John FORTESCUE (private).

Spouse: Mary . Children were: James FORTESCUE of Birmingham.

John FORTESCUE (private). Parents: Charles FORTESCUE and Dorothy SCOBLE.

Children were: Charles FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE¹⁹ was buried on 4 June 1592 in Cornworthy, Devon. Parents: Henry FORTESCUE and Susanna HARRYS.

Sir John FORTESCUE Of Wimstone (private). Parents: William FORTESCUE.

Children were: Sir Richard FORTESCUE of Wimpstone.

John FORTESCUE (private). Parents: Lionel FORTESCUE and Gwen SMITH.

John FORTESCUE (private). Parents: Unknown FORTESCUE.

Spouse: Mary . Children were: John FORTESCUE, William FORTESCUE, Francis FORTESCUE, Mary FORTESCUE, Mary FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE (private). Parents: John FORTESCUE and Mary .

Spouse: Jane MOOREING. Children were: William FORTESCUE, Mary FORTESCUE, John FORTESCUE, Stephen FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE (private). Parents: John FORTESCUE and Jane MOOREING.

John FORTESCUE (private). Parents: William FORTESCUE and Elizabeth TILKINS.

John FORTESCUE (private). Parents: Humphrey FORTESCUE and Elizabeth .

Spouse: Elizabeth DENHAM.

Sir John FORTESCUE the elder⁷⁰ died in 1500. Sir John: The Family Tree shows two sons named John, each of whom had a wife named Alice. Clermont's text says that little is known about John-the-elder. It says that there was a Sir John who bought a manor of Mymmeshall and lands in the parish of Northmymmes, and concludes that he must have been knighted early since it "must have been this John." But the text says that this Sir John married Alice Montgomery, whereas the Family Tree shows that it was Sir John-the-younger who married her!!

Alice Montgomery was a co-heiress with her sister, (also named Alice); their inheritance of the Montgomery estates from Sir Thomas Montgomery passed to Sir Thomas's niece named Philippa, who married Sir John Fortescue, son of Sir John-the-younger. Note that the Family Tree shows him as the son of John-the-elder!!

Sir John-the-younger inherited Punsbourne from his father before 1464. In 1471 the King, to whom he was Esquire of the Body, sent him to Cornwall - a hotbed of rebellion - as sheriff of the county and duchy. He remained there until 1476, although in 1475 and 6 he was deputy to Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

He laid siege to St. Michael's Mount, where John De Vere, Earl of Oxford held out, but the siege was unsuccessful, lasting from 23rd December 1472 to 15th February 1473. His marriage was probably not later than 1475, since his second son Adrian was a married man in 1499. His wife Alice Boleyn was a daughter of Sir Geoffrey Boleyn, whose son Thomas was the father of Anne Boleyn; so Alice was the aunt of Anne Boleyn.

On 29th August 1479 Sir John attended the ceremony for the installation of John Morton as Bishop of Ely. In 1481 he served as Sheriff of Hertfordshire and Essex, and in 1482 or 3 he became one of the chief officers in command at Calais - this continuing under Richard III (28th June 1483). He was then styled "Maister-porter of Calais". Richard was a usurper.

On 5th March 1484 Sir John was appointed Esquire of the Body of the new king. But he, Sir John Bount and the Earl (John Vere) of Oxford (imprisoned in the care of Blount) joined the Earl of Richmond in Paris. Deserters!! In August 1485, Fortescue attended the Earl of Richmond on his expedition to England, landing at Milford Haven. Henry knighted Fortescue, marched through Wales to Leicestershire and defeated Richard, who was killed at Bosworth Field on 22nd August. Henry was proclaimed King of England.

Fortescue became Chief Butler of England on 20th September 1485; he was proclaimed Lieutenant of the Tower of Risbanke in the Marches of Calais, also Master of the Forest and Chase of Enfield, and Keeper of the Park there. He was also granted the Farm of Enfield. Sir John Fortescue (and Sir William Stonor) were made bannerets at the time of Henry's coronation. Attainders pronounced by Richard on Sir John Fortescue and other supporters of Henry, were annulled by Henry.

On 13th March 1486, the following manors were granted to Sir John and his heirs: Eyworth (Bedfordshire). Mire (or Moore) Hall (Essex); a one-third part of Mytton-Clevedon (Somerset); Crowley (Buckinghamshire); and Brampton (Northamptonshire). Moorehall remained in the hands of Sir John's heirs until 1592. One-third of the manor of Trumpington (Cambridgeshire) was also granted.

In 1486 Sir John served as Sheriff of Hertfordshire and Essex again (for 6 months).

In 1488 he became the guardian of the estates of Philippa Spice, daughter of Humphrey Spice, during her minority; she married his eldest son John.

Sir John's wife Alice died before 1495. He then married Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Miles Stapleton of Ingham in Norfolk. She was the widow of Sir William Calthorpe who died in 1494.

On 15th May 1500, Sir John Fortescue attended the King and Queen on their journey to Calais to avoid the plague in England.

Sir John died on 28th July 1500 at Punsbourne, and was buried in Bishops Hatfield. There is a marble tomb in the church. His only issue was by Alice.

Parents: Sir Richard FORTESCUE of Punsbourne, Herts and Agnes DE WINDSOR of Windsor, Yealmpton, Devon.

Spouse: Alice MONTGOMERY. Alice MONTGOMERY and Sir John FORTESCUE the elder were married before 1500.¹⁶⁰

Sir John FORTESCUE the younger of Punsbourne⁷⁰ died on 28 July 1515 in Punsbourne, Herts. Sir John: The Family Tree shows two sons named John, each of whom had a wife named Alice. Clermont's text says that little is known about John-the-elder. It says that there was a Sir John who bought a manor of Mymmeshall and lands in the parish of Northmymmes, and concludes that he must have been knighted early since it "must have been this John." But the text says that this Sir John married Alice Montgomery, whereas the Family Tree shows that it was Sir John-the-younger who married her!!

In 1486 Sir John served as Sheriff of Hertfordshire and Essex again (for 6 months).

In 1488 he became the guardian of the estates of Philippa Spice, daughter of Humphrey Spice, during her minority; she married his eldest son John.

Sir John's wife Alice died before 1495. He then married Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Miles Stapleton of Ingham in Norfolk. She was the widow of Sir William Calthorpe who died in 1494.

On 15th May 1500, Sir John Fortescue attended the King and Queen on their journey to Calais to avoid the plague in England.

Sir John died on 28th July 1500 at Punsbourne, and was buried in Bishops Hatfield. There is a marble tomb in the church. His only issue was by Alice.

Parents: Sir Richard FORTESCUE of Punsbourne, Herts and Agnes DE WINDSOR of Windsor, Yealmpton, Devon.

Spouse: Alice BOLEYN. Alice BOLEYN and Sir John FORTESCUE the younger of Punsbourne were married about 1462. Children were: Sir Adrian FORTESCUE, Sir John FORTESCUE, Anne FORTESCUE, Mary FORTESCUE, Elizabeth FORTESCUE.

Spouse: Elizabeth STAPLETON of Ingham, Norfolk. Elizabeth STAPLETON of Ingham, Norfolk and Sir John FORTESCUE the younger of Punsbourne were married about 1495. Children were: Elizabeth FORTESCUE, Maude FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Buckland Filleigh²² died on 21 October 1520.⁸ Parents: William FORTESCUE of Buckland Filleigh and Matilda ATKYNS of Milton Abbot.

Spouse: Christian ARSCOTT. Children were: William FORTESCUE of Buckland Filleigh, John FORTESCUE, Alice FORTESCUE, Anastacia FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone¹⁶¹ died on 27 December 1537.¹⁹ Third son Parents: John FORTESCUE of Wimpstone and Joan PRUTESTON of Preston, Ermington, Devon.

Spouse: Alicia or Alice COOKWORTHY of Cookworthy. Children were: Richard FORTESCUE of Spridlestone, Nicholas 1st FORTESCUE, Nicholas 2nd FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Elizabeth FORTESCUE, Baron Lewis FORTESCUE of Fallapit, Anthony FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone¹⁰⁸ died in 1602. Parents: John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone and Florence VIVIAN of Trelawarren.

Spouse: Joan SHAPLEIGH. Children were: John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone, Edward FORTESCUE of Spridlestone, Elizabeth FORTESCUE of Spridlestone.

John FORTESCUE of Buckland Filleigh²² died on 1 April 1604 in Wear Giffard, Devon.¹⁶² John of Buckland-Filleigh's second wife Susannah was a daughter of Sir John Chichester of Raleigh, near Barnstaple, and a sister of Sir Arthur Chichester, afterwards Lord Chichester of Belfast, Lord Deputy of Ireland. Parents: William FORTESCUE of Buckland Filleigh and Anne GIFFORD.

Spouse: Anne PORTER of Thetford, Norfolk. Children were: Roger FORTESCUE of Buckland-Filleigh, Ethelred FORTESCUE.

Spouse: Susannah CHICHESTER of Raleigh. Children were: John FORTESCUE, Sir Faithful (Faskie) FORTESCUE, Grace FORTESCUE, Anne FORTESCUE of Buckland Filleigh.

John FORTESCUE of Filleigh^53,63 signed a will on 20 February 1604/5. He died on 29 March 1605 in Wear Giffard, Devon. He was buried on 5 April 1605 in Wear Giffard, Devon. John had his estate probated on 30 July 1605 in P.C.C. (Hayes 54). Parents: Hugh FORTESCUE of Wear-Gifford and Elizabeth CHICHESTER.

Spouse: Mary SPECCOT of Thornbury. Mary SPECCOT of Thornbury and John FORTESCUE of Filleigh were married before 1586. Children were: Elizabeth FORTESCUE of Wear-Gifford, Dorothy ( Dorithy ) FORTESCUE, Sarah FORTESCUE of Wear-Gifford, Mary FORTESCUE of Wear-Gifford, Hugh FORTESCUE of Wear-Gifford, Cicily FORTESCUE, Anne FORTESCUE, Robert FORTESCUE, John FORTESCUE, Richard FORTESCUE, Arthur FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Northam, Devon²² was christened on 15 February 1595 in Northam, Devon.¹⁹ He died in 1622. Parents: Sir Faithful FORTESCUE.

Children were: John FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Combe⁵³ died on 9 August 1639.⁸ Clermont had the death date as 1640 Parents: Bartholomew FORTESCUE of Combe and Elizabeth CARSWELL.

Children were: Bartholomew FORTESCUE, George FORTESCUE of Combe, John FORTESCUE, Joan FORTESCUE of Combe, John FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Cookhill⁷⁴ died in 1692. Sold the Wheatley Estate Parents: John FORTESCUE and Jane D'EWES of Welbourne.

Spouse: Mary . Children were: Nicholas FORTESCUE of Cookhill, William FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Mary FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Frances FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Tertia FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Thomas FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Philadelphia FORTESCUE of Cookhill.

John FORTESCUE¹⁹ died on 20 November 1701. Parents: John FORTESCUE of Hatherleigh and Joan WIVELL.

John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone¹⁰⁸ was christened on 14 May 1668 in Brixton, Devon.⁵⁹ He died before 1702. Bachelor Parents: Edward FORTESCUE of Spridlestone and Dorothy CROSSING.

John FORTESCUE²² died in 1710. Parents: John FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Knolleshill in Essex⁵³ died in 1746. This doesn't look right as John of Knolleshill or Knowleshill was the son of Edmond. Parents: Hugh FORTESCUE.

Children were: John FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE⁷⁵ died in August 1754 in Mancetter, Warwickshire. Parents: John FORTESCUE and Ann HOLMS.

John FORTESCUE¹⁶³ died on 4 August 1757 in Cookhill, Worcester.¹² Died aged 62 from tomb in Cook Hill Chapel
Date was 1758 in 1869 edition Parents: William FORTESCUE of Cookhill and Katherine BRAUNE.

Spouse: Theodosia BRAUNE. Theodosia BRAUNE and John FORTESCUE were married. Children were: Capt John FORTESCUE RN of Cookhill, William FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Charlotte FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Theodosia FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Francis FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Charles FORTESCUE of Cookhill, Hugh FORTESCUE of Cookhill.

John FORTESCUE of Hatherleigh¹⁶⁴ was christened on 25 October 1687 in Exeter, Devon. He died in 1762. Parents: John FORTESCUE of Shebbear and Mary PARSONS.

Spouse: Joan WIVELL. Children were: John FORTESCUE, Mary FORTESCUE, Jane FORTESCUE, Joanna FORTESCUE, William FORTESCUE, George FORTESCUE, John FORTESCUE, James FORTESCUE of London, Faithful FORTESCUE of Hatherleigh, Henry FORTESCUE, Henry FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE was christened on 3 January 1715 in Hatherleigh, Devon. He signed a will on 3 April 1732. He died about 1786. John had his estate probated on 26 May 1786 in P.C.C. (Norfolk 278). Matriculated 22 February 1732/1733 at Trinity College, Oxford, aged 17, Vicar of Littlehampton and Topsham. Parents: John FORTESCUE of Hatherleigh and Joan WIVELL.

John FORTESCUE⁷⁵ was christened on 27 July 1808 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He died on 19 March 1815 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Parents: William FORTESCUE and Elizabeth TUNNICLIFT.

John FORTESCUE of Paddington was christened on 31 July 1801. Between 1831 and 1862 he was a Baker. He appeared in the census in 1881 in Rose Villa, Hammersmith, London.³ John Fortescue M 79 M Longstowe, Cambridgeshire retired baker
Lucy Fortescue M 70 F Elben, Hunts
Eliza Fortescue U 49 F Knightsbridge, Middlesex. Visiting Niece
John was buried in 1886 in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.¹¹ Section 122 Row No. 30268 He died in June 1886. Parents: James FORTESCUE of Longstowe and Ann FORTESCUE.

Spouse: Louisa (Lucy) CARR of Elton. Louisa (Lucy) CARR of Elton and John FORTESCUE of Paddington were married on 21 March 1831. Children were: John Thomas (Thomas) FORTESCUE, Edward Carr FORTESCUE, George Edward FORTESCUE, Lucy FORTESCUE, James William FORTESCUE, Lewis FORTESCUE of West Tarring, Sussex, Joseph FORTESCUE.

Sir John FORTESCUE of Meaux¹⁶⁵ was born about 1370. Clermont has him born in 1380. It shoud be about 1370 In 1420 he was a Governor of Meaux in France. Sir John of Meaux served in the French Wars under Henry V and was present at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. He was made captain of Meaux when it was taken in 1422, and Governor of the province of La Brie. He returned to England before 1431 and appears to have had a residence at Shepham, Devon.

He married in the parish of North Huish, and acquired Norreis via his wife. He had manors at Overcomb, Efford and Alsford in the parish of Holboughton or Holberton. In 1429 there is a reference to a grant by him to John Longford. He left his estate in Hertfordshire to his son Richard.
Parents: William FORTESCUE of Wimpstone and Elizabeth BEAUCHAMP.

Spouse: Eleanor NORREIS of Norreis. Children were: Sir Henry FORTESCUE of Wood, Sir John FORTESCUE of Ebrington, Gloucs, Sir Richard FORTESCUE of Punsbourne, Herts, Joan FORTESCUE Of Wood.

Sir John FORTESCUE of Ebrington, Gloucs^148,166 was born in 1395. He died about 1485. He was buried in Ebrington Chapel, Gloucs.⁸ Sir John studied law at Lincoln's Inn, like his brother Henry. He became Lord Chief Justice of England, and Lord Chancellor to Henry VI. His branch led to the North Devon Fortescues of Filleigh and Castle Hill etc.

Sir John was probably born in about 1395, at Norreis. Volume 1 of Lord Clermont's book is about this John. His monument in Ebrington church was refurbished etc. by his descendant Colonel Robert Fortescue.

P 52 of Prideaux Book has this note -

William's (William Prideaux of Adeston - died 15 April 1472) second wife was a daughter of John Fortescue, and we do not even have her baptismal name. There are reasons for thinking that her father was the future Sir John Fortescue, Chancellor and Chief Justice to Henry VI. Fallapit in East Allington belonged to his family, while William's cousin John Prideaux of Orcharton is on record as settling the contiguous manor of North Allington, and the advowson of the church, on John's brother Martin in 1429. The Fortescues and Prideauxs were near neighbours, and members of both families established branches in North Devon. They would intermarry again in the 17th century and suffer similar divisions in the civil war.

From Chamber's Encyclopaedia published 1969

Sir John C.1394 - 1480 educated at Exeter College, Oxford, and called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn was in 1441 made Sergeant-at-law, and in the following year Lord Chief Justice of the Court of the King's Bench. In the struggle between houses of York and Lancaster he steadily adhered to the latter and was attainted by the Parliament under Edward IV. He accompanied Margaret of Anjou and her young son, Prince Edward on their flight to Scotland and therefore is supposed to been appointed Lord Chancellor by Henry VI. In 1463 he embarked with the Queen and her son for Holland. During his exile he wrote his celebrated work, De Laudibus Legum Angliae, for the instruction of Prince Edward who was his pupil. But on the final defeat of the Lancastrian party at the battle of Tewkesbury, 1471, where he is have been taken prisoner, Fortescue submitted to Edward IV. The De Laudibus Legum Angliae was not printed till the reign of Henry VIII; another valuable work by Fortescue is the Governance of England; otherwise called the Difference between an Absolute and a Limited Monarchy

Parents: Sir John FORTESCUE of Meaux and Eleanor NORREIS of Norreis.

Spouse: Elizabeth BRYTTE. Elizabeth BRYTTE and Sir John FORTESCUE of Ebrington, Gloucs were married.

Spouse: Isabella JAMYS. Children were: Sir Martin FORTESCUE of Filleigh, Elizabeth FORTESCUE, Maud FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Wimpstone³⁹ was born about 1420. He was living in 1461. He died on 11 March 1481. John was M.P. for Tavistock in 2 Henry VI. In 4 Henry VI he sat for Totnes, and for Plympton Parents: William FORTESCUE of Wimpstone and Matilda FALWELL.

Spouse: Joan PRUTESTON of Preston, Ermington, Devon. Joan PRUTESTON of Preston, Ermington, Devon and John FORTESCUE of Wimpstone were married about 1450. Children were: Joane FORTESCUE, John FORTESCUE of Wimpstone, William FORTESCUE of Pruteston, John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone.

John FORTESCUE of Wood⁹⁶ was born about 1425 in Wood Barton, Devon. Son and heir Parents: Sir Henry FORTESCUE of Wood and Joan (Jane) BOZUN of Wood.

Spouse: Elizabeth TALLANCE of Cornwall. Children were: William FORTESCUE of Wood.

John FORTESCUE of Wear Gifford⁵³ was born in 1460. He died on 2 June 1503. John, only 12 when his father died, succeeded to his mother's estates at Wear-Gifford in Holbeton, South Devon. Parents: Sir Martin FORTESCUE of Filleigh and Elizabeth DENZIL of Filleigh, Wear-Gifford, etc.

Spouse: Jacquet (Jacoba) ST LEDGER of Amony, in Monksfield. Children were: George FORTESCUE of Filleigh, Bartholomew FORTESCUE of Filleigh.

John FORTESCUE of Wimpstone³⁹ was born about 1460. He died on 22 May 1519.⁸ Son and heir. John was aged in excess of 50 at his mother's death in 1501. This places his birth date as about 1460 Parents: John FORTESCUE of Wimpstone and Joan PRUTESTON of Preston, Ermington, Devon.

Spouse: Isabella GIBBS of Fenton. Children were: Thomas FORTESCUE of Wimpstone, John FORTESCUE of Wimpstone, Margaret FORTESCUE of Wimpstone, Jane FORTESCUE, Joan FORTESCUE of Wimpstone.

Sir John FORTESCUE⁷⁰ was born before 1478. He died on 8 August 1517. Sir John Fortescue was probably born before 1470 since he was mentioned as being an Armiger on 16th February 1490, and so must have been of age then. His father's post-mortem in 1500 says he was over 21. On or before 1510 he married Philippa Spice, who was born in 1484. Her father Humphrey was the son of Clement Spice of Black Notley. She inherited Falkbourne Hall from her uncle and it came to John through her.

Philippa was still alive in 1534, having married Sir Francis Bryan after John's death. He died on 8th August 1517. Sir John accompanied Henry VIII to Calais on 30th June 1513 (?).

Sir John Fortescue. Knighted in August 1485 at Milford Haven, John at one time served as a sheriff of both Essex and Hertfordshire. Upon his death in 1517, Phillippa's two year old son, Henry, received five hundred acres of land distributed in Essex and Hertfordshire valued at f150 a year. Parents: Sir John FORTESCUE the younger of Punsbourne and Alice BOLEYN.

Spouse: Philippa SPICE. Philippa SPICE and Sir John FORTESCUE were married about 1510. Children were: Henry FORTESCUE of Falkbourne, Anne FORTESCUE of Falkbourne, Ethelreda FORTESCUE of Falkbourne, Elizabeth FORTESCUE of Falkbourne.

John FORTESCUE of Wimpstone³⁹ was born about 1488 in Wimpston, Modbury, Devon. He died about 1488. Parents: John FORTESCUE of Wimpstone and Isabella GIBBS of Fenton.

John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone¹⁰⁸ was born about 1515. Parents: Richard FORTESCUE of Spridlestone and Elizabeth KNOLLES of North Mimes, Herts.

Spouse: Florence VIVIAN of Trelawarren. Children were: John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone, Richard FORTESCUE of Spridlestone, Robert FORTESCUE, Mary FORTESCUE of Spridlestone, Honor FORTESCUE of Spridlestone, Elizabeth FORTESCUE of Spridlestone, Barbara FORTESCUE of Spridlestone, Mary FORTESCUE of Spridlestone.

John FORTESCUE of Preston¹¹⁷ was born in 1519. He died on 11 April 1587 in Woodley (Woodleigh ?), Devon. John married a distant cousin, Joan. This marriage brought the estates of Pruteston and Wood together. Parents: Henry FORTESCUE of Pruteston and Agnes ST MAUR of North Molton.

Spouse: Joan FORTESCUE of Wood. Children were: William FORTESCUE of Preston and Wood, Henry FORTESCUE, Tristam FORTESCUE, Ellen FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE⁴⁷ was born in 1525. He died on 25 December 1595. On the eastwall of the south aisle of East Allington Church, below two brasses thirty-two inches long, of a man and woman side by side - "Here lyeth buried the bodies of John Fortescue, Esquier, and Owner his Wife. Which John deceased the XXVth day of December 1595, being the age of LXX years, and the said Owner deceased the ___ daie of ___ Anno Domini ___ being the age of __ years"

Parents: Baron Lewis FORTESCUE of Fallapit and Elizabeth FORTESCUE of Fallapit.

Spouse: Honour (Owner) SPECCOT. Honour (Owner) SPECCOT and John FORTESCUE were married about 1540. Children were: Anne FORTESCUE of Fallapit, Edmund FORTESCUE of Fallapit, George FORTESCUE of Fallapit, Edward FORTESCUE of Fallapit, Mary FORTESCUE of Fallapit, Jane FORTESCUE of Fallapit, Annis FORTESCUE of Fallapit.

Rt Hon Sir John FORTESCUE of Salden²³ was born in 1533 in Stonor, Bucks. He died on 23 December 1607. Sir John Fortescue of Salden, son of Sir Adrian by his second wife Anne, was born early in 1533 at either Stonor or Shirburn or Shirborne (or Shirborne), Oxfordshire, about six months before Queen Elizabeth. His father's execution took place when he was 8 years old. He was educated at Oxford and then one of the Inns of Court. He was Preceptor to Princess Elizabeth, much consulted by her, and was named Master or Keeper of the Great Wardrobe when she became queen - from 22nd July 1559 to her death.

In 1559 the manor of Salden, Buckinghamshire was bought by Sir John, the purchase being completed in 1580. In 1560 Queen Elizabeth gave him the keepership of Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire.

In or before 1556 Sir John married Cecily (or Cecilia). She was the daughter and co-heiress of Sir Edmund Ashfield of Ewelme, Oxfordshire, and afterwards co-heir of his wife, of Tattenhoe, Buckinghamshire. Her sister Elizabeth was the wife of William Fettyplace of Childrey, Bucks, whose grandfather Anthony Fettyplace of Childrey, Esquire of the Body to Henry VII, had married Mary Fortescue, Sir Adrian's sister and widow of John Stonor of Stonor.

Cecily died on 7th February 1570, aged 30, and was buried at Mursley, in which parish Salden stood. Three of her nine children died before her. In 1607 John was buried in the same tomb.

In 1573 Sir John was granted "free warren in all the lands of the manor of Salden, Bucks, for ever".

In 1574 John and Lord Grey, who were neighbours at Salden and Whadden Halls, fell out over the hunting by Lord Grey's men on the Salden estates. Blows were exchanged between the men.

In about 1575 John married Alice, daughter of Christopher Smyth of Annabells, by whom he had only one daughter - Margery. (Clermont's Family Tree shows another daughter named Elizabeth, who appears to have died before she was born!!).

John first became an M.P. in the 14th year of Elizabeth's reign, and was elected as a burgess for Wallingford, Oxfordshire, in 1571 or 2. In 1580 Sir John sat on a Committee to consider measures to enable Queen Elizabeth to defend the realm against the treasons of Pope (Note: John's brother Anthony married Pope's daughter Katherine!), and to suppress the rebellion in Ireland.

In 1586 John was elected M.P. for Buckingham town. Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded on 8th February 1587. In 1589 John sat for Buckinghamshire county, and his son Francis sat for Buckingham town. On 31st May 1589, John was appointed Chancellor and Under-Treasurer of the Exchequer, and was made a Privy Counsellor. In 1592 he was knighted. In February 1593 Queen Elizabeth called a new parliament to consider the threat of Spain, and Sir John represented Buckinghamshire.

In 1599 Lord Essex, a friend of Sir John, led an army sent by Queen Elizabeth to crush the rebels in Ireland. Essex did badly and was found guilty. When he was freed by Queen Elizabeth he attempted insurrection and was beheaded on 25th February 1601. Edward Bromley, the last son of Lord Bromley by Sir John's sister Elizabeth also joined the rising. He was imprisoned for a short time in Sir John's house, but probably then went to the Tower.

In the Autumn of 1601 Queen Elizabeth called her last parliament. Sir John was chosen a Knight of the Shire of Middlesex, and Francis the member for Buckinghamshire. Thomas was the member for Wallingford. On 19th December 1601 Queen Elizabeth dissolved Parliament

In January 1601 John was appointed the Recorder of Cambridge and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

In 1602 Queen Elizabeth possibly visited Salden, and on 24th March 1603 she died. Her funeral at Westminster on April 28th was arranged largely by Sir John. She was succeeded by James VI of Scotland, who became King James I of England.

On 24 May 1603 James confirmed John as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and of the County Palatine of Lancaster and as Master of the Great Wardrobe, but he did not confirm him as Chancellor and Under-Treasurer of the Exchequer. On 27th June King James visited Salden, and made many knights there, and at the homes of Sir Francis, son of Sir John; also at the home of Mr George Fortescue. A Baronry was offered to Sir John but he declined.

Sir John died on 23rd December 1607 at Westminster, aged 74. A monument to him and his wife Cecilia was placed at Murseley Church, Buckinghamshire, by their sons Francis and William. The funeral was deferred until 6th July 1608.

Sir John had 5 sons and 2 daughters by first wife Cecilia. The first two, John and Robert died young, so Francis was his heir.

From Camden's Britannia published 1695 Page 281 Buckinghamshire

Not far hence lies Saulden, where there is a neat house by the honourable and learned knight Sir John Fortescue (who for his prudence and integrity was made Chancellor of the Exchequer and of the Duchy of Lancaster and Privy Counsellor to Queen Elizabeth and King James 1) for him and his family Parents: Sir Adrian FORTESCUE and Anne REDE.

Spouse: Cecilia ASHFIELD. Cecilia ASHFIELD and Rt Hon Sir John FORTESCUE of Salden were married about 1556. Children were: Sir Francis FORTESCUE K.C.B., John FORTESCUE, Robert FORTESCUE, Sir William FORTESCUE MP Wycombe1597, Sir Thomas FORTESCUE MP Wycome 1593, Elizabeth FORTESCUE, Eleanor FORTESCUE.

Spouse: Alice SMYTH of Annabells. Children were: Marjery FORTESCUE, Elizabeth FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Falkbourne⁷⁰ was born about 1548 in Falkbourne, Essex.¹⁹ Parents: Henry FORTESCUE of Falkbourne and Elizabeth STAFFORD of Bradford.

John FORTESCUE of Lordington Sussex²³ was born in 1561. Weary of all the plottings, see below, they retired to St Omer where there was a school fro English Catholics.

About 1586, a Government informer reported his suspicions regarding re Blackfrairs House:

‘Now there dwells in it one that is a very inconformable man to her Majesty’s proceedings. It has sundry backdoors and bye-ways, and many secret vaults and corners. It has been in time past suspected, and searched for Papists, but no good done for want of knowledge of the backdoors and bye-ways of the dark corners.’ Whether the suggested daylight search was actually carried out is unknown. In 1589, a recusant from Norfolk, Edward Walpole, was licensed to visit Anne Bacon (Widow Blackwell’s daughter) there. About this time, the Blackfriars mansion came into the possession of Henry, ninth Earl of Northumberland, himself strongly suspected of papistry, and in 1590, the Gatehouse passed into the hands of Anne Bacon’s son Mathias. Bacon’s second tenant there was a Catholic named John Fortescue of Lordington, Sussex (his father, Sir Anthony Fortescue, was concerned in a conspiracy against Elizabeth in 1562; his mother was one of the Catholic Poles, related to Cardinal Pole)” (Mutschmann and Wentersdorf 136, 137).

From the Complete Shakespeare Encyclopedia re Blackfriars Gatehouse

But, rather more significantly, the document also records that previously the Gatehouse
had been ‘in the tenure of John Fortescue gent.; this was John Fortescue of Lordington, Sussex, whose uncle was Sir John Fortescue, Elizabeth’s Master of the Royal Wardrobe (the repository of royal costumery), just over the way from the Gatehouse, and for whom John the nephew seems to have worked in a minor capacity. Possibly relevantly, around this particular time, 1613, Sir John married Frances Stanley, daughter of the fiercely Catholic Sir Edward Stanley, cousin of Ferdinando and known shelterer of Catholic priests, and for whom, as we have seen, Shakespeare seems to have created the epitaphs for his and his father’s monuments at Tong. Lucy Percy, Frances’ mother, was the second daughter of Thomas, the very Catholic Earl of Northumberland. John Fortescue the nephew was a near overt Catholic, as was his wife Ellen, daughter of the recusant Ralph Henslowe of Boarhunt, Hampshire, a relative of the Earls of Southampton

During the 1590s, the height of the Topcliffe era, the Gatehouse was repeatedly reported for the
comings and goings of priests. In 1591, for instance: ‘Fennell the priest doth use to come very much to Mr John Fortescue his house.’ Richard Topcliffe, to his credit, warned John Fortescue and his uncle that they were courting trouble, culminating in a major raid one day in 1598, when John Fortescue was away, apparently due to a tip-off from an informer, one William Udall. . . . . Once again these ‘secret passages’ seem to have baffled the searchers, for no priests were found, and although under interrogation Ellen Fortescue and her two very attractive daughters (said to be ‘the fairest in London’), admitted they were Catholics but they vehemently denied harbouring any priests. This was a clear piece of equivocation if ever there was one since in a later autobiography Jesuit Oswald Greenway recorded how he visited the house the next day, only to be told there had indeed been two priests there, but these had used the hiding places to make their escape. Parents: Sir Anthony FORTESCUE of Salden and Katherine POLE of Lordington.

Spouse: Ellen HENLOW of Barrald, Hants. Children were: George FORTESCUE, Katherine FORTESCUE, Elizabeth FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone¹⁰⁸ was born in 1580. He died in 1609. Parents: John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone and Joan SHAPLEIGH.

Spouse: PITT. Children were: John FORTESCUE of Spridlestone.

John FORTESCUE of Fallapit^47,148 was born in 1586. He died in 1649. From Prideaux page 133

Puritans and Royalists.

I believe the following is extracted from the biography by John
Stucley's Sir Bevil Grevile published in 1645

1642 "Hopton's army was promised better support if he moved south-east
to occupy the villages between Plympton and Totnes. They had the
backing of Henry Camperdowne of Modbury and John Fortescue of Fallapit
near Kingsbridge. and the Cornish soldiers were scattered among a
score of hamlets. Sir Edmund Fortescue, son of John and newly
appointed sheriff, then mustered a posse at Modbury.....

Totnes had been taken over by Grevile's regiment of 500 men, and
Hopton in alarm asked that half be sent to Modbury at once, and posted
sentries on the Plymouth Road. But the Corporation had by then engaged
the services of a competent professional soldier styled General
Ruthven. He rode out at night with 700 or 800 horse and dragoons and
got within a half a mile of Modbury before his arrival was noticed.
The posse of unarmed rustics was easily dispersed, and the Cornish
army was split into a force at Totnes and another at Plympton. The two
Fortescues, Henry Camperdowne and others were captured and imprisoned
by Parliament in the Clinke at Southwark."

From Clermont

John's wife Sarah was a daughter of Sir Edmund Prideaux, Baronet, of
Netherton, who died in 1628, aged 44. John lived during the Civil
War, and took arms against Parliament. He was imprisoned with his son
Edmund at "the Clinke" or Winchester House in 1643, after
surrendering. Another son, Peter, was also imprisoned there. John
and Peter were exchanged for two parliamentarians.

John's second wife survived him. He asked in his will to be buried at
East Allington, on the North side of the grave of his first wife
Sarah. The text says that Sarah died 17 years before John wrote his
will i.e. in 1630, but the Family Tree says 1628!! John died in 1649,
before his Royalist son Sir Edmund. His grandson Sir Edmund (2nd)
succeeded to his estates.
Parents: Edmund FORTESCUE of Fallapit and Mary CHAMPERNOWNE.

Spouse: Sarah PRIDEAUX. Sarah PRIDEAUX and John FORTESCUE of Fallapit were married in East Allington, Devon.¹⁴⁸ Children were: Sir Edmund FORTESCUE of Fallapit, Mary FORTESCUE of Fallapit, John FORTESCUE of Fallapit, Thomas FORTESCUE of Fallapit, Peter FORTESCUE of Cruft, George FORTESCUE of Fallapit, Bridget FORTESCUE of Fallapit.

John FORTESCUE⁷⁰ was born in 1592. Parents: Edmund FORTESCUE of Falkbourne and Elizabeth (or Isabella) HUDDLESTONE.

Spouse: Catherine PHILLIPOT. Children were: William FORTESCUE of Falkbourne, Judith FORTESCUE, Lucy FORTESCUE, Lucy Mechilidis FORTESCUE, John FORTESCUE, Katherine FORTESCUE, Katherine FORTESCUE.

Sir John FORTESCUE 1st Baronet of Nova Scotia²³ was born in 1592. He was baptized in 1592 in Mursley Church, Bucks.²³ He died in 1656. Sir John Fortescue, the eldest son of Sir Francis, was baptised at Mursley in 1592. He married Frances, daughter of Sir Edward Stanley, Knight of the Bath, of Ensham, Oxfordshire. In 1636 he was created Baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles I. He was in arms on the king's side in 1644, was taken prisoner in May 1644, died in September 1656, and was buried at Mursley. Sir John was probably Roman Catholic; his children certainly were.

Baronets of Nova Scotia
by Marie Fraser

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In America in 1621 there was a New England, a New France, and a New Spain. An enterprising Scot, Sir William Alexander of Menstrie who made made a Knight in 1609, attracted the attention of King James (VI of Scotland and I of England), who held court regularly at nearby Stirling, when he proposed that it might encourage development of a New Scotland if His Majesty were to offer a new order of baronets. The King liked the idea. After all, his creation of the Baronets of England in 1611 and the Baronets of Ireland in 1619 had raised £225,000 for the Crown.

At Windsor Castle on September 10, 1621 King James signed a grant in favour of Sir William Alexander covering all of the lands ‘ between our Colonies of New England and Newfoundland, to be known as New Scotland ’ (Nova Scotia in Latin), an area larger than Great Britain and France combined. On October 18, 1624 the King announced his intention of creating a new order of baronets to Scottish ‘ knichts and gentlemen of cheife respect for the birth, place, or fortounes ’, James I died on March 27, 1625 but his heir, Charles I, lost no time in implementing his father’s plan. By the end of 1625 the first 22 Baronets of Nova Scotia were created and, as inducements to settlement of his new colony of Nova Scotia, Sir William offered tracts of land totalling 11,520 acres ‘ to all such principal knichts & esquires as will be pleased to be undertakers of the said plantations & who will promise to set forth 6 men, artificers or laborers, sufficiently armed, apparelled & victualled for 2 yrs ‘. Baronets could receive their patents in Edinburgh rather than London, and an area of Edinburgh Castle was declared Nova Scotian territory for this purpose. In return they had to pay Sir William 1000 merks for his ‘ past charges in discoverie of the said country ‘.

Sir William Alexander - Menstrie Castle

The harsh climate killed many of the early settlers but the fatal blow for those who remained came in 1632 when Charles I ceded the lands to Louis XIII of France and ordered the removal of the colony and destruction of Charles Fort at Port Royal. The Order of Baronets continued, however, and grants of land were made until the end of 1639, by which time 122 baronetcies had been created, 113 of whom were granted lands in Nova Scotia. The Order continued until 1707, by which time 329 baronetcies were made.

Sir William Alexander, Earl of Stirling and Viscount of Canada, who was born at Menstrie Castle in 1567, and is often referred to as the "Founder of Nova Scotia", died bankrupt in London in 1644. His embalmed body is interred in the family vault in the High Kirk of Stirling. In October 1953, Premier Angus Macdonald unveiled a plaque at Edinburgh Castle to commemorate Sir William Alexander and the Baronets of Nova Scotia. When Menstrie Castle was scheduled for demolition in 1956, it was donations from Scots in Nova Scotia and other parts of the world that financed its restoration, and a wall of one of the Nova Scotia Commemoration Rooms is covered with shields portraying the arms of 109 Baronets of Nova Scotia, surrounding a portrait of King James [VI of Scotland and I of England]. In 1994 Trevor Croft, then Regional Director, Central and Tayside Regional Office, National Trust for Scotland, provided a list of the baronetcies depicted here.

There are still about 100 Baronets of Nova Scotia in existence, many of them descendants of those who once owned land there - land which they never set foot upon. In Halifax’s Victoria Park a cairn dedicated to Sir William Alexander stands at one end, with a statue of Robert Burns at the other end.

Richard Oliphant of Condie advises that Nova Scotia baronets are senior to any other baronets in rank in Scotland and are entitled to wear a medal denoting that they are NS baronets.

List of the Shields portraying the Arms of Baronets of Nova Scotia on display at Menstrie Castle

The following is a list of the Shields [#001-115] portraying the Arms of Baronets of Nova Scotia on display in the Commemoration Room at Menstrie Castle - courtesy of the National Trust for Scotland Regional Office responsible for Menstrie Castle. Those who did not hold baronies in the new province are marked with an asterisk (*); (s) indicates that seisin was taken thereof; (d) indicates that the title is now dormant or extinct; and (f) forfeited. None of the 207 Baronets created after 1639 received land grants in Nova Scotia.

Shields portraying the Arms of 109 Baronets of Nova Scotia

Parents: Sir Francis FORTESCUE K.C.B. and Grace MANNERS.

Spouse: Frances STANLEY Of Ensham, Oxon. Frances STANLEY Of Ensham, Oxon and Sir John FORTESCUE 1st Baronet of Nova Scotia were married before 1614. Children were: Sir John FORTESCUE 2nd Baronet of Nova Scotia, Sir Edward FORTESCUE of Salden, Frances FORTESCUE, Grace FORTESCUE.

John FORTESCUE of Buckland-Filleigh^22,118 was born about 1596. He signed a will on 20 April 1655. He was buried on 8 June 1655 in Buckland Filleigh, Devon. John had his estate probated on 11 October 1655 in P.C.C (Aylett 399). Son and Heir. John of Buckland-Filleigh was entered at the Inner Temple but was never called to the bar. Clermont's text says John Fortescue died on 7th June 1665, aged 59, and it was probably this John although the Family Tree says he was buried in 1655. His monument is in Buckland-Filleigh church.

Death would be 1655 if 59 years old as he was 23 in 1620 therefore born abt 1596/1597

Parents: Roger FORTESCUE of Buckland-Filleigh and Mary NORLEIGH of Inwardleigh.

John FORTESCUE⁴⁷ was born about 1597. Parents: Edward FORTESCUE of Fallapit and Ellinor READE of Hanger, Devon.