Biography of John "Black Sir John" Egerton 1551-1614

Paternal Family Tree: Egerton

In 1551 John "Black Sir John" Egerton was born to [his father] John Egerton (age 21).

Around 1574 [his son] Philip Egerton was born to John "Black Sir John" Egerton (age 23) and [his future wife] Margaret Stanley.

In 1575 [his daughter] Frances Egerton was born to John "Black Sir John" Egerton (age 24) and [his future wife] Margaret Stanley. She married before 1635 John Minshull.

In 1583 John "Black Sir John" Egerton (age 32) and Margaret Stanley were married.

In 1584 [his daughter] Katherine Egerton was born to John "Black Sir John" Egerton (age 33) and [his wife] Margaret Stanley.

Before 1587 John "Black Sir John" Egerton (age 35) was appointed Justice of the Peace Cheshire.

In 1590 [his father] John Egerton (age 60) died.

The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy

The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.

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In 1594 [his son] Roland Egerton 1st Baronet was born to John "Black Sir John" Egerton (age 43) and [his wife] Margaret Stanley. He married 1609 Bridget Grey Lady Egerton and Oulton, daughter of Arthur Grey 14th Baron Grey of Wilton and Jane Sibella Morrison Baroness Grey Wilton, and had issue.

In 1596 [his wife] Margaret Stanley died.

Before 1601 John "Black Sir John" Egerton (age 49) was elected MP Staffordshire.

In 1607 John "Black Sir John" Egerton (age 56) was elected MP Staffordshire.

In 1609 [his son] Roland Egerton 1st Baronet (age 15) and [his daughter-in-law] Bridget Grey Lady Egerton and Oulton were married.

On 21st April 1610 [his son] John Egerton was killed in a duel by Edward Morgan (age 34) at Highgate.

History of Parliament: "The elder Morgan was engaged in an unspecified legal battle with Sir John Egerton (age 59), and the duel was the culmination of a quarrel that had lasted at least four years. In June 1606 the younger Morgan had attempted to stab Egerton and his son John in church. Two years later, in August 1608, he had challenged the Egertons to meet him 'in any place of Christendom', describing Sir John as 'a filthy black knight' and his whole family as 'vipers'. These provocations were initially ignored, but when Morgan refused to return a hawk belonging to the Egertons which had landed on his property and abused the falconer with 'reproachful speeches', John Egerton had issued his own challenge, only to be forbidden from taking the field by his father.36 John would not let the matter rest, however, and on 19 Apr. 1610, after encountering Morgan at Prince Henry's Court, he again challenged Morgan, who not only accepted but described John's father as 'the greatest oppressor this day in England'."

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 1.199. [2nd May 1610] The Lord Treasurer (age 46) hath sent over his secretarie Kirkham to take order to furnish the Lord Cranbourne (age 19) with all necessaries to follow the French king in this journy, and more of our court gallants talke of taking the same course yf the viage hold. Indeed yt were fitter they had some place abrode to vent theyre superfluous valour then to brabble so much as they do here at home: for in one weeke we had three or fowre great quarrells, the first twixt the earles of Southampton (age 36) and Mongomerie (age 25) that fell out at tennis, where the racketts flew about theyre cares, but the matter was taken up and compounded by the King without further bloudshed, but the matter was not so easilie ended twixt younge [his son] Egerton eldest¹ sonne to Sir John (age 59), and one Morgan (age 34) a lawiers sonne of goode state: the first beeing left dead in the feild, and the other sort hurt, and yet cannot be bailed nor dispensed withall but that he lies still by yt in Newgate. The Lord Norris (age 30) likewise went into the feild with Peregrin Willoughby (age 26) upon an old reckening, and hurt him daungerously in the shoulder.

Note 1. McClure has this as 'James' rather than 'John'. He was a younger son.

Addled Parliament

In 1614 during the Addled Parliament Charles Thynne (age 46) was elected MP Lymington. John "Black Sir John" Egerton (age 63) was elected MP Lichfield. Mervyn Tuchet 2nd Earl Castlehaven (age 21) was elected MP Dorset. Richard Edgecumbe (age 44) was elected MP Bodmin.

On 28th April 1614 John "Black Sir John" Egerton (age 63) died.

[his daughter] Mary Egerton was born to John "Black Sir John" Egerton and Margaret Stanley.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke

Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.

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[his daughter] Margaret Egerton was born to John "Black Sir John" Egerton and Margaret Stanley.

[his son] Richard Egerton was born to John "Black Sir John" Egerton and Margaret Stanley.

[his son] John Egerton was born to John "Black Sir John" Egerton and Margaret Stanley.

[his son] Peter Egerton was born to John "Black Sir John" Egerton and Margaret Stanley.

Biography of John "Black Sir John" Egerton 1551-1614

Ancestors of John "Black Sir John" Egerton 1551-1614