John de Baalun

Who is John de Baalun?

John de Baalun or Balun, was a justice itinerant and baron.

Baalun possessed estates in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Wiltshire, and was probably descended from one Hameline de Baalun, who came over with Robert, Count of Mortain, half-brother to William the Conqueror. This is probably not the same man who built the castle of Abergavenny, and died circa 1090. His father was Reginald de Balun, and in 1207 John de Balun paid a fine for the lands of Hameline, on behalf of his father, to Geoffrey Fitz-Ace and Agnes, his wife, and 100 marks and a palfrey to the king.

In 12 John Balun accompanied the king to Ireland, but at the end of John's reign lost his lands for taking part in the barons' attack upon the king. On the accession of Henry III he was restored on returning to his allegiance, and in 9 Henry III was appointed a justice itinerant for Gloucestershire along with Matthew de Pateshull, archdeacon of Norfolk, Richard de Veym, and the abbot of Tewkesbury. He died in 1235. His son John paid 100l. for his relief, and did homage for his inheritance, and, dying in 1274, was succeeded by another of John's sons, Walter. John de Baalun was at the battle of Evesham 1265, having married Auda, sister and heir of William Paganell of Bohanton.