John Sotherton facts for kids
John Sotherton (born 1562, died 1631) was an important English judge. He came from a well-known family in London and East Anglia. His family included people who worked in government, as judges, and as merchants. In 1610, he became a special judge called a Cursitor Baron of the Exchequer.
Early Life and Family
John Sotherton was the son of another John Sotherton. His father was also a judge, serving as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer from 1579 until his death in 1605. John's mother was Maria Woton. She was buried next to her husband in a church in London.
The Sotherton family originally came from a village called Sotherton in Suffolk. Many family members were successful merchants in London or Norwich. For example, George Sotherton was a leader of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors in 1589. He was also a Member of Parliament for London.
John's uncle, Nowell Sotherton, was also a Cursitor Baron of the Exchequer. Another relative, Nicholas Sotherton, wrote a history of Kett's Rebellion, a famous event in 1549.
Education and Marriages
John Sotherton went to Christ Church, Oxford in 1580. He earned his first degree there in 1583. In the same year, he also studied at the University of Cambridge. He received his master's degree from Oxford in 1586.
In 1587, he joined the Inner Temple, which is a famous law school in London. He became a lawyer in 1597. In 1610, he was chosen as a "bencher," a senior member of the Inner Temple.
During this time, John Sotherton married twice. His first wife was Anne Bray. His second wife was Elizabeth Cook. He had several children, including two sons named John and Valentine. Both sons followed him by studying at Christ Church, Oxford. He also had daughters, including Anne, who married Sir John Throckmorton.
In 1600, Sotherton bought a large estate called Wadenhall in Waltham, Kent. This estate later went to his son John. His other son, Valentine, became a clergyman.
Career as a Judge
In 1604, John Sotherton was appointed as the Receiver-General for the counties of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. This meant he was in charge of collecting money for the government in those areas.
His career advanced in 1610 when he became a Cursitor Baron of the Exchequer. In this role, he was a judge who helped manage the financial side of the government. He also helped decide important legal cases.
Sotherton regularly served as a judge for serious crimes in London. He worked with other important people like Sir Julius Caesar and Sir Francis Bacon on various government tasks. These tasks included looking into ways to improve public services and checking for problems like nuisances in Middlesex.
Later Life
In 1622, John Sotherton married for the third time. His last wife was Elizabeth Rich. She was the sister of Sir Nathaniel Rich. Elizabeth was also the widow of Sir John Morgan.
John Sotherton passed away in 1631. A new judge took his place on October 24 of that year. His wife, Dame Elizabeth, outlived him and remembered his stepson in her will.
