John Juyn facts for kids

Sir John Juyn was an important English judge who lived a long time ago, in the 1400s. He was born in Bristol and became a very respected lawyer. Later, he rose to become the Chief Justice of the King's Bench, which was one of the most powerful judge positions in England at the time. He held this top job from 1439 until he passed away in 1440.

Sir John Juyn's Family Background

Sir John Juyn's father was named John Juhyne. He was a successful merchant who dealt in wool, a very important business in England back then. His mother's name was Margery. When his father passed away in 1390, young John Juyn inherited his family's lands in Bristol and nearby areas like Bedminster and Knowle.

Sir John Juyn's Legal Career

Sir John Juyn's father had many connections with other merchants in Bristol. These connections helped John start his own career. From 1422 to 1438, he worked as the Recorder of Bristol. This meant he was the main legal advisor for the city. He also helped many important merchants in the city by acting as a feoffee, which was someone trusted to manage property for others.

His first official record shows up in 1407. He helped a group of Bristol merchants who were being sued for debt by the City of London. In 1415, he was asked to become a serjeant-at-law. This was a special type of senior lawyer. It came with some financial costs, so he waited until 1418 to officially take on this important role.

Serving the Royal Family

Between 1416 and 1422, Sir John Juyn worked as a legal advisor for the Duchy of Lancaster. This was a large area of land owned by the King. He helped sort out a big property dispute, dividing land between King Henry V and Lady Anne Hastings. He also advised Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence, who was the King's brother, from 1418 to 1420.

Becoming a Judge

From 1422 to 1424, Sir John Juyn traveled around western England as a judge for the Assize Courts. These courts dealt with serious crimes and civil cases. On May 5, 1423, he was given an even bigger job: Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. This meant he was the head judge of the court that handled the King's money and taxes.

In 1436, he received another important appointment. He became a judge in the Court of Common Pleas. This court dealt with legal cases between ordinary people. After this, he started working in the Home Counties circuit, which was closer to London.

Advising the King

In May 1426, Sir John Juyn was knighted in Parliament, which meant he was given the title "Sir." From 1425 to 1439, he helped check petitions (requests) made to Parliament. During this time, the King's Council often asked him for advice. For example, in November 1426, he spent 15 days helping to write laws. These laws were designed to keep peace between two powerful figures, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester and Henry Beaufort, who were having disagreements.

Sir John Juyn lived most of his life in Somerset. He was a Justice of the Peace there from 1419 until he died. This job involved keeping law and order in the local area. He also helped King Henry VI raise money by arranging loans in the 1420s and 1430s.

Reaching the Top Judicial Roles

On February 9, 1436, Sir John Juyn became the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. He still kept his job as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer at the same time. Then, on January 20, 1439, he was made the Chief Justice of the King's Bench. This was the highest judicial position in England! When he took this new role, he finally left his other two judge positions. He held this very important job for about a year before he became ill and passed away on March 24, 1440.

Sir John Juyn's Family Life

Sir John Juyn was married twice.

• His first wife was named Edith. They did not have any children together, and she passed away.
• His second wife was Alis Moore. Her father was Nicholas de la Moor from Devon. Sir John and Alis had two daughters:
  • Alis Juyn
  • Isabel Juyn, who married Robert Kenn in 1436.