1301 William de Sancto Johanne was a witness to the confirmation of a charter of Henry de Pynkeneye son of Henry de Pynkeneye to the church of St. Mary, Esseby, and a grant by Robert de Pynkeneye, son and heir of Sir Henry de Pynkeneye, to the same of land of Robert's grandfather Henry de Pynkeneye. [1]
1303 William de St. John applied for a licence to grant land in Plumpton to the prior and canons of Canons Ashby. [2]
Description: William de Sancto Johanne to grant land in Plumpton to the prior and convent of Canons Ashby, retaining land there. N'hamp. John Bonpere, Walter Brithriche, Richard le Mouner, Thomas le Whelwricthe, Richard son of Philip de Atteneston, and Roger de Bosco to grant a mill, rent, and land in Adstone (Atteneston) to the same, the said Walter, Richard son of Philip, and Roger retaining land. N'hamp.
Date: 31 Edward I. [20 November 1302-19 November 1303]
1303 William son of John de St. John of Plumpton granted land to the prior and canons of Canons Ashby.. [3]
Parties: William son of John de Sancto Johanne of Plumpton & Robert, prior, and the canons of Canons Ashby (Esseby)
Place or Subject: Plumpton and Blakesley (Blacolvesle). County: [Northants]
Date: 31 Edw I [20 November 1302-19 November 1303]
1303 On November 19, William de St. John held a moiety of a fee in Plumpton and Foxle. [4]
Nov. 19. Burstwick. To Walter de Gloucestr[ia], escheator beyond Trent. Order to deliver to Hawisia, late the wife of Thomas de Wodhull, tenant in chief, the following of the knights' fees that belonged to Thomas, which the king has assigned to her in dower: ... a moiety of a fee in Plumpton and Foxle, in the same county [Northampton], which moiety William de Sancto Johanne holds, and which is extended at 30s. yearly ...
1304 William de St. John granted land in Plumpton to the prior and cannons of Ashby Canons. [5]
Jan. 28. Dunfermline. Licence, in consideration of a fine made in the Chancery by the prior, for the alienation in mortmain to the prior and canons of Assheby Canons by William de Sancto Johanne of 26 acres of land in Plumpton, by John Bonpere of 15 acres of land in Atteneston, by Walter Brithrich of Atteneston of 12 acres of land there, by Richard le Mouner of Esseby and Thomas le Whelwright of Daventre of a mill and 3 acres of land there, by Richard son of Philip de Atteneston of 3 acres of land and I2d. rent there, and by Roger de Bosco of Atteneston of 4 acres of land there.
1308 William de St. John of Plumpton paid a fine to allow Grundreda, the widow of John de Bottesham to marry by her choice. [6]
Jul 6. Windsor. Licence, upon fine by William de Sancto Johanne of Plumpton, for Grundreda, late the wife of John de Boltesham, tenant in chief, to marry whomsoever she will of the king's allegiance. By bill of Exchequer.
1316 Richard the Clerk (clericus) of Attenestone granted land in the fields of Attenestone (Northamptonshire)to William de St John, of Plumpton, and Ysmania his wife, on the Sunday before All Saints Day, 10 Edw II (October 31, 1316). [7]
Research Notes:
A 1616 pedigree of the Knightley family states "Willielmus de Sancto Johanne, haeres sui [son of John de St. John and Maud Fitz Nigel] sui infra aetatem, ao 16 E. 1, condidit testamentum ao 1 E. 3, 1327" married "Ismania, uxor ejus. Gules two bars argent a canton ermine." [8]
The section about William de St. John in Knights of Edward I (which may include records of William, William's grandfather William, and William's son William) states, [9]
St. John, William de. Sealed as of Suss. 13th cent.: On a chief 2 estoiles (Birch). Wm. de St. John of Northants. mainperns Wm. Taylard 24 Oct. 1268 (P.R.). He holds ¼ Kt. Fee at Blacolvisk, Northants., late of Arnold de Bosco, 12 Ap. 1277 (inq.) Going to Scotland for K., he has respite of Aid in Northants., 8 Apr. 1303 (C.R.). Lic. for him to alienate 26 acres at Plumpton, Norhtants., to Asshby Canons Priory, 28 Jan. 1304. (P.R.) He holds ½ Fee at Plumpton and Foxle, val, 30 /- p.a., late of Thoms. de Wahull, 30 Jan. 1304 (Inq. and C.R.), and is overlord there 16 Oct. 1307 (Inq.), and a lord of Plumpton 5 Mar. 1316 (P.W.), Certain men owe to him £200 in Bucks., Oxon., and Northants., 15 June 1317, and other sums later, and he owes £30 in Northants., 1 Feb. 1318, and £85 7s. 6d. there 1325 (C.R.). Lic. for him to alienate to Essheby Canoricorum Priory 6 mess. and lands there in exchange for 10 mess. and lands at Plumpton by Wedon Pynkeny, Northants., 2 Oct. 1324 (P.R.). Dead 30 Jy. 1331 (F.R.)
[1] Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Edward I, Vol. 3, 1292-1301 (London: HMSO, 1895), 574, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[2] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, Chancery Inquisitions taken as a result of applications to the Crown for licences to alienate land, C 143/42/15, [UKNationalArchives].
[3] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, Ancient Deeds, Series B, E 326/6557, [UKNationalArchives].
[4] H. C. Maxwell Lyte, ed., Calendar of the Close Rolls, Edward I, Vol. V, 1302-1307 (London: HMSO, 1908), 190, [InternetArchive], [HathiTrust].
[5] Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Edward I, Vol. 4, 1301-1307 (London: HMSO, 1898), 209, [InternetArchive].
[6] H. C. Maxwell Lyte, ed., Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Edward II, A.D. 1307-1313 (London: HMSO, 1894), 84, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[7] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, E 326 - Exchequer: Augmentation Office: Ancient Deeds, Series B, E 326/330, [UKNationalArchives].
[8] Joseph Jackson Howard, ed., "Pedigree of the Knightley Family of Fawsley, Co. Northampton, compiled by Augustine Vincent, from the original in the possession of Sir R. Knightley, Bart., M.P.," Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, Vol. 1 (London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co., 1868), 88-102 at 93, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[9] C. Moor, Knights of Edward I, 5 Vols. (Leeds,England: Publications of the Harleian Society, 1929-1932), 4:181.