John Neville (died 1420) facts for kids

The Neville family's coat of arms: a red shield with a silver diagonal cross.

Sir John Neville (born around 1387 – died May 1420) was the oldest son of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland. His father was a very powerful nobleman in northern England. John's mother was Margaret Stafford, his father's first wife. As the oldest son, John was expected to inherit his father's title. He was known as 'Lord Neville'.

John Neville's Life

John Neville was born in or before 1387. We don't know much about his early life. But everyone expected him to take over his father's important position. His father, Ralph Neville, was a key figure in northern England.

John owned a castle at Kirkbymoorside. This castle was about 13 miles north of his father's main home, Sheriff Hutton. John's father had been the Warden of the West March since 1403. This was an important job protecting the border with Scotland. In 1414, John took over this role from his father.

John also helped his father bring young Henry Percy back from Scotland. Henry's father, the Earl of Northumberland, had sent them both away. John helped arrange for Henry Percy to marry his own half-sister, Eleanor.

The Inheritance Challenge

Before 1396, John's father married Joan Beaufort. She was a daughter of John of Gaunt, a very important royal figure. After this marriage, John's father started giving away land and property. He gave these gifts to the children he had with Joan. His oldest son with Joan was Richard.

This meant that John, the oldest son from the first marriage, was effectively losing his inheritance. Strangely, John seemed to agree with this. He even witnessed some of these land transfers himself. Perhaps his father didn't mean to take away so much from John at first. In 1404, his father wrote a will that seemed to favor John's side of the family.

However, this will was later replaced by a new one. John died before his father, in May 1420. He passed away in France, probably at Verneuil. Because John died first, his sons and his half-siblings fought over the family inheritance. This caused big problems within the Neville family. It led to a long-lasting family feud, known as the Neville–Neville feud. This feud later became part of the larger conflict called the Wars of the Roses. Some historians believe John Neville might be shown in a special prayer book from around 1431, called the Neville Book of Hours.

Family Life

John Neville married Elizabeth Holland (born around 1388 – died 1423). She was the daughter of Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent. They married around 1394. John and Elizabeth had three sons and one daughter:

• Ralph Neville, 2nd Earl of Westmorland (born 4 April 1406 – died 3 November 1484)
• Margaret Neville (born around 1408 – died between 5 May 1426 and 5 May 1434). She married Sir Thomas Lucy but did not have any children.
• John Neville, Baron Neville (born around 1410 – died 29 March 1461). He was the second son. He was killed at the Battle of Towton. His son later became the Earl of Westmorland.
• Sir Thomas Neville of Brancepeth (died 22 February around 1459). He was the third son and the father of Sir Humphrey Neville of Brancepeth.