Research Notes:

John le Strange (II) succeeded his father in his possessions in Norfolk and Shropshire in 1178-79, and as there is no mention of his lands having been taken into the King's hands, it is evident that he was already of full age. In fact, he had been in public life for some years... he was associated with his father, c. 1175, as a witness to that grant by William Fitz Alan (II), on his coming of age, to Buildwas Abbey, which was attested by no less than five le Stranges. For a period of fifty-six years he served under four successive sovereigns, through the last eleven years of Henry II, the whole of the reigns of Richard I and John, and through eighteen years of that of Henry III. The principle which guided him in public life appears to have been that of steadfast loyalty and unshaken fidelity to the occupant of the throne, totally irrespective of the merits of the individual: he was the ideal feudal tenant...

.... If not the actual founder of Knockin castle, he was the first to make it a stronghold of importance and to take his territorial designation from it; he increased the family possession by many acquisitions in Shropshire, and, in addition to the original fiefs of his House there and in Norfolk, ... he acquired lands in other counties, such as Leicestershire and Somersetshire. All through his long life, a prominent Marcher baron, he served in no foreign expeditions himself, but in his old age sent his eldest son to Poitou to help in recovering the lost provinces of the Crown...

[The name of John's wife is mentioned only twice. First] in his grant of the church of Holme to Lilleshall Abbey, made 'pro salute anime mee et anime Amicie uxoris mee,' [and in] another deed, whereby John gives 'for the sustenation of the poor at the gate of Lilleshall Abbey the chapel or church of Sanketon, with the body of Amicia his wife, when she shall have gone the way of all flesh.' ¹

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“Johannes Extraneus et Wido frater eius, Johannes filius Johannis Extranei, Wido et Hamo filii Widonis Extranei, Thomas filius Roberti filii Noelli…” witnessed the undated charter under which “Willielmus filius Willielmi filii Alani” donated “villam…Parva Buldewas” to Buildwas Abbey, Shropshire. The Red Book of the Exchequer, listing scutage payments in [1194/95], records "Guido Extraneus, Johannes Extraneus" paying "vvv s, i militem et dimidiam" each in Shropshire. “Johannes Extraneus filius Johanni Extranei” donated “ecclesiam de Hulmo” to Lilleshall abbey by undated charter, witnessed by “Willielmo Extraneo fratre meo”. The 1194/95 Pipe Roll records "Johanni f Johannis Extranei…in Nesse et Chessewurdin" in Shropshire. The Red Book of the Exchequer records "Johannes Extraneus" holding one knight’s fee "in Nesse et Chesworthin" in Shropshire in [1210/12]. ²