Sir John Shelton facts for kids
Sir John Shelton (born around 1476 or 1477 – died 1539) was an important person at the court of King Henry VIII. He lived in Shelton, England.
Sir John married Anne Boleyn. She was the sister of Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, who was the father of Queen Anne Boleyn. This made Sir John Shelton the uncle of Queen Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's second wife.
Sir John was put in charge of the households of the King's daughters, Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth. He and his wife, Anne, also helped raise the King's children.
Sir John Shelton's Life
Sir John Shelton was the son of Sir Ralph Shelton and Margaret Clere. He had four brothers and sisters. His family had lived in Norfolk for a long time, and their name came from their home, Shelton. They owned lands in East Anglia, including Shelton Hall.
Around 1503, Sir John married Anne Boleyn. Her father was Sir William Boleyn, and her mother was Lady Margaret Butler. Sir John became the High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk in 1504 and again in 1522. This was an important job, like a chief law enforcement officer for the counties. He was also a Justice of the Peace for Norfolk, helping to keep law and order. When Henry VIII became king, Sir John was made a Knight of the Bath, a special honor.
Working for the King
Sir John and his wife became more important when King Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn, who was Lady Shelton's niece. After Queen Anne's special ceremony in 1533, Lady Shelton and her sister, Lady Alice Clere, were put in charge of Princess Mary, the King's first daughter, at Hatfield Palace.
By July 1536, Sir John was in charge of the household for Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth. Princess Elizabeth was the daughter of Queen Anne Boleyn. After Queen Anne was executed, Sir John and Lady Shelton were given the job of looking after Princess Elizabeth and making sure she was well-educated. In August 1536, the King met with his daughters at Hunsdon House. Sir John continued to serve the King faithfully. In 1538, he was given the land where Carrow Abbey used to be, near Norwich. This became the main home for his family.
His Family and Legacy
Sir John Shelton passed away on December 21, 1539, when he was 62 years old. He was buried in the church at Shelton. He was known for owning many valuable things.
His Children
Sir John Shelton and his wife Anne had three sons and seven daughters. Their children were Margaret, John, Mary, Ralph, Thomas, Anne, Gabriella, Elizabeth, Amy, and Emma.
His oldest son and heir, Sir John Shelton (who died in 1558), married Margaret Parker. His daughter Anne married Edmund Knyvet. Another daughter, Margaret, married Thomas Wodehouse. His daughter Mary married Sir Anthony Heaveningham first, and then Philip Appleyard.
Likenesses
In 1528, the famous court painter Hans Holbein painted portraits of the Shelton family.
