On the 30th September in 1487, John Sutton, Baron Dudley died at the age of 87.
From their humble beginnings in the West Midlands, the Sutton's began a slow rise to prominence, it was during the 15th and 16th centuries that they had reached the peak of their success, the most famous, or you could argue infamous of them held important offices under Henry VII, Edward VI and Elizabeth I.
John Sutton, the sixth of that name was born in 1400 and was created Baron Dudley when he was summoned to parliament as
"Johanni de Sutton de Duddeley militi" in 1440.
Previously, the Dudley barony had passed, in the 14th century, to a member of the Sutton family via the marriage of John's 4x great grandfather to Margaret, the sister and coheiress of John de Somery whose family owned Dudley Castle.
John Sutton, the sixth of that name was born in 1400 and was created Baron Dudley when he was summoned to parliament as
"Johanni de Sutton de Duddeley militi" in 1440.
Previously, the Dudley barony had passed, in the 14th century, to a member of the Sutton family via the marriage of John's 4x great grandfather to Margaret, the sister and coheiress of John de Somery whose family owned Dudley Castle.
Sutton became the first of his family to take Dudley as their surname. A writ, issued in the February of 1439, enabled the title to be used by the Sutton family in future generations.
John, Baron Dudley served under both Henry V and Henry VI and was a veteran of the Wars of the Roses, first under the Lancastrian banner and at Towton under the Yorkist. Despite his association with the Lancastrian party, he was looked on favourably by Edward IV and in 1477 he accompanied the English ambassador, his nephew William Fitzalan, to France as part of the continuing peace negotiations.
With his wife Elizabeth Berkeley he had four sons, whose descendants would play an important part in the history of England.
Sutton's eldest son Edmund had predeceased his father, and the Barony descended through the family to Edward Sutton who died in 1643 when the Dudley estates passed to the Wards of Birmingham.
His second was John Dudley, the father of John and Elizabeth. John was the father of Edmund Dudley, financial adviser to Henry VII and head of the king's council. John Sutton was therefore grandfather to John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland 'puppet master' to the boy king Edward VI and great-grandfather to the Duke's thirteen children including John, Ambrose, Robert and Guildford Dudley.
The aforementioned Elizabeth Dudley, had married Thomas Ashburnham - Elizabeth and Thomas were my 15th great-grandparents.
John Sutton's third son William became Bishop of Durham and his last son, Oliver, died at the Battle of Edcote in 1469.
John, Baron Dudley served under both Henry V and Henry VI and was a veteran of the Wars of the Roses, first under the Lancastrian banner and at Towton under the Yorkist. Despite his association with the Lancastrian party, he was looked on favourably by Edward IV and in 1477 he accompanied the English ambassador, his nephew William Fitzalan, to France as part of the continuing peace negotiations.
With his wife Elizabeth Berkeley he had four sons, whose descendants would play an important part in the history of England.
Sutton's eldest son Edmund had predeceased his father, and the Barony descended through the family to Edward Sutton who died in 1643 when the Dudley estates passed to the Wards of Birmingham.
His second was John Dudley, the father of John and Elizabeth. John was the father of Edmund Dudley, financial adviser to Henry VII and head of the king's council. John Sutton was therefore grandfather to John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland 'puppet master' to the boy king Edward VI and great-grandfather to the Duke's thirteen children including John, Ambrose, Robert and Guildford Dudley.
The aforementioned Elizabeth Dudley, had married Thomas Ashburnham - Elizabeth and Thomas were my 15th great-grandparents.
John Sutton's third son William became Bishop of Durham and his last son, Oliver, died at the Battle of Edcote in 1469.
John Sutton was buried in the Priory of St. James in Dudley which was founded in 1190 by Gervase Paganel, the kinsman of the aforementioned Somerly family of Dudley.
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