St. John familyTHIS family is paternally descended from the Ports, lords of Basing, in Hampshire, at the time of the conquest, and maternally derive their surname from, William de St. John, who entered England with the Conqueror, whose army he attended as grand-master of the artillery, and supervisor of the waggons and carriages; for which reason, the horse's harness (or collar) was borne for his cognizance, and his name occurs in the roll of Battel Abbey. He married Oliviat daughter of Ralph de Filgiers, of Normandy, by whom he had two sons: Thomas de St. John, who held lands in Oxfordshire, and gave it to the monks of St. Peter's, in Gloucester, and John de St. John, who inherited his brother's lands in England, and principally the lordship of Stanton, in Oxfordshire, (for distinction from the other towns of the same name called Stanton St. John). This John was famous in the reign of William Rufus, being one of the twelve knights who accompanied Robert Fitz-Hamon, Earl of Gloxicester, in his expedition against the Welch, and had, in reward for his services, the castle of Falmont, Faumont, or Fauman (as variously written), in the county of Glamorgan. He had two sons, 1, Roger, of whom hereafter; 2, Thomas de St. John and a daughter Avoris, who was the second wife of Bernard de St. Walery, lord of the manor of Ambrosden, &c. in Oxfordshire. ... more |
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