He was born at the family estate of Stowford in the parish of West Down in North Devon.[4]
Careeredit
It is not known at which Inn of Court he trained as a lawyer, but he was called to the bar and became a serjeant at law. In 1341 he was appointed King's Serjeant to King Edward III.[5] In 1346 he was knighted and was appointed Chief Baron of the Exchequer.[6] In 1349 he was appointed one of the Justices Itinerant for the county of Kent.
Builds Pilton Causewayedit
Bridge over River Yeo at northern end of Pilton Causeway linking towns of Barnstaple and Pilton. Built by Sir John StowfordPilton Causeway, looking towards Barnstaple. Here it crosses the tip of one of the meanders in the River Yeo. Built by Sir John Stowford
Stowford built Pilton Causeway which links the towns of Barnstaple and Pilton, which were then separated by the treacherous marshy ground in which flowed the tidal meanders of the small River Yeo. It is recounted by Prince that Stowford decided on building the causeway when on his way from his home at Stowford to Barnstaple, he met whilst fording the Yeo, the drowned bodies of a woman with her child.[7] He is also believed to have contributed to the financing of the long-bridge in Barnstaple.[8]
Marriageedit
He married Joan Tracy, a co-heiress of the Tracy family of Woolacombe Tracy, Devon.[9]
Death and burialedit
He died at Stowford and was buried in the Stowford Chapel in the north transept of West Down Church, where survives his much-worn[10] life-size effigy carved in oak, dressed in his robes of office,[11] set on the floor under a low recessed arch set into the north wall.[12] The colouring of the effigy was renewed in 1873,[13] but no trace survives today.
Further readingedit
Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 55, biography of Sir John StowfordStowford, John (DNB00)From Wikisource
Sourcesedit
Prince, John, (1643–1723) The Worthies of Devon, 1810 edition, pp. 727–729, biography of Sir John Stowford
john, stowford, 1290, 1372, stowford, west, down, devon, chief, baron, exchequer, 1346, john, prince, worthies, devon, detail, effigy, west, down, church, devon, effigy, west, down, church, devon, contents, origins, career, builds, pilton, causeway, marriage, . Sir John Stowford c 1290 1 c 1372 2 of Stowford West Down in Devon was Chief Baron of the Exchequer 3 in 1346 He is one of John Prince s Worthies of Devon Detail of effigy of Sir John Stowford West Down Church Devon Effigy of Sir John Stowford West Down Church Devon Contents 1 Origins 2 Career 3 Builds Pilton Causeway 4 Marriage 5 Death and burial 6 Further reading 7 Sources 8 ReferencesOrigins editHe was born at the family estate of Stowford in the parish of West Down in North Devon 4 Career editIt is not known at which Inn of Court he trained as a lawyer but he was called to the bar and became a serjeant at law In 1341 he was appointed King s Serjeant to King Edward III 5 In 1346 he was knighted and was appointed Chief Baron of the Exchequer 6 In 1349 he was appointed one of the Justices Itinerant for the county of Kent Builds Pilton Causeway edit nbsp Bridge over River Yeo at northern end of Pilton Causeway linking towns of Barnstaple and Pilton Built by Sir John Stowford nbsp Pilton Causeway looking towards Barnstaple Here it crosses the tip of one of the meanders in the River Yeo Built by Sir John Stowford Stowford built Pilton Causeway which links the towns of Barnstaple and Pilton which were then separated by the treacherous marshy ground in which flowed the tidal meanders of the small River Yeo It is recounted by Prince that Stowford decided on building the causeway when on his way from his home at Stowford to Barnstaple he met whilst fording the Yeo the drowned bodies of a woman with her child 7 He is also believed to have contributed to the financing of the long bridge in Barnstaple 8 Marriage editHe married Joan Tracy a co heiress of the Tracy family of Woolacombe Tracy Devon 9 Death and burial editHe died at Stowford and was buried in the Stowford Chapel in the north transept of West Down Church where survives his much worn 10 life size effigy carved in oak dressed in his robes of office 11 set on the floor under a low recessed arch set into the north wall 12 The colouring of the effigy was renewed in 1873 13 but no trace survives today Further reading editDictionary of National Biography 1885 1900 Volume 55 biography of Sir John StowfordStowford John DNB00 From WikisourceSources editPrince John 1643 1723 The Worthies of Devon 1810 edition pp 727 729 biography of Sir John StowfordReferences edit Prince p 727 Hoskins W G A New Survey of England Devon London 1959 first published 1954 p 390 Prince Lord Chief Baron Prince p 727 Prince p 727 Prince p 727 quoting Dugdale Prince p 728 Prince p 728 Prince p 729 Pevsner Nikolaus amp Cherry Bridget The Buildings of England Devon London 2004 p 900 Hoskins p 390 Pevsner p 899 Hoskins p 390 Legal offices Preceded bySir William de Shareshull Chief Baron of the Exchequer1346 Succeeded bySir Robert Sadington Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Stowford amp oldid 1083099354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
