John (Magnusson) Magnusson of Orkney and of Caithness (abt. 1259 - 1311)

Born about 1259 in Orkney, Orkney Islands, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1311 at about age 52 in Orkney, Orkney Islands, Scotland

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John (Magnusson) Magnusson of Orkney and of Caithness was an ancestor of a signer of the Declaration of Arbroath. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

Biography

John Magnusson was born about 1259, most likely in Orkney, to Magnus Gilbertsson and an unknown mother. He succeeded his brother, Magnus Magnusson, as Earl of Orkney and Caithness in 1284.^[1][2]

John was a signatory on the letter sent to King Edward of England proposing that prince Edward marry Margaret, the Maid of Norway, in 1289.^[1][3] In 1290, he was among those who confirmed the Treaty of Salisbury, at Brigham,^[4] and received a safe conduct for his family and himself to travel to England to see King Edward in 1291.^[1] He was summoned to the first parliament under Baliol, in February 1293.^[1][3]

John is known to have sworn fealty to King Edward, at Caithness, in 1297.^[5] and to King Hakon of Norway, in 1299.^[5] At about that time, he was betrothed to the late King Eirik's daughter, Ingibiorg.^[6] By1311, she has been betrothed to another man and it is assumed that Earl John died sometime before this.^[6]

The name of John's wife is not known, but they had two known children.

Known Children

• Magnus Jonsson, born about 1291^[1]
• Margaret Jonsson^[7], born about 1280 who married Simon Fraser.^[7]

Research Notes

• There appears to be a mixup, or confusion between the Jarl's of Norway and the Earls of Strathearn which has contributed to the misnaming of connected profiles. John was the father of Magnusand also Margaret according to Medlands.
• SCOTLAND EARLS>"SCOTLAND EARLS". 2020. Fmg.Ac.Medlands, Earls of Caithness
• The Scots Peerage : Founded On Wood's Ed. Of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage Of Scotland; Containing An Historical And Genealogical Account Of The Nobility Of That Kingdom : Paul, James Balfour, Sir, 1846-1931 : Free Download, Borrow, And Streaming : Internet Archive". 2020. Internet Archive.Magnus, XVIII
• SCOTLAND EARLS>"SCOTLAND EARLS". 2020. Fmg.Ac.Medlands Project, Norwegian Jarl's of Norway
• SCOTLAND EARLS>"SCOTLAND EARLS". 2020. Fmg.Ac.Medlands, Earls of Strathearn

• The Highlanders of Scotland gives the identity of John's wife as: the daughter and heiress of Graham of Lovat.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Balfour-Paul, James; The Scots Peerage; (Douglas, D.; Edinburgh, 1904-1914); Vol II, pg. 318 and 319
2. ↑ PoMS; Document 3/13/2 (Dupplin Chrs., no. 138ii); Charter
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Anderson, Joseph; Orkneyingasaga; (Edmonstone and Douglas; Edinburgh, 1873); pg. l
4. ↑ PoMS; Document 1/50/32 (Stevenson, Docs., i, no. 92); Treaty
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Anderson, Joseph; Orkneyingasaga; (Edmonstone and Douglas; Edinburgh, 1873); pg. li
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Anderson, Joseph; Orkneyingasaga; (Edmonstone and Douglas; Edinburgh, 1873); pg. lii
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Skene, William Forbes; The Highlanders of Scotland; (Mackay, E.; Stirling, 1902); pg, 378

See also:

• The Peerage.com has several errors.

• Person record - is showing the wrong parents.

• Earls of Orkney Timeline - provides a timeline of events

• Person entry

• Pedigree Chart The Phillips, Weber, Kirk, & Staggs families of the Pacific Northwest Updated: 04-04-2019 22:04:94. Owner: Jim Weber (Link via Wayback Machine at Archive.org, capture date 16 Mar 2023.)

• Book: Following the Ark of the Covenant

• WikiTree profile Magnus-100 created through the import of Spencer Family Tree 4 2002.GED on Nov 28, 2011 by Chet Spencer.