John SPENCER

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John Spencer is first noticed as a gentleman of Wormleighton in 1470, when he and Thomas Hayton were sued for trespass by widow Alice Griffith. As a defendant in other trespass suits in 1472 and 1475, John was called a yeoman of Hodnell. Between 1477 and 1495 he was a plaintiff in at least ten cases of unpaid debt. In all of these cases, he was a resident of Hodnell, and was sometimes termed a gentleman. It is obvious from his will, written a year after the last suit, that John had acquired great wealth, holding lands in no less than fifteen lordships in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. John Spencer of Hodnell and his second wife, Johan (Joan) were admitted to the Guild of the Holy Cross in 1483-84. From is will, it is also clear that he was also a brother of Trinity Guild in Coventry, Corpus Christi Guild, also in Coventry, and the Guild of Warwick. On 16 February 1 Richard III (1484) John witnessed a grant of land in Caldecote, Warwickshire, from Thomas Stafford, Robert Throgmerton, and John Hugeford, Esqs., to Edmund Newenham and John Newenham, which the grantors held by grant of Jumphrey Catesby, gent.

John Spencer of Hodnell died on 4 January 1496-7, according to his inquisition 'post mortem', dated "Tuesday before All Hallows 14 Henry VII (Oct 1498)," John's son Thomas, age 6 "and more," was declared his rightful heir. John's will, long and complex, was executed on 15 September 1496 and proved 25 January 1496/7. Among those mentioned were his wife Jane (also called Joan); a minor son Thomas, under age 21; a minor daughter Elizabeth, under age 14; a married daughter Joan, wife of William Cope; unnamed sisters and their children; the three children of his brothers William, namely, John Spencer of Snitterfield, Thomas Spencer, and an unnamed daughters; and the male heirs of his late bother Thomas Spencer.

Family/Spouse: Anne EMPSON. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Jane or Joan GRAUNT before 1483/4. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joan/Jane married William SAUNDERS about 1482. William was born in of Banbury, Oxford; died between 22 Nov 1493 and 29 Jan 1493/4. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joan/Jane married William COPE before 15 Sep 1496. William died on 7 Apr 1513 in Hanwell Manor, Banbury. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Sir John GREVILLE before 1515. John was born in of Milcote, Warws; died between 20 Nov 1547 and 12 Noc 1548. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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They had no children. He came into his father's vast estates at age 21, displacing his cousin John Spencer, who had been permitted to occupy the Hodnell lands during Thomas's minority, according to the terms of his father's will. In 1514 Thomas was admitted to the Guild of Knowle. His inquisition 'post mortem', taken at Northampton on 25 May 1535, made his nephew Edward Greville, age 20, son of his sister Elizabeth, his next heir. However, by his will executed 31 Jan. 1531/2, proved 30 Oct. 1532, Thomas declared that if his wife died without issues, his lands would go to his cousinThomas, son and heir of William Spencer of Badby. These lands included Napton-on-the-Hill, Old Hodnell, Ascote, Burton Dassett, Burton, Northend, Knightcote, Stretton near Monks Kirby (Stretton-under-Fosse), Brinklow and Nether Shuckburgh in Warws., and Staverton, Everdon, Badby, and Newnham in Northampton.

Family/Spouse: Margaret POYNERS. Margaret was born in of Gloucestershire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]