John Chichester (died 1586)

Arms of Chichester: Chequy or and gules, a chief vair

Sir John Chichester (died 31 March 1586) lord of the manor of Raleigh in the parish of Pilton, near Barnstaple, North Devon, was Sheriff of Devon in 1576/7[1] and/or in 1585[2] and died of gaol fever contracted whilst acting as a magistrate at the Lent Black Assizes of Exeter in 1586.

Biography

John Chichester was the eldest son and heir of Sir John Chichester (1519/20-1569)[2] of Raleigh, a leading member of the Devonshire gentry. His mother was Gertrude Courtenay, a daughter of Sir William Courtenay (1477–1535) of Powderham.[3]

He had at least six brothers, three of whom became Governor of Carrickfergus: Sir John Chichester, junior, who was killed at the Battle of Carrickfergus (1597); Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Chichester (1563–1624/5) who succeeded him; and Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester (1568–1648) of Eggesford, Devon,[2][4] who became Governor on Arthur's death.

Arms of Dennis of Holcombe Burnell & Bicton, Devon: Ermine, three battle-axes gules

Marriage, children and death

John Chichester married Ann, the eldest daughter of Sir Robert Dennis (died 1592), of Holcombe Burnell,[2] by his wife Mary Blount, who was a first cousin of Lady Jane Grey and one of the two daughters and co-heiresses of William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy (c. 1478–1534), KG,[5] and his wife Dorothy Grey, daughter of Thomas Grey, 7th Baron Ferrers of Groby, 1st Earl of Huntingdon, 1st Marquess of Dorset (1455–1501), KG, grandfather of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, 3rd Marquess of Dorset (1517–1554), KG, and grandfather of Lady Jane Grey.[6]

By his wife he had children including:

Chichester died in 1586 of gaol fever contracted whilst serving as a magistrate at the Lent Black Assizes of Exeter in 1586,[2] which accounted for the deaths of many members of the population, including several other prominent Devonshire magistrates and visiting circuit judges.

References

  1. Regnal date 19 Elizabeth I (Risdon, Tristram (d.1640), Survey of Devon, 1811 edition, London, 1811, with 1810 Additions, List of Sheriffs; Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.101)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Vivian, p.174, pedigree of Chichester of Raleigh
  3. Vivian, p. 246, pedigree of Courtenay
  4. thepeerage.com
  5. Vivian, p.280, pedigree of Denys
  6. Vivian, p. 102, pedigree of Bonville

Sources

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