John Spencer (sheriff)

Sir John Spencer (1524 – 8 November 1586) was an English nobleman, politician, knight, sheriff, landowner, and Member of Parliament. He was an early member of the Spencer family.

Sir John Spencer
Spencer Arms
Born1524
Althorp, Northamptonshire
Died(1586-11-08)8 November 1586
Althorp, Northamptonshire
BuriedSt Mary the Virgin Church, Great Brington
Noble familySpencer
Spouse(s)Katherine Kitson
IssueJohn Spencer
Elizabeth Spencer, Baroness Hunsdon
Alice Spencer, Countess of Derby
William Spencer
Richard Spencer
Anne Spencer, Countess of Dorset
FatherWilliam Spencer
MotherSusan Knightley

Life and family

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Spencer was the son of Sir William Spencer of Wormleighton Manor, Warwickshire, and Althorp, Northamptonshire, and his wife Susan Knightley, daughter of Sir Richard Knightley of Fawsley, Northamptonshire. He was probably trained in law at the Middle Temple and succeeded his father in 1532. He was knighted in 1553.

He was appointed Sheriff of Northamptonshire for 1551–52, 1558–59, 1571–72 and 1583–84. He was elected as a Knight of the Shire (MP) for Northamptonshire in April 1554, and again in 1558.

Marriage and issue

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Spencer married, by 1545, Katherine Kitson, the daughter of Sir Thomas Kitson of the City of London and of Hengrave Hall, Suffolk. They had five sons and six daughters, including

Sir John Spencer died on 8 November 1586, and was buried with his wife Katherine Kitson in St Mary the Virgin Church, Great Brington (the parish church for Althorp) where his epitaph lists his sons, his daughters and their husbands. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Spencer (died 1600).

Notes

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  1. ^ "SACKVILLE, Robert (1561-1609), of Bolbrooke and Buckhurst, Suss. and Knole, Kent". History of Parliament. Retrieved 15 March 2018.

References

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