John SUTTON

(3rd B. Sutton of Dudley)

Born: 1495, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales

Died: 18 Apr/Sep 1553, Westminster, Middlesex, England

Buried: 18 Sep 1553 St. Margaret's, Westminster, Middlesex, England

Father: Edward SUTTON (2° B. Sutton of Dudley)

Mother: Cecily WILLOUGHBY (B. Sutton of Dudley)

Married: Cecily GREY (B. Sutton of Dudley) 30 Oct 1520

Children:

1. Edward SUTTON (4° B. Sutton of Dudley)

2. Henry SUTTON (Knight Capt.)

3. George SUTTON

4. Margaret SUTTON

5. John SUTTON

6. Thomas SUTTON

7. Dorothy SUTTON

8. Elizabeth SUTTON

9. Robert SUTTON

Eldest son and heir of Sir Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley and his wife Cicely Willoughby, he was born about 1494, at Dudley Castle, Worcestershire.

He was betrothed to Cecily Grey, a daughter of Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset, by Cecily, his wife, by 30 Oct 1501, whom he subsequently married.

He was knighted 13 Oct 1513. He succeeded his father as Baron Dudley in 1532 and immediately began to sell his patrimony. He was never summoned to Parliament.

John, Lord Dudley, a man of weak understanding, whereby he had exposed himself to some wants, and so became entangled in the usurer’s bonds, his cousin John Dudley, then Viscount Lisle and Earl of Warwick (afterwards Duke of Northumberland), thirsting after Dudley Castle, the chief seat of the family, made those money merchants his instruments to work him out of it, which by some mortgage being at length effected, Lord Dudley became exposed to the charity of his friends for a subsistence, and spending the remainder of his life in visits amongst them, was commonly called the Lord Quondam. ("Lord Has-been" or "Lord Formerly"). In Feb 1537, his wife wrote to Thomas Cromwell, complaining of the poverty in which she and her husband were forced to live. Northumberland resided at Dudley Castle and added new and magnificent structures to the old fortress. After  the Duke's execution, Dudley Castle was forfeited to the crown, and in 1555 was restored to Lord Dudley's eldest son, Edward Sutton, 4th Baron Dudley.

Lord John Dudley decided upon a city residence at Tothill Street in Westminster. He died in Middlesex and was buried 18 Sep 1553 in St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, London; his wife was buried there on 28 Apr 1554. The next year, on Dec 1555, their second son, Henry, led the called the Dudley Conspiracy.

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