John Clopton, Esq., of Kentwell

Information from: The Families of LOU DRAPER & CHARLIE MARTIN of Johnson and Henry Counties, Missouri" by James M McMillen, Arlington, Texas

Published in .pdf format 13 January 2010

Sir William Clopton, Knight, of Kentwell (1450–1530), married (1) Joan Marrow, (2) Catherine Roydon, and (3) Thomasine Knyvet (died 1536), daughter of Sir Thomas Knyvet of Great Stanway, Essex, and Elizabeth Lunsford.

Sir John Knyvet (born before 1311, died 1381) of Southwick, Northamptonshire, an ancestor of Sir Thomas, was a Chief Justice of the King's Bench (i.e., Chief Justice of England) and when Lord Chancellor was said to have “acted with great wisdom and discretion,” an unusual accomplishment of the time.

The Lunsford line is known back to the England of Edward the Confessor, before the Norman Conquest. Other lines lead back to English royalty and the royal houses of Scotland, France, Poland, Kiev, and many other countries, including the Holy Roman Empire and its first Emperor, Charlemagne.

Castlyns Hall, which is still occupied, came into the Clopton family from the Knyvets through the marriage of Johan Chasteleyne (died about 1376) to Robert Knyvet. Sir William Clopton became the Lord of Castlyns manor, as well as Kentwell Manor. Sir William was made Knight of the Sword (or Carpet) on the marriage of Prince Arthur on 14 November 1501.

He had children:

'John Clopton (1), inherited Kentwell, married Elizabeth Roydon

William Clopton (1), married Elizabeth Saye

Elizabeth Clopton (1), married Sir Geoffrey Gates

Anne Clopton (1), married Richard Poley

Dorothy Clopton (1)

Katherine Clopton (1)

(A daughter) (1), married –?– Austin DRAPER

Richard Clopton (3)

John Clopton (3)

Francis Clopton (3), married Bridgett Crane

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