John Donne

Lord of Utkinton

Events

(probable) Date of Birth: about 1355.

John’s age is recorded as 14 at the death of his father in his father’s inquisition post mortem (RDKPR 1867 Appendix p. 67), assuming Richard was his father.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Date of Death: 28 December 1434.

The date is given in John’s inquisition post mortem (Ormerod 2:248).

Relationships

(probable) Father: Richard Donne.

This relationship is given by Ormerod (2:245; 2:248). Ormerod/Helsby expresses some hesitation, giving Henry Donne, possibly Richard’s uncle, as another possible father for the John Donne who was lord of Utkinton in the early 1400s, the other John possibly having died without issue and John, the son of Henry succeeding. The evidence from the Middlewich Chartulary cited below shows that John, the son of Richard, was still alive in 1375, at least. The pedigree in the 1580 Visitation of Cheshire (p. 84) gives Henry as John's father.

Mother: uncertain.

Spouse: Anne Heiton.

This relationship is given by Ormerod (2:248). Anne was the daughter of Richard Heiton, of Lancashire. Presumably this is the Richard Heaton mentioned as a keeper of the peace in Sandford Hundred in 1385 (Lancashire VCH 5, sub Heaton).

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Most information below comes from Ormerod.)

John Done (about 1385 - 1441) married Elizabeth Dutton.

(possibly) Elizabeth Done married William Frodsham.

(possibly) Elizabeth Done married Philip Bruen.

Margaret Done contracted to marry John Pynk.

Alice Done contracted to marry Richard de Eulowe.

Evidence

From the Cheshire Archives catalogue (DAR/B 43/2):

Grant of tenements and lands in Crowton, Cuddington, Kingsley and Norley

16 August 1375

Grant and settlement by Robert de Rosungrene, chaplain, to Richard son of Henry Donne de Crowton and Elena his wife, of all those me4ssuages, lands and tenements which he had by the grant of of the said Richard in the vills of Crouton [Crowton], Codynton [Cuddington], Kyngeslegh [Kingsley] and Norlegh [Norley], to hold to them and their heirs, remainder to John son of Richard Donne of Utkinton and his heirs male etc. Witnesse: Thomas de ffelton, kt., then Justcice of Chester, Laurence de Dutton then Sheriff of Chester, Nicholas de manlegh, Roger de Moldesworth and others. Endorsed: '(122)'. Fragment of seal in red wax on tag.

From A Middlewich Chartulary pp. 302-3:

p. 155a. Notice by Edward the "Black Prince," earl of Chester, to his escheator there that he has respited the homage of John son and heir of Richard Done of Utkinton, some of whose lands have been in his hands during his nonage, until a fortnight after Easter, 1375. Dec. 14.

Dominus princeps et comes Cestrie mandauit litteras suas clausas Johanne de Scholehall escaetori suo Cestrie in hec verba: Edward eisne filtz du roi Dengleterre et de France, prince de Gales, duc de Cornewall et counte Cestre, a nostre cher uallet John de Scolehall, nostre eschetor de Cestre salutz. Pource que Johan fitz et heir a Richard Doun de Utkinton, par resoun de qui non age certenz teres et tenementes ount este en nostre etc. que nous auons respitez soun homage tanque la quinzeine de Pasche. Datum apud Cestriam, 14 die Decembris, anno 48 E. 3.

Left margin: Utkinton.

From The Thirty-Sixth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (Recognizance Rolls of Chester), pp. 154-157:

1389, April 29. John, of Utkynton, to Hugh de Burnell, recognizance for 200l. [12 & 13 Ric. 2 m. 4 d. (1).]

1392, July 23. John, forester of Mara and Mondrem, general pardon to, on a fine of 20l. [15 & 16 Ric. 2. m. 9 (1), (2).]

1393. Richard brother of John Donne, of Utkynton, John Donne, of Utkynton, and Roger son of Nicholas le Bruyn, to the King, recognizance for 75l. for the farm of the herbage and pannage of the forest of Mara, demised to the said Richard for 3 years from Michaelmas 1392. [16 & 17 Ric. 2. m. 5. d. (7).]

1395, Sept. 30. John, of Utkynton, Thomas de Venables, of Frodesham, and William de Frodesham, in the name of Robert de Sutton, of Frodesham, and Geoffrey his son, take to farm the office of beadle of the hundred of Edesbury, for one year at 18 marks, 6s. 8d.

1396-7, March 14. John, of Utkinton, forester of Mara, Richard de Venables, of Kynderton, Kt., Thomas de Fouleshurst, of Edlaston, Adam de Bostok, Hugh de Coton, and Richard de Bromlegh, to the King, recognizance for 60l. arrears of the said John. [20 & 21 Ric. 2. m. 1 d. (5).]

1397, May 18. John, of Utkinton, to John de Eulowe, recognizance for 50l., that Richard son and heir of the aforesaid John de Eulowe, should marry Alice daughter of the said John Donne, within four years. [20 & 21 Ric. 2. m. 8 d. (4).]

1398, June 4. John, of Utkinton, to John de Eulowe, recognizance for 50l. for the marriage of Richard son and heir of the said John de Eulowe, with Alice, daughter of the said John Donne, and the said John de Eulowe agrees, on the payment of the said sum, to enfeoff the said Richard and Alice of land of the yearly value of 100s. 4d. [21 & 22 Ric. 2 m. 9 d. (6).]

1398, Sept. 28. John,grant to, of the frithmote and customs of the forest of Delamere to the yearly value of 21l. 0s. 4d. [21 & 22 Ric. 2. m. 38 (16), (17).]

1400, Dec. 18. John, forester of Mara, warrant to, for the delivery to William de Venables of Kynderton of 4 does. [2 & 3 Hen. 4. m. 3 (1).]

1401, July 14. John, of Utkinton, armiger, grant to, on his surrendering a grant of Ric. 2. of the frithmote and customs of the forests of Mara and Mondrem, of an annuity for life, of 10l. to be received of the issues of the said frithmote and customs, with 7 ½ d. daily for his expenses in attending the court and for other matters foreign to his office of forester. [2 & 3 Hen. 4. m. 3 (9).]

1401-2, Feb. 16. John, of Utkinton, Richard de Manley, John son of Robert de Legh, of Macclesfield, and John son of Nicholas le Bruyn to Henry Prince of Wales, recognizance for 27l. 3s. 0 ½ d. [2 & 3 Hen. 4. m. 4 d. (3).]

1402-3, Jan. 11. John, of Utkinton, Reginald del Dounes, John and Richard de Kyngesley, to Reginald de Grey, of Ruthin, recognizance for 40l. that Adam and Richard de Kyngesley, would abide the decree of the said Reginald, touching lands in Torporlegh and Ayton, whereof Hugh Holes, Kt., had arraigned an assize of Novel disseisin against the said Adam and Richard, 3 & 4 Hen. 4. m. 2 (3).]

1403, June 20. Elizabeth, wife of John Donne, of Utkinton, warrant to John Donne, foreester of Delamere, to deliver to the said Elizabeth 4 oaks for the repair of the church of Topurlegh. [3 & 4 Hen. 4. m. 8 d. (5).]

1403. John, of Utkinton, writ to the escheator of Chester to seize the lands of, a rebel, and to make inquisition touching their value. [3 & 4 Hen. 4. m. 12 (8).]

1406, April 2. John, of Utkinton, John de Cholmundelegh, of Chorley, and William del Hope, of Chester, to Henry Prince of Wales, recognizance for 100s. and 13l. 5s. 4d. [6 & 7 Hen. 4. m. 2 (6), (7).]

1407, April 14. John, of Utkinton, John de Overton, of Chester, vintner, and John Gernet, of Chester, to Henry Prince of Wales, recognizance for 10l. and 18l. 5s. [7 & 8 Hen. 4. m. 2 d. (4), (5).]

1408, April 9. John, of Utkinton, senior, Robert de Legh, Kt., John son of John de Stanley, Richard de Bromley, Richard Donne, of Crowton, Roger and John le Bruyn, and John son of David Pynk, keep the peace towards Richard and John de Manley, Richard le Roter, Richard de Frodsham, Peter del Holt, Richard del Hall of Kingsley, and William de Whityngham, and that the said John Donne abide the award of Peter de Dutton, Kt., William de Brerton, Kt., Randal Maynwaring, William de Venables, of Kynderton, Robert de Legh, Kt., John de Pull, Kt., Peter de Werburton, and Matthew del Mere, touching all disputes pending between the said John Donne and others, and the said Richard de Manley and others. [8 & 9 Hen. 4. m 8 (1).]

1408, April 10. John and Richard, of Utkinton, Thomas de Bolde, and William de Becheton, of Budworth, to Henry Prince of Wales, recognizance for 19l. 0s. 16 ½ d as arrears of the said John. [8 & 9 Hen. 4. m. 8 d. (3).]

1409, April 3. John, of Utkinton, William le Venables, of Troghford, Thomas de Kelsale, David de Horton, and Robert de Hutton, to Henry Prince of Wales, recognizance in 40l. as sureties for Richard le Walker. [8 & 9 Hen. 4. m. 10 (3).]

1409, June 4. John, of Utkinton, senior, Richard de Cholmundeley, of Cholmundeley, Richard Donne, of Utkinton, Roger le Bryne, John de Cholmundeley, of Chorley, John le Bryd, of Chorleton, Thomas de Lauton, Henry de Lawton, John de Capenhurst, Philip Philkyn, William le Warde, of Horton, Richard de Rode, William de Tatenhale, John de Golburn of Woday, John de Sonde, Richard de Cholmondeley, of Nantwich, John del Malpas, of Hampton, Ralph de Morton, John de Mascy, of Coton, Thomas de Coton, William de Honford, Peter de Dutton, chivaler, William de Brerton, chivaler, Urian de Eggerton, chivaler, Thomas de Eggerton, Robert de Overton, Thomas le Grosvenor, chivaler, Hugh de Venables, of Kynderton, Richard Donne, of Crouton, William de Leycestre, and John Starkey, of Northwich, to John Savage, recognizance for 300 marks. [9 & 10 Hen. 4. m. 5 d. (5).]

1410. Nov. 20. John, of Utkinton, Richard de Cholmundeley, William de Overton, of Torpurley, Thomas de Kelsale, and Henry Hyskone, of Utkinton, to Henry Prince of Wales, recognizance for 40l., a fine made by the said John Donne. [11 & 12 Hen. 4. m. 2 d. (2).]

1411, Dec. 9. John and Richard, of Utkinton, lease to, of the agistment and pannage of the forest of Delemere. [12 & 13 Hen. 4. m. 4 d. (10).]

1411-12, Feb. 22. John, of Utkinton, lease to, of the profits issuing from the forfeiture of swine and goats, within the forest of Delamere, for six years, at 6s. 8d. yearly; Thomas de Kelsale and Adam le Cryor, of Clotton, sureties. [12 & 13 Hen. 4. m. 3 (1).]

1412. Aug. 27. John, of Utkinton, senior, Richard de Cholmundley, and Roger le Bruyn, mainprise Richard de Kyngesley. [12 & 13 Hen. 4. m. 4 (2).]

From The Thirty-Sixth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (Recognizance Rolls of Chester), pp. 395:

1397, May 9. David [Pynk], and Joan his wife, undertake to grant to John their son, and Margaret, daughter of John Donne, of Utkyngton, all the lands and tenements, &c., of the said David and Joan in Kelsale, Horton, Lytelbarwe, together with one “Mulneplace” in Great Moldeworth, to hold to the said John and Margaret, and the heirs of their bodies, of the chief lords of those fees, and, failing the said heirs, with remainder to the right heirs of the said John, also an annual rent of 20s. for life, should the said John and Margaret not recover the manor of Lytelbarwe, all the said lands, &c., to be passed by fine after the marriage of the said John and Margaret. [22 & 23 Ric. 2. m. 9 (2).]

From The Thirty-Sixth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (Recognizance Rolls of Chester), pp. 532:

1403-4, Jan. 24. Richard de [Winnington], Kt., John Donne, of Utkynton, Hugh de Dutton, Richard de Manley, Roger le Bruyn, Henry de Spurstowe, Henry de Davenport, and John le Bruyn, commission of, by Henry Prince of Wales, to inquire, by a jury of the hundred of Eddisbury, touching those who spread false rumours to the disquiet of the people of the county of Chester and disturbance of the peace there; also to array all the fencible men of the said hundred. [4 & 5 Hen. 4. m. 4 (1).]

1406, March 31. Richard de [Winnington], Kt., John Donne, of Utkynton, Hugh de Dutton, Richard de Manley, Richard de Spurstowe, Henry de Davenport, and Henry de Spurstowe, commission of, by Henry Prince of Wales, to asssemble all the men of the hundred of Edesbury on a certain day, to treat touching the finding of 2 lances and 30 archers to serve in the marches within the hundred of Broxon, against the Welsh rebels. [6 & 7 Hen. 4. m. 2 (9).]

From The Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (Recognizance Rolls of Chester), pp. 209-213:

1414, Oct.11. John, of Utkynton, William son of William de Brerton, Kt., Peter de Wilbram and Roger de Coton, mainprise to answer for the issues of the manor of Golburn-Belewe and of the land and tenements in Newebold, Chyrton, and Hanley, which were of William son of Robert le Belewe, if they should be adjudged to the King. [2 & 3 Hen. 5. m. 2 (6).]

1414, Oct. 11. John, of Utkynton, senior, Peter de Dutton, Kt., Hugh de Dutton, and William de Brerton, of Stapulford, to the King, recognizance in 40l. that the said John and John his son keep the peace towards William the son of William de Stanley, Kt. [2 & 3 Hen. 5. m. 2 (7).]

1414, Oct. 11. -----, William son of William de Stanley, Kt., Peter de Dutton, Kt., Hugh de Dutton, and William de Brerton, counter-recognizance to the above. [Ibid.. (8).]

1414, Dec. 9. John, of Utkynton, senior, William de Brerton, of Foukestapulford, John de Manley, and Richard de Bunbery, to the King, recognizance in 40l. that the said John and John his son keep the peace towards William the son of William de Stanley, Kt. [2 & 3 Hen. 5. m. 1 (6).]

1414, Dec. 9. ---, William son of William de Stanley, John Savage, Laurence Fyton, Kt., Peter de Legh, and John de Manley, counter-recognizance to the foregoing. [2 & 3 Hen. 5. m. 3 d. (7).]

1414, Dec. 19. John, of Utkinton, senior, John de Kyngesley, Oliver de Staneley, and John de Boudon, of Boudon, of Boudon, to the King, recognizance in 40l. that the said John Donne keep the peace towards William son of William de Stanley, Kt. [2 & 3 Hen. 5. m. 1 d. (6).]

1414-15, March 19. John, of Utkinton, senior, John Savage, and John de Manley, to the King, in recognizance in 7l. [2 & 3 Hen. 5. m. 3 d. (7).]

1415. Oct. 9. John, of Utkinton, senior, to Henry Ravenscroft, escheator, recognizance for 5 marks for the lands and tenements of Thomas de Hulgreve, in Torpurley, a felon. [3 & 4 Hen. 5. m. 2 (1).]

1415. Oct. 20. John, armiger, otherwise called John Dowene, of Utkynton, general pardon to. [3 & 4 Hen. 5. m. 4 d. (1).]

1416. April 5. John, of Utkinton, senior, John de Manley, Robert de Wynynton, Henry de Spurstowe, Henry de Davenport, and Roger le Bruyn, commission of, as collectors of a subsidy in the hundred of Edesbury, part of a subsidy of 3,000 marks, granted to the King by the county of Chester. [3 & 4 Hen. 5. m. 6 (1).]

1416. Sept. 25. John, of Utkynton, senior and junior, to the King, recognizance in 40l. that ….Furnyvall keep the peace towards Edward de Wevere. [3 & 4 Hen. 5. m. 9 d. (8).]

1416-17. Feb. 16. John, of Utkinton, senior, and Robert Spark, to William de Stanley, Kt., junior, recognizance for 100l. that the said Robert abide the award of John de Stanley, Kt., touching all disputes pending between him and William le Roteur, of Netherton, Richard le Roteur of Hellesby, Thomas Wilkynsone Jacsone, of Hellesby, and Richard Wilkynsone Jacsone of Hellesby. [5 & 6 Hen. 5. m. 3 d. (5), (6).]

1417-18. March 17. John, of Over, Ralph de Bostok, Kt,, John Donne, of Utkynton, senior, John de Kyngesley, of Nantwich, and John de Manley, to the King, recognizance for 100l. that the said John Donne, who for certain reasons was detained in the castle of Chester, should go to France in the King’s service, there to stay until the King’s return from those parts. [5 & 6 Hen. 5. m. 3 d. (6).]

1419. April 2. Richard, of Kelsale, John Donne, of Utkynton, senior, Thomas de Kelsale, John Donne, of Utkinton, junior, Henry Hicsone, of Utkynton, and William Barker, of Torpurley, to the King, recognizance in 17l. 18s. 9d. [6 & 7 Hen. 5. m. 5 d. (4).]

1427. May 2. John, of Utkynton, senior, Henry de Spurstowe, John Donne, junior, Richard de Prestelond, Hugh de Ravenescroft, Roger Coton, and William de Holford, to the King, recognizance for 1000 marks that William son of William de Venables, of Kinderton, abide the award of Peter de Dutton, Kt., Thomas le Grosvenor, Kt., Roger Venables, parson of Routhestorn, and John Donne, of Utkinton, touching all disputes pending between the said William and John de Kingesley, armiger. [5 & 6 Hen. 6. m. 3 d. (7).]

1428. Dec. 14. John, of Utkinton, master forester of the forest of Delamere, and William de Bulkyley, commission of, to hold the lesser swainmote within the said forest.. [7 & 8 Hen. 6. m. 1 (2).]

1429. Sept. 29. John, of Utkinton, master forester of the forest of “Mara and Mondrem,” and William de Bulkyley, commission of, as justices of the forest. [7 & 8 Hen. 6. m. 3 d. (9).]

1429-30. Jan. 12 John, armiger, lease to, on the mainprise of Hugh de Ravenscroft, Roger de Coton, of Chester, Nicholas Gerard, and Alexander de Henbury, of all the lands and tenements which were of John de Manley, in the King’s hands, by the minority of Thomas son and heir of the same John, and by the restitution by John Kingsley, of letters of the 8th Nov. 1426, granting to him the custody of the said lands. [8 & 9 Hen. 6. m. 3 d. (3).]

1435, July 9. John, of Utkynton, writ “diem clausit extremum,” on the death of. [13 & 14 Hen. 6. m. 6 (8).]

Ormerod/Helsby (2:245) give this summary of the inquisition post mortem:

Inq. p. m. 13 Hen VI. Johes Donne, senior. Seized in fee of the manor of Utkynton, held of Hugh le Venables of Kynderton, Val. p. a. 10 marks; two parts of the manor of Alpram ; a moiety of the manor of Clutton ; a 4th part of the manor of Kyngesley, in villis de Kyngesley, Norley, and Codynton simul cli ballivis forestrie forestar' de Mara and Mondreme to the same 4th part appertaining; also lands in Neuton juxta Kyngesley, Bradley juxta Kyngesley, Torpley, Bernton, a salt pit in Northwyco, and burgages and land in Froddesham. Ob. die Martis prº ante festum tñslacoīs Sci Thome Martiris ultimo. Johes Donne fit & heres, etat. 50 ann.

References

Glover, Robert. The Visitation of Cheshire in the Year 1580 (John Paul Rylands, ed.) (The Harleian Society, London: 1882).

A History of the County of Lancaster:Volume 5, ed. William Farrer and J. Brownbill (London, 1911)

Ormerod, George; Peter Leycester; William Smith; William Webb; and Thomas Helsby. The history of the county palatine and city of Chester: compiled from original evidences in public offices, the Harleian and Cottonian mss., parochial registers, private muniments, unpublished ms. collections of successive Cheshire antiquaries, and a personal survey of every township in the county, incorporated with a republication of King's Vale royal and Leycester's Cheshire antiquities. (London: G. Routledge, 1882).

A Middlewich Chartulary. Joan Varley, ed. (Chetham Society v. 105 and 108: 1941 and 1944).

The Twenty-Eighth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (1867).

The Thirty-Sixth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. (London: 1875).

The Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. (London: 1876).