John Russell (died 1405) facts for kids

Sir John Russell (died 1405) was an important English landowner, soldier, and politician. He lived in Strensham, a place in Worcestershire, where his family owned a large estate. He also worked for the King and helped manage the country.

Early Life and Family

Sir John Russell's family had lived in Strensham for a long time, even before 1283. His great-grandfather, James Russell, was allowed to build a small chapel in his house there. The family also owned other estates in Worcestershire, like Peopleton and Dormston.

John Russell was born before 1357. His father was Robert Russell, who was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Strensham. His mother was Catherine, the daughter of John Vampage from Pershore, also in Worcestershire.

A Knight's Career

Before he inherited his family's lands, John Russell likely served as a soldier. In 1373, he probably went to Ireland to fight under Sir William Windsor, who was the King's main representative there.

Later, in 1378, he was given the right to use lands in Northamptonshire. These lands had been taken from Alice Perrers, a woman who had been close to King Edward III. In the same year, John Russell was made a knight. He was also chosen to be a MP for Worcestershire in both the 1378 and 1379 Parliaments.

Working for the King

By 1382, Sir John Russell was married. The next year, he became a trusted helper for Thomas Beauchamp, the Earl of Warwick. Four years later, he started working directly for the King in the Royal Household as a King's knight. This job came with a salary for life.

During a time of political change known as the Merciless Parliament, he received permission to build defenses around his house at Strensham. Today, only the moats (ditches) around the old house remain. In 1389, King Richard II gave him the right to use Deerhurst Priory in Gloucestershire for life.

In 1390, Sir John was part of the English team in jousting competitions against French knights in Calais. Jousting was a popular sport where knights on horseback fought with lances. In 1391, King Richard made him the Master of the Horse. This was an important job, meaning he was in charge of the King's horses.

Sir John was involved in high-level government affairs. In 1395, he chose Roger Walden, who would later become an archbishop, as one of his trusted advisors. His duties also took him back to Ireland, perhaps to buy horses. In 1396, he took some horses to Paris as a gift from King Richard to Isabella, the daughter of the French king. Isabella was soon to become King Richard's second wife.

Around this time, he married a wealthy widow, but she passed away shortly after. In 1397, he was again elected to Parliament for Worcestershire. He gained several estates in Worcestershire after the Earl of Warwick faced political troubles. Sir John then left his role as Master of the Horse and took on more administrative and legal duties. He became a member of the King's Council and served on a special committee in Parliament. This committee looked into serious accusations against Henry of Bolingbroke, who would later become King, and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. Also in 1397, he was appointed a justice of the peace for several counties, including Worcestershire.

Towards the end of 1398, he married for a third time. His new wife was a widow who owned many lands, including in Birmingham and Maxstoke in Warwickshire. Even though he supported the Duke of York against Henry of Bolingbroke's rebellion in 1399, he was not severely punished when Henry became king. He remained a justice of the peace for Worcestershire and was called to a council meeting in 1401.

Sir John Russell made his will on April 7, 1404. He died on January 31, 1405, at his second wife's home in Letheringham, Suffolk. His body was brought back to Strensham for burial. His memorial in the church showed a knight in armor and named his three wives. His widow continued to hold his lands until 1423.

His family's coat of arms was: a silver shield with a black chevron (a V-shape) and three black crosslets (small crosses with arms ending in points).

Family Life

Before October 1382, Sir John Russell married Agnes, whose family name is not known. They had six children, including:

• William, who was the oldest son and heir. He served as an MP for Worcestershire in March 1416 but died by March 1419.
• John, who died after 1423.
• Margaret, who married Sir Ralph Rochford.
• Elizabeth, who married Sir Robert Wingfield and was the mother of Sir Robert Wingfield.

His second wife was Margaret (died 1397). She was the daughter of Sir Hugh Hastings and the widow of Sir John Wingfield.

His third marriage was around January 1399 to Elizabeth (died 1423). She was the daughter and heiress of William Planche. Elizabeth had been married three times before. She also inherited lands from her older sister, Catherine.

John Russell, who became a well-known lawyer and Speaker of Parliament in 1423 and 1432, might have been an illegitimate son of Sir John Russell.