WILLIAM DE SENT JOHN

WILLIAM DE ST. JOHN, whose name was derived from the territory of St. John, near Rouen, came into England with the CONQUEROR, as grand Master of the artillery, and supervisor of the waggons and carriages, whence the horses' hames, or collar, was borne for his cognizance. He married Oliva, daughter of Ralph de Filgiers, of Normandy, and had by her, Thomas, who died without issue, and JOHN DE ST. JOHN, who inherited, on the demise of his brother, all the lands in England, and principally the lordship of STANTON, co. Oxon (for distinction from the other towns of the same name, called STANTON ST. JOHN). This John was a person of great eminence in the reign of WILLIAM RUFUS, being one of the twelve knights that accompanied Robert Fitz-Hamon, Earl of Gloucester, in a warlike expedition against the Welsh, and received, "in reward for his great services, and helps in many victories," the castle of Faumont, co. Glamorgan. He had issue, a daughter, Avoris, married to Sir Bernard de St. Valery, and two sons - I. ROGER, ancestor of the noble House of ST. JOHN, and Thomas, Lord of Stanton, St. John, living 13 HENRY II, whose son, ROGER, was assessed £133 6s. 8d. for trespassing in the King's forests, 22 HENRY II. The grandson of this Roger, JOHN ST. JOHN, was killed at the battle of Evesham, 43 EDWARD III. He was in the holy wars with RICHARD I., who, at the siege of Acon, in Palestine, adopted the device of tying a leathern thong, or garter, round the left leg of a certain number of knights, (one of whom was this John St. John) that they might be impelled to higher deeds of valour. This is supposed by some to have given the idea of the Order of the Garter.

--(This name appears on the Battle Abbey Roll)