a report, or representation made by John and Ralph le Strange.

A Plea-Roll of June 1194 fixes 1 Jul as the day "on which the Prior of Thetford and John le Strange were to attend at Westminster and recive the Chyrograph." An entry of a Plea-Roll of Nov 1194, shows Martin Prior of Thetford and John le Strange in Attendance. They had a suit wherein the Prior had claimed a curucate of land in Berneham against John le Strange.

In 1196, John le Strange, with the assent of Robert de Mortimer, gave the Church of Tottington to the Priory and Nuns of St. mary of Campesse (Suffolk). About 1198, John le Strange and his brother Ralph le Strange attest a Deed of Robert Corbet of Caus.

John le Strange had the trust and favor of King John. On 25 May 1212, Reginald de Heidin, Constable of Oswestry, is ordered to transmit to the King, by hand of John le Strange, the moneys received for the sale of those stores of the King which were at Oswestry. On 6 July 1212, the King orders John le Strange himself, not to proceed with the sale of corn, wine and stores at Oswestry, but to replace all that had been already sold, and to provide 100 fate cattle, 1000 geese, and 2000 fowls ready to be sent anywhither for the King's use.

In Aug 1212, John le Strange, being in custody of escheated estates of Robert de Girros, is ordered to hand them over to Thomas de Erdinton. On 24 Sept 1212, Erdinton is ordered to give to William, Earl of Ferrers, certain swine which John le Strange had cause to be fed for the Earl's use. In Aug 1214, John le Strange employed his eldest son as a confidential messenger to the King's Court. John le Strange was exempt from the Scutage of Poitou in 1214 because his son was in actual service there. A Patent of 10 Jun 1213, appoints John le Strange Governor of Carrechova Castle. On 24 Jul 1216, he had a grant of the Manor of Kidderminster, to hold during the King's pleasure.

On 7 Jun 1218, John le Strange attended the dedication of Worcester Cathedral, as did the King himself. Writs of May 1220, show him in charge of the Shropshire Forests. On 11 May 1223, the King presents him with 20 merks out of the Treasury towards the fortifications of Knokyn Castle. On 7 Jan 1225, he had a grant of Market at his Norfolk Manor of Hunstanton. On 14 May 112, his son, called "John le Strange, Junior," is appointed Commissioner to convey the tax of fifteenth from Salop to Gloucester. On 2 Sept 1226, the Father was one of the King's ambassadors ppointed to meet Lewellyn at Oswestry. The last remaining records of John le Strange are dated 25 May 1231 and 20 Feb 1232. They speak of his son as "John le Strange, Junior."

John le Strange died 1237/38 at the age of more than eighty years, of which fifty of these years were spent in active duties. There are only authentic mentions of two of his sons, John, his successor, and Hamo. He also had a daughter Margery, to whom, on her marriage with Ralph de Pchford, he gave the land in Lytcham, Norfolk.

~Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. 10 pgs. 269-270

John married Amicia ¹⁴¹.^,802