Deed of Restitution of property granted by King Charles II to Henry St.John, 1684-5

Deed of restitution of property granted by King Charles II to Henry St.John (1652-1742) later 1st Viscount St.John.

This pardon was issued to Henry St.John for his role in the killing of Sir William Estcourt in in a tavern brawl in Fleet Street in 1684. Henry was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death but the intervention of his mother Lady Johanna St.John saved both his life and fortune. The pardon she obtained for him was reported to have cost the family £16,000.

The Deed of Restitution was given to Lydiard House by the St.John historian and former President of the Friends of Lydiard Tregoz, Mr Frank Smallwood.

See Items of Interest:

Report No 5 Henry St.John the elder and the Estcourt Murder by Frank T. Smallwood, M.A., F.S.A (p22-59)

Report No 13 Restitution of Property to Henry St.John, 1684/5 Frank t. Smallwood, M.A., F.S.A. (p6-8)