John Chichester (died 1586)

Sir John Chichester (died 31 March 1586) lord of the manor of Raleigh in the parish of Pilton, near Barnstaple, North Devon, was Sheriff of Devon in 1576/7[1] and/or in 1585[2] and died of gaol fever contracted whilst acting as a magistrate at the Lent Black Assizes of Exeter in 1586.

John Chichester was the eldest son and heir of Sir John Chichester (1519/20-1569)[2] of Raleigh, a leading member of the Devonshire gentry.

[3] He had at least six brothers, three of whom became Governor of Carrickfergus: Sir John Chichester, junior, who was killed at the Battle of Carrickfergus (1597); Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Chichester (1563–1624/5) who succeeded him; and Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester (1568–1648) of Eggesford, Devon,[2][4] who became governor on Arthur's death.

John Chichester married Anne Dennis, the eldest daughter of Sir Robert Dennis (died 1592), of Holcombe Burnell,[2] in Devon, by his wife Mary Blount who was one of the two daughters and co-heiresses of William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy (c. 1478–1534), KG,[5] and a first cousin of Lady Jane Grey.

[6] Their children included: Chichester died in 1586 of gaol fever contracted whilst serving as a magistrate at the Lent Black Assizes of Exeter in 1586,[2] which accounted for the deaths of many people, including several other prominent Devonshire magistrates and visiting circuit judges.