10 Jul Lordship Title of Shelton (St John) ID1264
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A second manor of SHELTON is mentioned as a portion of a knight's fee held by John de Croxton in the 13th century. John de Croxton was succeeded by Richard de Croxton, who was holding in 1284–6, whilst the last of this family to hold in Shelton was John, who was in possession in 1302–3. The descent of this property here becomes obscure. In 1346 Thomas le Rous held it, whilst in 1428 a lord 'de Bycham' is recorded as holding all Shelton, but no further document dealing with the property is forthcoming until 1544, when it was in the hands of the family of Skeffington of Leicestershire. William Skeffington, who was holding at this date, died seised of the manor in 1572. His son and heir Thomas died in 1600 and was succeeded in the tenure of the manor by his son Sir William Skeffington. The latter died without issue in 1605, and the manor of Shelton passed to his brother John. Sir William's wife angered John Skeffington by taking for her second husband Richard Bray, a groom. A quarrel sprang up between the two men which led to a lawsuit. In order to effect a compromise, the parties to the suit were induced to arrange a meeting at a hostelry near Gray's Inn. The meeting, however, resulted tragically, as on seeing each other the two men drew their swords, and in the ensuing fight both fell mortally wounded. John Skeffington left this manor by will dated 11 February 1612 to his cousin William Bendish, vicar of Stanford, who held it until his death in 1629. His son William Bendish alienated the manor in 1637 to Sir Paulet St. John and his brothers Sir Henry and Sir Beauchamp St. John. Sir Paulet St. John, dying in 1641, was succeeded by his son Oliver, afterwards first Earl Bolingbroke, who was holding in 1668. This manor remained in the hands of the St. John family down to the 19th century; the last mention of it occurs in 1832, when it was the property of the Rt. Hon. St. Andrew Beauchamp Lord St. John.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
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