He quarreled extensively with his family to obtain more money and impaired the estate with debts from a profligate lifestyle.
[1] Sir John was on bad terms with the rest of his family, filing a bill in the Court of Exchequer Chamber alleging that, being out of the country when his father died, his mother and brother George had taken the opportunity to withhold papers showing Sir John's right to certain of his father's lands.
He was reported by John Aubrey to have demolished the manor house at Godstone because his brother would not grant him money "to satisfy his vicious Inclinations".
[1] Shortly before his death on 10 August 1671, Sir John conveyed Marden Park (including Tillingdon) and Flower to his mistress Mary Gittings.
George brought an action against her to prove her undue influence on Sir John's will, but was not successful in recovering Marden and Flower.