John de Aston (knight banneret) facts for kids

The coat of arms for the Aston family from Tixhall, Staffordshire.

Sir John de Aston (died 1523) was an important soldier. He lived during the time of Kings Henry VII and Henry VIII. He was from Heywood, Staffordshire, England. Sir John also served as a Sheriff three times in Staffordshire. He was also Sheriff once for Leicestershire and Warwickshire.

Sir John Aston's Life Story

John Aston was the son of another man named John de Aston. His mother was Elizabeth Delves. She was the daughter of Sir John Delves from Dodrington, Cheshire.

Becoming a Knight

Sir John Aston became a Knight of the Bath in 1502. This special honor was given to him during the wedding of Prince Arthur. Prince Arthur was the oldest son of King Henry VII. He married Catherine of Aragon, who was a princess from Spain.

Serving as Sheriff

Sir John held important roles in his community. He was the Sheriff of Leicestershire and Warwickshire from 1510 to 1511. He also served as the Sheriff of Staffordshire three times. These years were 1500–1501, 1508–1509, and 1513–1514. A sheriff was like a chief law enforcement officer for a county.

Military Adventures

Sir John Aston was a brave soldier. He fought alongside King Henry VIII in the Anglo-French War of 1513. This war was between England and France. He was made a knight banneret because of his excellent actions. This happened during a battle sometimes called the Battle of the Spurs. He also gained fame during the Siege of Thérouanne and the Siege of Tournay. These were important battles where he showed great courage.

A Charitable Group

Sir John Aston was also involved in a good cause. He was one of the founders of a special group called a Guild. This Guild was based at the church of St. Catherine's Hospital. It was created to honor St. Barbara. Even King Henry VIII and his first wife, Queen Katharine, were part of this group. Many other important people also joined this charitable organization.

Death and Burial

Sir John Aston passed away on March 14, 1523. His oldest son, Sir Edward Aston, took over the family's lands. Sir John was buried next to his wife. Their tomb is in All Saints Church in Church Leigh, Staffordshire. A beautiful marble monument was built there to remember his wife.

The Monument

The monument shows figures of Sir John and his wife. Sir John is dressed in full armor. They are lying down with their hands together, as if praying. The monument has special symbols of bravery and goodness. There are also several small sections with figures carved into them. At the top and bottom, angels support family coats of arms.

Family Life

The coat of arms for Elyn Aston, Sir John Aston's daughter. It is combined with the arms of her husband, John Morgan. This can be seen in a stained glass window at All Saints Church, Mapperton.

Sir John Aston married Joan Littleton. She was the daughter of Sir William Littleton. Through this marriage, the Aston family gained control of the manor of Tixall. Joan also inherited the manor of Wanlip from her mother.

Sir John and Joan had several children:

• Edward Aston (died 1568): He was their oldest son and inherited the family estate. He built the Tixall Gatehouse, which is the only part of Tixall Hall still standing today.
• William Aston: He lived in Millewitch.
• Isabel Aston
• Elizabeth Aston
• Elyn Aston: She married John Morgan (died 1535). He was from Mapperton Hall in Dorset. Her family's coat of arms can still be seen in a stained glass window at All Saints' Church in Mapperton.