John Colton (bishop)

[2] Colton spent some years at the Papal Court at Avignon in the 1350s and early 60s, and apparently for a time he thought of making a permanent career there.

[1] He was held in high regard by the English Crown and was sent by Richard II on a special mission to Rome in 1398; he later received a gift of money as a tribute to his fidelity.

[2] Like most Crown officials then, even those in holy orders, Colton was required to perform military as well as administrative duties, and he seems to have been a competent soldier:[2] in 1372 he defeated a band of marauders who had burnt Athy Priory, and in 1373, at his own expense, he raised a troop for the defence of Dublin.

[5] Colton himself had worked hard, with considerable success, in the early 1390s to persuade the Gaelic rulers of Ulster, especially the O'Neill dynasty, to make their peace with the Crown.

The book, published under the title Acts of Archbishop Colton, with extensive notes by William Reeves (later Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore) in 1850, is regarded as an especially valuable source of information on life in late fourteenth century Ulster.

[7] The only difficulty he encountered was the refusal of the Archdeacon of Derry and the Cathedral Chapter to recognise Colton's authority, but under threat of excommunication they quickly submitted.

Colton conducted a wide variety of business, reconsecrating churches and graveyards, settling a bitter property dispute and hearing several matrimonial causes.

Colton, who had resigned his see a few days earlier, no doubt in anticipation of his final end, died on 27 April 1404 in Drogheda and was buried in St Peter's Church.

Webb calls him "a man of great talent and activity, of high reputation for virtue and learning, dear to all ranks of people for his affability and sweetness of temper".