John Port (the elder)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Port judge, was born about 1480 at Chester
, where his ancestors had been merchants for some generations : his father, Henry Port, was mayor of Chester in 1486, and his mother was a daughter of Robert Barrow, also a mayor of Chester in 1526. Sir John Port was involved in the trials of Sir Thomas More
, later Saint Thomas More, John Fisher
, later Saint John Fisher and Ann Boleyn, Queen.
, where he was Reader
in 1509, Lent Reader and treasurer in 1515, and governor in 1520. In 1504 he was one of the commissioners appointed to raise a subsidy in Derbyshire
; on 2 June 1509 he was made king's solicitor, and on 26 November signed a proclamation as member of the privy council
; in the same year he was "keeper of the king's books", and in 1511 clerk of the wardrobe. Before 1512 he was appointed attorney to the earldom of Chester
, and in that year he appeared as one of the commissioners selected to inquire into the extortions of the masters of the mint.
In 1515 and most succeeding years he served on the commission for the peace in Derbyshire
. In 1517 he was clerk of exchange in the Tower, and in 1522 was made serjeant-at-law. He acquired an extensive practice as an advocate, and in 1525 he was made a Justice of the King's Bench
and knighted.
He was on the commission for gaol delivery at York
, and in June went on the northern circuit as justice of assize. He was also a member of Princess Mary's council. In 1535 he was placed on the commission of oyer and terminer
for Middlesex
to try John Fisher
and Thomas More
, and in the following year was similarly employed with regard to Anne Boleyn
.
He died before November 1541, having been twice married; his two wives were Margery, daughter of Sir Edward Trafford of Trafford
, Lancashire
, and Joan, daughter and coheir of John Fitzherbert, uncle of Sir Anthony Fitzherbert
, and widow of John Pole of Radburn. By the latter marriage he acquired the manor of Etwall
, Derbyshire, and had a son, Sir John Port
who took a prominent part in the transactions relating to the foundation of Brasenose College, Oxford
; he gave to it a garden lying on the south side of the college, and completed John Williamson's bequest of £200. to provide stipends for two sufficient and able persons to read and teach openly in the hall, the one philosophy, the other 'humanity; The stipend was (then) 4 shillings a year, but the limitation to the descendants of Williamson and Port was abolished by Oxford University in 1854. His son was the founder of Repton School
and the person John Port School
is named after.
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, where his ancestors had been merchants for some generations : his father, Henry Port, was mayor of Chester in 1486, and his mother was a daughter of Robert Barrow, also a mayor of Chester in 1526. Sir John Port was involved in the trials of Sir Thomas More
Thomas More
Sir Thomas More , also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII of England and, for three years toward the end of his life, Lord Chancellor...
, later Saint Thomas More, John Fisher
John Fisher
Saint John Fisher was an English Roman Catholic scholastic, bishop, cardinal and martyr. He shares his feast day with Saint Thomas More on 22 June in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and 6 July on the Church of England calendar of saints...
, later Saint John Fisher and Ann Boleyn, Queen.
Biography
John studied law in the Middle TempleMiddle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, where he was Reader
Reader (Inns of Court)
A Reader in one of the Inns of Court in London was originally a senior barrister of the Inn who was elected to deliver a lecture or series of lectures on a particular legal topic...
in 1509, Lent Reader and treasurer in 1515, and governor in 1520. In 1504 he was one of the commissioners appointed to raise a subsidy in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
; on 2 June 1509 he was made king's solicitor, and on 26 November signed a proclamation as member of the privy council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
; in the same year he was "keeper of the king's books", and in 1511 clerk of the wardrobe. Before 1512 he was appointed attorney to the earldom of Chester
Earl of Chester
The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Honour of Chester :The...
, and in that year he appeared as one of the commissioners selected to inquire into the extortions of the masters of the mint.
In 1515 and most succeeding years he served on the commission for the peace in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. In 1517 he was clerk of exchange in the Tower, and in 1522 was made serjeant-at-law. He acquired an extensive practice as an advocate, and in 1525 he was made a Justice of the King's Bench
Justice of the King's Bench
Justice of the King's Bench, or Justice of the Queen's Bench during the reign of a female monarch, was a puisne judicial position within the Court of King's Bench, under the Chief Justice. The King's Bench was a court of common law which modern academics argue was founded independently in 1234,...
and knighted.
He was on the commission for gaol delivery at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, and in June went on the northern circuit as justice of assize. He was also a member of Princess Mary's council. In 1535 he was placed on the commission of oyer and terminer
Oyer and terminer
In English law, Oyer and terminer was the Law French name, meaning "to hear and determine", for one of the commissions by which a judge of assize sat...
for Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
to try John Fisher
John Fisher
Saint John Fisher was an English Roman Catholic scholastic, bishop, cardinal and martyr. He shares his feast day with Saint Thomas More on 22 June in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and 6 July on the Church of England calendar of saints...
and Thomas More
Thomas More
Sir Thomas More , also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII of England and, for three years toward the end of his life, Lord Chancellor...
, and in the following year was similarly employed with regard to Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
.
He died before November 1541, having been twice married; his two wives were Margery, daughter of Sir Edward Trafford of Trafford
Trafford
The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of 211,800, covers , and includes the towns of Altrincham, Partington, Sale, Stretford, and Urmston...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and Joan, daughter and coheir of John Fitzherbert, uncle of Sir Anthony Fitzherbert
Anthony Fitzherbert
Sir Anthony Fitzherbert was an English judge, scholar and legal author, particularly known for his treatise on English law, New Natura Brevium .-Biography:...
, and widow of John Pole of Radburn. By the latter marriage he acquired the manor of Etwall
Etwall
Etwall is a civil parish and village in Derbyshire, England. It is located southwest from Derby on the A50.-Geography:Etwall is squeezed between the A516, which bypassed the village in February 1992, and the A50. The A516 draws a lot of heavy traffic heading for the M1 north.The village has its...
, Derbyshire, and had a son, Sir John Port
John Port (the younger)
Sir John Port 'the Younger' was an English Knight of the Bath and Justice of the Common Pleas. He founded Repton School, an almshouse at Etwall and also has a secondary school named after him.-Biography:...
who took a prominent part in the transactions relating to the foundation of Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
; he gave to it a garden lying on the south side of the college, and completed John Williamson's bequest of £200. to provide stipends for two sufficient and able persons to read and teach openly in the hall, the one philosophy, the other 'humanity; The stipend was (then) 4 shillings a year, but the limitation to the descendants of Williamson and Port was abolished by Oxford University in 1854. His son was the founder of Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
and the person John Port School
John Port School
John Port Specialist Technology, Mathematics and Computing College is a very large academy in the village of Etwall, Derbyshire, England.-Admissions:...
is named after.
External sources
- The John Port tombs - John's father Henry has a monument too in Etwall.