John de Verdon, 1st Baron Verdon facts for kids

Sir John de Verdon (1299 – 1376) was an important figure in medieval England. He was the second son of Sir Thomas de Verdon. His father was the Lord of Brixworth in Northamptonshire and Bressingham in Norfolk. His mother was Margaret.

John de Verdon first lived at Bressingham. Later, he moved to Martlesham in Suffolk. He became a knight and served the King.

Early Life and Public Service

Sir John de Verdon was born on June 24, 1299. He came from a noble family. His family owned lands in different parts of England.

In 1324, Sir John was chosen to attend a very important meeting. This meeting was called the Great Council. It was held in Westminster. This shows he was a trusted knight.

Serving the King

Sir John de Verdon also served the King in other ways. In June 1324, he was on duty in Aquitaine. This was a region in France that belonged to the English King.

He was called to join Parliament several times. This happened in 1331, 1332, 1335, and 1336. He also attended Great Councils in 1342 and 1347. Being called to Parliament meant he was a Baron. A Baron was a powerful noble who advised the King.

Military Service

In 1346, Sir John took part in a major war. This was the Crecy campaign in France. He served in the first group of soldiers. This group was led by the Prince of Wales. The Prince was known as 'the Black Prince'.

The Black Prince gave Sir John a special warhorse. It was called Grisel de Coloign. Sadly, Sir John became ill during the campaign. He had to return to England before January 1347.

Even after being a Baron, he continued to serve. In 1369, he attended Parliament again. This time, he was there as a Knight for Northamptonshire.

Family Life

Sir John de Verdon married three times. His first wife was named Agnes.

Second Marriage and Children

His second wife was Maud. She was the widow of Ralph de Crophull. Sir John and Maud had two children.

• Edmund de Verdon: He died before his father. He did not have any children.
• Margaret de Verdon: After her father passed away, she became a Baroness. This meant she inherited her father's noble title. Margaret married twice. Her first husband was Sir Hugh de Bradshagh. Her second husband was Sir John Pilkington.

Third Marriage and Later Life

Sir John's third wife was Isabel. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Vise de Lou. He was a knight from Shelfhanger.

Sir John de Verdon passed away around 1380. After his death, his wife Isabel married Sir Edmund Noon.