John Chideock facts for kids

Sir John IV Chideock (died 1415) was an English knight. He was a wealthy landowner, a government helper, a soldier, and a politician. Sir John lived in a place called Chideock in Dorset, England. In 1414, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for his county. This meant he helped make decisions for the country.

His Early Life

John Chideock was born around 1375. His father was Sir John III Chideock, who passed away in 1390. His grandfather was Sir John II Chideock. John's mother was Joan St Loe. Her father was Sir John St Loe.

His Career and Lands

When his father died in 1390, John inherited many family lands. These included estates in Chideock, More Crichel, and East Chelborough in Dorset. He also got lands in Allowenshay and Kingston Pitney in Somerset.

However, most of these lands were managed by his father-in-law, Sir Ivo Fitzwaryn. This was because John was still young. He did not get full control of his lands for about nine years.

John was involved in a legal case about some lands and rents. This was in Kingston Pitney and Yeovil in Somerset. The case was against important people like Alice Holland, Countess of Kent. It lasted for several years. In 1402, John agreed to pay Alice 800 marks to settle the case. He had to borrow money from his wife's brother-in-law, Richard Whittington, who was a famous merchant.

In 1409, John inherited even more lands when his stepfather passed away. These new lands were in Little Crichel in Dorset, Westbury and Hilperton in Wiltshire, and Clifton and Frampton-on-Severn in Gloucestershire.

These many landholdings made him a very rich man. Even more wealth came to him in 1414. His father-in-law, Sir Ivo Fitzwaryn, died. John's wife became the only heir to all the Fitzwaryn family's lands.

Even though he was very wealthy, John did not take on many public jobs until later in his life. In 1412, he was part of a special royal group looking into things in Dorset. In 1414, he was elected as an MP for Dorset. He was made a knight in 1415.

There is a story that Sir John IV Chideock died during the Siege of Harfleur. This was a big battle in France during the time of King Henry V. He passed away on September 25 or 28, 1415.

His Family

Before August 26, 1390, John married Eleanor Fitzwaryn. She was born around 1378. Eleanor was the daughter of Sir Ivo Fitzwaryn. She later became the only heir to her family's lands.

John and Eleanor had two children:

• John V Chideock (1401-1450), who also became a knight. He married Catherine Lumley.
• Elizabeth Chideock (died 1464). She married William Massey first, and then Walter Fitzwalter.

After Sir John IV Chideock died, his wife Eleanor married Ralph Bush. They had three more children together. Eleanor passed away in December 1433.