Introduction
John Lestrange or John III Lestrange (born c. 1194; died 1269) was an Anglo-Norman Marcher Lord.
Life
A son of John II Lestrange (died January 1223), his family had large landholdings in Shropshire on the Welsh border and owned Knockin Castle. In 1214 John III took part in king John's failed campaign in Poitou. Like his father, he served as Sheriff of Shropshire and Sherriff of Staffordshire and fought the Welsh in the Welsh Marches. In 1231 Henry III of England granted him the fiefdom of Wrockwardine. Between 1233 and 1240 he was in turn constable of the royal castles at Montgomery, Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth and Chester. In January 1245 he served as the king's negotiator with lord Dafydd ap Llywelyn and he backed the king in the Second Barons' War.
Marriage and issue
He married Lucy, daughter of Robert de Tregoz. They had four sons and two daughters:
- John (died 1276), father of John, 1st Baron Strange
- Hamo le Strange, married Isabella of Beirut
- Roger Lestrange
- Robert, whose son Fulk became the first Baron Strange of Blackmere
- Hawise, married Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn