John Baldwin (judge) facts for kids

Sir John Baldwin was an important English lawyer and judge who lived a long time ago. He became the top judge for civil cases, known as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. He passed away on October 24, 1545.

Sir John Baldwin's Family Background

Sir John Baldwin was born before the year 1470. His father was William Baldwin, who lived in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. His mother's name was Jane.

Baldwin's Relatives and Early Life

John Baldwin had an older brother named Richard. Richard passed away in 1484. John also had an uncle, also named John Baldwin, who was a lawyer in London. This uncle worked at Gray's Inn, which is a famous place for lawyers. When his uncle died in 1469, his family's land in Aylesbury was passed down. First, it went to John's father, William, then to his older brother, Richard. Finally, in 1484, John Baldwin inherited the land himself.

Some records suggest that John Baldwin's first wife was Agnes Dormer. She was the daughter of William Dormer from West Wycombe.

Sir John Baldwin's Legal Career

John Baldwin started his legal journey before the year 1500. He joined the Inner Temple, which is one of the four main schools for lawyers in London. By 1506, he was working in the Court of Requests, a special court that handled requests from ordinary people.

Early Roles and Parliament

In 1510, John Baldwin became a justice of the peace for Buckinghamshire. This meant he helped keep law and order in the area. He also gave his first special lecture at the Inner Temple in 1516. From 1521 to 1523, he served as the treasurer for the Inner Temple, managing its money.

In 1529, Baldwin was chosen to be a member of Parliament for Hindon. The next year, in 1530, he was given important legal jobs. He became the Attorney General for Wales and for the Duchy of Lancaster, which managed the King's lands.

Becoming a Judge and Knight

John Baldwin gave another lecture at the Inner Temple in 1531. In the same year, he became a Serjeant-at-law, which was a very high rank for a lawyer. He was also made the King's Serjeant, meaning he worked directly for the King. In 1534, he was knighted, becoming "Sir John Baldwin." This was quite unusual for someone who was still a serjeant at the time.

Important Cases and Land Purchases

In June 1535, Sir John Baldwin had to pass sentence on some religious leaders who were accused of treason. He was also a circuit judge, meaning he traveled to different areas to hear cases. He worked in Norfolk until 1541, and then on the home circuit, which was closer to London.

After the death of the previous Chief Justice, Sir John Baldwin was appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas on April 19, 1535. He held this very important position until he died.

Sir John Baldwin also bought more land during his life. In 1536, he bought a country home in Little Marlow. In 1540, he bought the land where a former monastery, Greyfriars, used to be in Aylesbury.

Sir John Baldwin passed away on October 24, 1545. He was buried in Aylesbury Church.

Sir John Baldwin's Marriages and Children

Sir John Baldwin was married twice. His first wife was likely named Agnes. She was the mother of his four children.

Children from First Marriage

• William Baldwin was a lawyer like his father. He married Mary Tyringham. Sadly, William passed away before his father in 1538 and did not have any children.
• Agnes Baldwin married a man named Robert Pakington. Their son, Sir Thomas Pakington, later became one of Sir John Baldwin's heirs.
• Pernell Baldwin married twice. Her first husband was Thomas Ramsey, and they had a daughter named Elizabeth. Her second husband was Edward Borlase. Their oldest son, John Borlase, also became one of Sir John Baldwin's heirs. John Borlase inherited all of Sir John Baldwin's law books.
• Alice Baldwin became the last leader, or abbess, of Burnham Abbey, a religious house for women. She passed away only a few months after her father. In her will, she asked for a special marble tomb to be built with pictures of her parents and their children.

Second Marriage

In 1518, Sir John Baldwin married Anne Norris. She was the widow of William Wroughton. Anne was the daughter of Sir William Norreys from Yattendon, Berkshire. Before Sir John Baldwin died, Anne became unwell. After his death, she was cared for by her son from her first marriage and later by a relative. The exact date of Anne's death is not known.