John Giffard (abt. 1290 - bef. 1344)

Born about 1290 in Chillington, Staffordshire, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 1344 before about age 54 in Chillington, Staffordshire, England

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Sir John Giffard was a member of the aristocracy in British Isles.

Biography

John was the son and heir of John Giffard of Chillington of which he succeeded to around 1310. ^[1][2]

On 26 September 1310, John was in Scotland in the retinue of John de Sumery in Rokesburgh. This expedition reportedly met with little opposition, penetrated as far as Renfrew, wintered at Berwick and returned in England in July 1311. ^[3] After the battle of Bannockburn in 1314, the King had fled to Berwick and issued urgent writs to barons and knights enjoining them to be at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 15 August, this included John Giffard. ^[2][4] In 1316, he was one of the commissioners appointed to raise an army to fight in Scotland. ^[5] In the following years, John was in the retinue of Stephen de Segrave in 1317 ^[6], Roger de Somery in 1318 ^[7] and 1319 ^[8] in the King's army in Scotland.

In 1321, there was an association of the Barons against the Despencers. In August they took possession of London and held a parliament which banished the King's favourites. John remained loyal to the King. Later that year, the King issued letters of pardon to the Barons.^[2] In 1322, the King recalled the Despencers and ordered a levy of men from the Midland Counties. John Giffard was amongst those ordered to raise a levy of 2000 men on foot. ^[9] In 1324, with the Confederate Barons having taken up arms under the Earl of Lancaster, the King assembled his forces at Coventry and advanced into Staffordshire. The Earl's forces were intercepted at Boroughbridge in Yorkshire and were defeated and dispersed. ^[2]

The King called a Parliament to meet at York, where John was one of the members for Staffordshire. He was again a Knight of Parliament for Staffordshire in 1325. ^[2]

In 1338, John settled his manor of Walton on his son John upon his son's marriage with Katherine, daughter of Hugh, son of Robert Dunsowe of Shropshire. ^[2]

In 1344, his son John was being summoned to appear for his contempt in not taking knighthood according to the King's proclamation, which gives an indication that John (the father) must have died before this point. ^[2]

Research Notes

No record of his wife in the pedigree. Wrottesley suggests she may have been a Chandos from Derbyshire. ^[2] Need sources for existing suggestion of Catherine Stafford, which seems to come from Burke, but is unsourced. According to England Project guidelines Burke is unreliable and not to be used for profiles prior to 1700.

John also had three daughters listed in deeds or public documents: Margaret, Matilda and Elizabeth (marrying William De Boweles). ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Pedigree of Giffard of Chillington - archive.org and british-history.ac.uk : accessed 16 August 2022; Collections for a history of Staffordshire; Volume 4 Part II; Page 58; Published London 1883
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8} The Giffards from the Conquest to the Present Time by George Wrottesley: Archive.org Link : accessed 18 August 2022; Collections for a History of Staffordshire, new series vol. 5 (London: William Salt Archaeological Society, 1902); Pages 96-100 (Published London 1902)
3. ↑ Miltary Service Performed by Staffordshire Tenants - archive.org : accessed 18 August 2022; Collections for a History of Staffordshire edited by the William Salt Archaeological Society; Volume 8 Part I; Page 31; Published London 1887
4. ↑ Miltary Service Performed by Staffordshire Tenants - archive.org : accessed 18 August 2022; Collections for a History of Staffordshire edited by the William Salt Archaeological Society; Volume 8 Part I; Page 34; Published London 1887
5. ↑ Miltary Service Performed by Staffordshire Tenants - archive.org : accessed 18 August 2022; Collections for a History of Staffordshire edited by the William Salt Archaeological Society; Volume 8 Part I; Page 35; Published London 1887
6. ↑ Miltary Service Performed by Staffordshire Tenants - archive.org : accessed 18 August 2022; Collections for a History of Staffordshire edited by the William Salt Archaeological Society; Volume 8 Part I; Page 36; Published London 1887
7. ↑ Miltary Service Performed by Staffordshire Tenants - archive.org : accessed 18 August 2022; Collections for a History of Staffordshire edited by the William Salt Archaeological Society; Volume 8 Part I; Page 39; Published London 1887
8. ↑ Miltary Service Performed by Staffordshire Tenants - archive.org : accessed 18 August 2022; Collections for a History of Staffordshire edited by the William Salt Archaeological Society; Volume 8 Part I; Page 40; Published London 1887
9. ↑ Miltary Service Performed by Staffordshire Tenants - archive.org : accessed 18 August 2022; Collections for a History of Staffordshire edited by the William Salt Archaeological Society; Volume 8 Part I; Page 41; Published London 1887