John Charleton, 1st Baron Cherleton

Who was John Charleton, 1st Baron Cherleton?

John Charleton, 1st Baron Cherleton, 1st Lord Charlton of Powys came from a family of minor landowners near Wellington, Shropshire. He was the son of Robert de Charleton of Apley castle near Wrockwardine.

He had entered the service of the crown as a page, and when Prince Edward became king, Charleton remained in the royal household. He was recorded as a king's yeoman on 18 September 1307 and was styled as a knight shortly afterwards. In January 1308 he accompanied the king to France for his wedding, and in 1309 served in Ireland. He held the post of Chamberlain in the Royal Household before 1314, although the importance of the post is unclear.

On 26 July 1309 he married Hawise Gadarn, heiress of the Lordship of Powys from her father the last Prince of Powys Owen de la Pole. Charleton acquired Pole castle on his marriage, and from 1310 to 1315 he built the basis of the present Powis Castle. Strengthening the English authority over his Welsh lands, in 1310 he and Hawise's uncle Griffin de la Pole raised 400 footsoldiers from the lordship of Powis to fight against the Scots.