Notes:

John is the eldest son of Sir John de Digby and Arabella Harcourt. He has the title Knight in the original Digby family records. Annie Coppock Kransdorf interprets his "disk" on the Digby Manuscript to be "John de Digbie, Knighte, married Jane Wake and had issue in the 20th yeere of Edward 3, 1345(6?)." She states that the 20th year is an error, it would have been the 18th year of Edward III's reign. This does not fit with the likely birthdates of the children. (C-1441, 2267) It should be noted that Burke's "A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain, V. 4" says that this John married to Elizabeth Osville is the son of Robert de Digeby and Sibella, grandson of John de Digeby and great grandson of Sir John de Digeby and Arabella Haracourt instead. Burke's work was based upon the extensive 1634 genealogy done of the Digeby family.

Family/Spouse: Margaret? WAKE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John DE DIGBY was born about 1282 in Of Burrow, Leicestershire, ENG; died in 1304 in Tilton, Leicestershire, ENG; was buried in Tilton, Leicestershire, ENG.
2. Robert DIGBY

Notes:

Sir John was Orabella/Arabella's supposed second husband, though this is likely an error from information that has Sir John dying previous to her other husband, Sir Falk. (C-1439) Sir John and his wife are both buried at Tilton, co. Leicester, England, according to Nichol's "Leicestershire" and Salisbury's "Genealogies." (C-1441) According to Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, the Digby family moved from Tilton to Digby in Lincolnshire, England in 1256. He and his wife apparently were buried back with family in Tilton, England. (C-2163) This information is sourced as being from the genealogy of "the renowned family of Digby", that is "preserved at Sherbourne Castle, Doresetshire," England. It was prepared from the Digby archives by the order of Sir Kenelm Digby. It consists of 589 vellum leaves which include the coats of arms, wills, grants, patents, deeds, etc. for this family and it's allies. It was prepared and existed at the Castle prior to 1905 and is sourced in "Americans of Royal Descent" by Charles H. Browning. (C-1441)

Annie Coppock Kransdorf has translated his "disk" on the Digby Manuscript as "John de Digbie, knighte, married Arabella Lourricourte and had issue; anno 42 (of Henry III's reign), Lym. (?) 23, 1268." The 42 year of Henry III's reign would have been in 1258, so either the 42 or the 1268 were difficult to read and one was misinterpreted.

John took part in two Crusades according to an article in Wikipedia on Everard Digby, his descendant. John died in 53 Henry III as the dating system went at that time or about 1268 or 1269. I'm assuming he died in 1268 as the original cowhide document on the Digby family lists a date of 1268 for him. As far as we know, this is the first John de Digby.

The following is a transcription of what has been dated as a 12th century document by Caterbury Cathedral Archives currently still in existence in excellent condition. However, if it is talking about the only known, John Digby, son of Robert, it would take place in the 13th century, 1234-1268.

We have been able to locate three other persons in this document. One is Sir Richard of Lousby. There were 3 generations of Richard Lousby's with the first one verified as living in the year 1226. There is also an early witness named Henry Lefsi of Sceftynton who witnessed other documents somewhere between the years of 1247 and 1290. Linda Smudge has also found a Walkeline Harang (William) alive in 1189. Until I see further proof, this wonderful document might be a 13th century deed on vellum which is animal hide.

It's transcription was provided by Linda Smudge. Thank you Linda! "To all the faithful in Christ who will see or hear this present writing: John the son of Henry of Tilton' and William Harang of the same and William of Wateber' of the same and Richard of Waterber' of the same and Robert Atbridge of the same and Thomas Atbridge of the same and John Atbridge of the same and John on the Mountain of the same and Richard of Broc of the same and Gervase the son of Eadulph of Lodinton in Tilton and Alice the daughter of Richard Haron of the same and Agnes the daughter of Richard Haron of same - greeting in the Lord.Let all people know that we all the aforesaid men and women of the fief of Suthwelle in Tilton have given and granted and by this our present charter have confirmed unto John the son of Robert of Dyggeby and his heirs or assigns whomsoever all that common pasture which we have held or can hold in the wood of the said John in Riseberne and three selions in Estriseler which John of Le Hyl has recently held and one acre in Walterisheys as far as the great road and all that piece of land called Werwillund and also all Hertisheys next to the road called Banlondgate as far as the end of Hertisheys and also along the said end as far as the meadow of the Prior of Land' which Richard at Le Waturfal held.And also one rood in length and breadth of the said meadow of the Prior as far as Foxhole Wellegate which contains one rood of land as far as the said three selions of John of Le Hyl and in full power of disposition the aforesaid wood of Riseber' with all its aforementioned lands is to be included and held for him and his heirs or assigns whomsoever by this the grant of us our heirs or assigns for ever.And all we the aforesaid men and women of the fief of Suthwelle in Tilton namely John and William and William and Richard and Robert and Thomas and John and John and Richard and Gervase and Alice and Agnes have given and granted and by this our present charter have confirmed unto John the son of Robert of Dyggeby and to his heirs or assigns whomsoever all that common pasture which we have held or can hold in the wood of the said John in Grotwode and in his wood of Wroholeberbrynkys and in all his crofts of Tilton and in certain lands called Wadlond with a moiety of land of Le Watyrsalmor which extends alongside Le Wadlond And in free power of disposition the aforesaid wood of Grotwode and of Wroholeberbrynkys and all its crofts in Tilton with the lands of Wadelond and the moiety of Le Watursalmor to be included and held freely quietly and in peace by this grant of us or our heirs for ever. On the condition that if a beast of us or our heirs or assigns of Tilton by default should by chance enter the aforesaid woods of Riseber' or Grotwode or Wroholeberbrynkys or enter into the lands of Riseber' aforesaid or into the crofts or lands of Wadlond and the moiety by custom aforesaid in open time between the festival of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary and the festival of the Purification at the aforesaid time it shall be driven out from the aforesaid places and not further than the common land used by us or our free tenement thereto belonging without any harm being done to our said animals by men or dogs or any other evil spirit but if at any other time our said animals shall be caught in any part of the said lands or in any other lands of the said John of Dyggeby or of Riseber' or of Tiltonholeber or in corn or meadows then the free law and custom of the time of the making of this charter shall be used.And all we the aforesaid men and aforesaid women of the fief of Suthwelle in Tilton that is to say John and William and William and Richard and Robert and Thomas and John and John and Richard and Gervase and Alice and Agnes have given and granted and by this our present charter have confirmed unto John the son of Robert of Diggeby all the common demesne which we have or presume to have in the water of the stream of Fulsike and in all lands and meadows on either side of the stream from the headstream of the pond or fishpond of the said John of Dyggeby in Gunnigisholm as far as the furthest part of the pond where the water of the stream of Fulsike extends itself in breadth and length by force at the head of the said pond or fishpond. But excepting only us and our heirs from the common law here and elsewhere concerning the said pond or fishpond and furthermore excepting our lands and tenements appertaining and used by us in the lands of Gunnigisholm and the fields of Gunniggisholm provided that the said John his heirs or assigns shall not have caused the said pond or fishpond to have overflowed.To have and to hold of all of us and our heirs or our assigns unto the said John of Dyggeby and his heirs or assigns whomsoever the aforesaid enclosed places and commons and liberties freely quietly and in peace by hereditary grant of us or our heirs or assigns forever.By this donation grant and confirmation therefore I John of Dyggleby have given and granted and by this present charter confirmed to all men and women aforesaid of the fief of Suthwelle in Tilton all my common land which I have held or could hold in all their crofts in Tilton and with full power of disposition for their aforesaid crofts to be enclosed and closed by the terms which they have granted me the crofts in this present charter.And therefore I the said John of Dyggeby have granted unto the said men and women to have and keep at the time of Warette four thymina beyond four furlongs outside Tiltonholeber for catching and recapturing their animals on their lands and pastures for feeding them as a grant from me or my heirs: namely from Banlondgate across and as far as the two selions of William the son of John and of Alexander the son of Henry in le Langelond and so claiming as far as Le Netherlangelond, and then across from Grotwodemedwe as far as Holeberbrynkys, and then to the road across from Le Overysteforthefurlong from Holeberbrinkys as far as Riseber'medwe, and a fourth across from Le Middylforthefurlong as the aforesaid boundaries. And whatsoever road shall be forty feet in width.I John of Dyggeby have thus granted to all the aforesaid men and women full power of disposition for their animals in Tilton to the waters of Wroholeberbrynkys whilst they are feeding in Thortwode and also to the waters of my fishpond of Gunnigisholm whilst they are in the pasture in the western field of Tilton and to go and return by the royal way and by the common way with the consent of all the men of Tilton as a customary grant of me or my heirs for ever. And in order that all the aforesaid authorisations and confirmations should remain permanently and forever by virtue of this attested charter concerning the said men of the fief of Suthwelle in Tilton I John of Dyggeby have affixed my seal. And we the said men of the other part concerning the said John of Dyggeby in all other remaining matters whatever have affixed our seal.These being the witnesses: Richard Burdet of Louseby, John of Weleham in Twyford, Henry the son of Ivo of Bylliston', Walter Pane of the same, John the son of Miles of Mardefeld, John the lord of Neuton', Henry Lefsi of Sceftynton', John Le May of Halsted, and many others.Seals from left to right:AgnesAlice the daughter of Richard HironGervase the son of Eadulph of Lodynton in TiltonRichard of BrocJohn on the MountainJohn of Pont'[missing]Robert at BridgeRichard of Wateber'William of Wateber'William HarangJohn the son of Henry"

It should be noted that most of the place names above were in the county of Leicestershire, England at that time. They include Twyford, Bylliston, Neuton, Louseby, Tilton, Weleham and Halstead.

John married Arabell DE HARCOURT about 1258 in Of Digby, Lincolnshire, ENG. Arabell (daughter of Sir William DE HARCOURT and Lady Alice LE ZOUCHE) was born before 1250; died in 1279. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her name appears as Arabell Harracarte in the original Digby Family Lineage now in Castle Dublin. It is listed as Orabella or Arabella Harcourt in other second hand sources listed. By her first marriage, she was an heiress to Tong, Co. Salop and Aylestone, Co. Leicester. Her birth, and marriage dates have been calculated using death dates found for her spouses. Although I have seen it stated that Sir Henry Falk was her first husband, it only makes sense that he was her second because he died after her other husband, Sir John Digby. (C-1368, 1381, 2162, 2267)

Notes:

He was alive during the reign of Henry III. Henry was King from 1216-1272. Land at Billeson was given to his heirs in 1234, to me suggesting he might have died by then. His wife, Anne, "Relic of Robert" held about half a fee at Tilton around the year 1240 again indicating same. I've seen his death published as 1250, but that doesn't fit with these two patterns.

Esquire married Anna FITZHERBERT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sir William de Harcourt was of Stanton Harcourt, Oxford, England. I estimated the date of his first marriage based on when his daughter, Arabella was having children. (C-1368, 1441)

Sir married Lady Alice LE ZOUCHE. Lady (daughter of Roger LE ZOUCHE and Margaret Anora BISSET) was born about 1213 in North Molton, Devonshire, ENG; died before Feb 1256. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Alice la Zouche is listed as the mother of Orabella/Arabella in most sources so far but her name is listed as Alice Noel, Sir William's second wife, in CD-100. (C-1367) According to "The Magna Charta Surities", Alice la Zouche is the daughter of Roger La Zouche, not the granddaughter through son Alan, as previously stated. (C-1368)

Notes:

Robert lived during the reign of King Henry II's time who ruled England from 1154-1189. (C-2162) He was listed as the "second sonne" of William in the original Digby Lineage scroll on vellum (1500's/1600's). (C-2267) According to Burke, Robert's lands at Billesdon were conveyed to his heirs in 1234. I'm assuming that is near his death date. (C-2163) He married his 1st cousin, daughter of his uncle according to Burke's book.

Robert married Christiana DIGBY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sir married Orabella DE QUINCY before 1227. Orabella (daughter of Saire DE QUINCY, First Earl Of Winchester and Margaret DE BEAUMONT) was born in 1186 in Winchester, Harvourt, Leicistershire, ENG; died after 1258. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her name is also spelled Arabella in some sources.

Notes:

Fuedal Baron of La Zouche of Ashby, he was also Sheriff of Devonshire in 1229. As a loyal supporter of King John, he received many manors taken from rebel barons by King John. (C-1441)

"Roger la Zouche died in 1238. Since his son and heir Alan (fn. 29) was a royalist, (fn. 30) his crops on Swavesey manor were burnt in 1266 by Montfortian rebels. When he died in 1270 (fn. 31) Swavesey was included in the dower of his widow Ellen, tenant in 1279. (fn. 32) On her death in 1296 it descended to Alan's son Roger's son and heir, another Alan, (fn. 33) thereupon summoned to parliament. (fn. 34)" [3] Wikitree 1/2022

Roger married Margaret Anora BISSET. Margaret was born in 1179 in , , ENG; died after 28 Jan 1231. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It is thought that she could be Margaret La Zouche.