John Southcote

Sir John Southcote (1510/11–1585) was an English judge and politician.

Life He was the second son of William Southcote and his wife Alice Tregonnell, and grandson of Nicholas Southcote of Chudleigh, Devon. He was a member of the Middle Temple, where he was autumn reader in 1556, and again on his call to the degree of serjeant-at-law, April 1559. In 1553 he sat in Parliament for Lewes, and then Steyning.

Southcote was appointed justice of the Queen's Bench on 10 February 1563. He sat alongside Chief Justice Sir Robert Catlin during the trial of Robert Hickford on 9 February 1572, a retainer of the Duke of Norfolk who was indicted for supporting the queen's enemies. He also served as assessor to the peers during the trial of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. In addition, he participated in the November–December 1577 conference on the legal approach to handling recusants. His daughter Martha married Francis Stonor (1551–1625), Member of Parliament for New Woodstock. His daughter Ann(e) married Francis Curson of Waterperry: she sheltered John Gerard in the periods 1589–1595 and 1597–1605.

A descendant, George Southcote of Blyborough, Lincolnshire, became Sir George Southcote, 1st Baronet on 1 January 1662. The baronetcy became extinct in 1691.

Coat of arms