Family and Education
b. c.1390, When John was a juror in the proof of age of his kinsman, John Skelton of Branthwaite, in 1441, he was said to be 50 years old; in the following year he was said to be 48 ‘and more’ when a juror in the proof of age of his father’s godson, John Denton of Carlisle: CIPM, xxv. 614-15. Such estimates are not generally to be relied upon, but, in this case, a birthdate in the early 1390s is consistent with all else known of his career. 2nd s. and event. h. of Sir John Skelton* by his 1st w. m. Margaret (fl.1460), ?2s. ? inc. Robert†. This is the Christian name of his wife at the time of his death: C139/167/11. She is sometimes said to have been the da. and coh. of William Bewley† (d.1433/4) of Thistlethwaite, Cumb., but in Bewley’s inq. post mortem her husband is identified as Robert Skelton: CIPM, xxiv. 141. This identification is supported by the writs of diem clausit extremum issued to the Cumb. escheator in 1439 in respect of Robert and his wife, Margaret: CFR, xvii. 104. Unfortunately no inqs. survive.
Offices Held
Attestor, parlty. elections, Cumb. 1425, 1432, 1442, 1447, 1449 (Feb.), 1450, 1453, 1455.
Escheator, Cumb. and Westmld. 23 Nov. 1437 – 6 Nov. 1438.
Sheriff, Cumb. 4 Nov. 1440–1, 1445 – 46, 3 Dec. 1450 – 3 Nov. 1451.
Commr. to make proclamation, Cumb. June 1444 (for appearance of William Stapleton* before King and council); assign archers Dec. 1457.
Conservator of the truce with Scotland Nov. 1449, Aug. 1451, May 1453, June 1457.
Parlimentarian
Main residence: Armathwaite, Cumb.
Volume
Commons 1422-1461
Will
Estates
Oxford 1644
No
Addresses
Religion
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