Sir John Segrave Knight

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹

John, Lord of Segrave, son and heir, born about 1256, in 1285 had served in Wales; he served in Ireland in 1287 and in Scotland in 1291. In 1289, with his brothers Nicholas and Henry, he acknowledged a debt of 200 marks to the King's brother Edmund for the redemption of their lands. On 10 Dec 1295 he was to have his lands, having done homage. He was summoned to Parliament from 26 Aug 1296 to 8 May 1325. On 4 May 1297 he was summoned to Ireland with horses and arms. In Sept 1297 he came to the King at Carlisle and offered the excuses of the Earl Marshal for non-attendance by reason of ill-health. He was summoned constantly to serve against the Scots and was actively employed there from 1297 to 1322. On 30 Jun 1300 he did homage to the King at Carlisle. On 12 Feb 1300/1 he appended his seal to the Barons' letter to the Pope as Johannes dominus de Segrave. On 5 Aug 1302, appointed to custody of Castle of Berwick-upon-Tweed. In Nov 1302 he was to serve in Scotland with an army, and to have the custody of the land. On 24 Feb 1302/3, when Keeper of Scotland, he was ambushed when riding near Maids' Castle by the Scots, severely wounded and captured, but rescued. On 18 Jan 1307/8 he was summoned to attend Edward II's Coronation; 10 May 1308 acquitted of his own and his father's debts to the Exchequer; Keeper of Nottingham Castle; Justice of the forest beyond Trent. On 10 Mar 1308/9 he was appointed Keeper of Scotland, either side the Forth. On 15 Jun 1311 he was ordered to abstain from repairing to Norwich to take part in the quarrel between Henry de Segrave and Walter de Bermyngham. He was granted, 4 Sep 1312, land to the value of 100 li. yearly, or 100 li. to buy land; 1 Aug 1313, appointed Keeper of the marches of Cumberland. On 24 Jun 1314 he was taken prisoner at Bannockburn (*1). On 9 Aug 1318 he was appointed member of the Council, to be constantly about the King, pursuant to the treaty with the Earl of Lancaster. In Dec 1318 and Jan 1318/9 he was supplying the King's place in Scotland; 18 Jun 1320, conservator of the peace, co. Warwick. He was ordered to abstain from illegal or treasonable conventions 30 Jan 1320/1 and 21 Apr 1321, and from the meeting of the "Good Peers," 12 Novr 1321. On 30 Nov 1321 he was a Commissioner to assemble the forces of cos. Warwick, Leicester and Stafford, on 6 Feb 1321/2 to raise as many men-at-arms and foot soldiers as possible, and on 1 May 1322 to array his men and tenants and to appear in Parliament at York. On 18 May 1322 he was a Commissioner to try townsmen of Cambridge concerned in a riot against the University; and on 31 Oct 1322 a Commissioner of array for Notts and Derby. On 27 Nov and 10 Dec 1322 he was ordered to muster levies and march with them to York, and on 8 Jan and 21 Feb 1322/3 to complete levies and march to Chesterfield. In 1323, his son Stephen, Constable of the Tower of London, having allowed Roger de Mortimer of Wigmore to escape, he fell under the King's displeasure, and was ordered to hold himself in readiness to serve in Aquitaine, whither he proceeded with his sons in Jun 1324. On 21 Decr 1324, summoned to perform military service in person in Gascony.

He married Christiane, sister of Hugh, 1^st LordL Plescy, daughter of Hugh De Plessis. He died before 4 Oct 1325, and was buried at Chaucombe priory. His wife survived him (*2), and was living 8 May 1331.

(*1) On 29 Aug 1315 he was granted £1,000 in aid of his ransom and other losses sustained in the King's service. A payment on account was made 12 Nov 1318. In 1314-5 he is described as a banneret of the King's household.

(*2) On 13 May 1314/5, Christiane was granted, in consideration of the hardships which she suffered in Scotland while her husband was there, scutage for knights' fees held of the inheritance of Hugh de Plessis, which had been granted to her husband until the full age of the heir.

~Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, Vol. XI, pp. 605-608, Vol. XIV, p. 576

John married Christian de Plessis, daughter of Sir Hugh de Plessis Knight and Isabel Bisett. (Christian de Plessis was born about 1257 in Stottesden, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England and died after 8 May 1331.)