Sir John de Hotham IV

Sir John de Hotham IV, eldest son and heir of John de Hotham III and his wife Agnes de Heslerton was born about 1320 [1]. Little is known about his life, since his father and grandfather were both alive during his lifetime and he is seldom noticed in the records.

He married about 1340, Maud daughter of Robert de Hilton of Swine by his wife Margaret, daughter of Marmaduke de Thwenge and co-heiress of her uncle Thomas de Thwenge.

His grandfather Sir John de Hotham II, died about 1340, so any further references to John de Hotham, 'the younger' in contemporary records probably refer to John de Hotham IV.

In March, 1347, William de Cranswick granted to Sir John de Hotham "the third knight" of Scorborough, and to Sir John his father "the second knight" of Scorborough, a messuage and croft in Cranswick lying in South Naventoft, which he had by gift of Avice widow of William Goundry. Witnesses, Sir Walter de Heslarton and others [2].

In 1347-8, John de Hotham of Scorborough, knight, the younger, Martin de Skirne, John de Alberthorp and John de Scardeburgh, chaplains were enfeoffed of the manor of Wharram Percy by Walter de Heslerton [3]. On 14 December 1350, Thomas Ughtred, John de Hotham of Scorborough, the younger, and Martin de Skiryn, clerk, were appointed as guardians and defenders of Eustachia late the wife of Walter de Heselerton, widow [4].

On 17 May 1360, John de Hotham senior and John de Hotham junior, knights were witnesses to a Langdale deed [5].

In 1366, Sir Thomas Ughtred, Sir John de Hotham, the younger (le fitz) and Nicholas de Hotham were arrested by Thomas Musgrave, the sheriff of Yorkshire, and imprisoned in York castle, accused of robbery, extortion and other crimes. Ughtred appealed to the king's council which was unable to find any evidence against them and they were released [6].

John de Hotham IV died around 1370. He and his wife Maud were both dead before 1374, when Maud's uncle Thomas de Thwenge died and their son Sir John de Hotham V was one of his heirs.

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[1] His eldest son was born about 1344 and his father was born about 1290.

[2] Brown, Yorkshire Deeds Vol. 1, 56.

[3] Martin, Percy Chartulary, 225.

[4] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 9: 1350–1354 (1907), 19.

[5] “Genealogia Antiquae Familiae Langdalorum,” 373.

[6] I. S. Leadam and J. F. Baldwin, eds., Select Cases Before the King’s Council 1243-1482, Selden Society 35, 1918, 55–60.