He adopted his mother’s family name Verdun. The Chronicle of Croxden records the death “IV Id Feb” 1248 of “domina Roysia de Verdun fundatrix abbatiæ de Crokesden” and the succession of “dominus Johannes de Verdun filius eius”. "John de Verdun made a fine with the king of 1,300 marks to have seisin of the lands both in England and Ireland which had belonged to Rohesia de Verdun his mother and whose heir he is" by charter dated 3 May 1247.
Inquisitions after a writ dated 17 Oct "2 Edw I" following the death of "John de Verdun" name “Theobald his son is his next heir and of full age...aged 22 and more”. The Chronicle of Croxden records the death “XII Kal Nov” 1278 of “dominus Johannes de Verdun validus patronus domus hujus” and the succession of “dominus Theobaldus filius eius”. The inquisitions demonstrate that this date is incorrect. 1
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This great feudal lord, being one of the baron marchers, had orders, in 44th Henry III., upon the incursions of the Welsh, to keep his residence upon the borders. After which he was one of the barons who adhered to the king, in the conflict between the crown and the nobles; and upon the triumph of the royal cause at Evesham, he was commissioned to raise forces in Worcestershire, for the purpose of attacking the only remaining hold of the barons, at Kenilworth. But these troubles being at length ended, John de Verdon was signed with the cross, and accompanied Prince Edward to the Holy Land.
John de Verdon m. first, Margaret, daughter of Gilbert de Lacie, and heir to her grandfather, Walter de Lacie, by which alliance, the castle of Webbeley, in the county of Hereford, came into the Verdon family. He espoused, secondly, Alianore, whose surname is unknown... 2
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23 May 1251, Reading
Simple protection for two years from Michaelmas for John de Verdun, gone to Ireland.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 4, p. 97
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29 Aug 1254, Bordeaux
Restitution to Geoffrey de Geynvill of the castle of Trum as the right and inheritance of Maud de Lacy, his wife, and mandate to John son of Geoffrey, justiciary of Ireland, to give the said Geoffrey seisin of the said castle and of a moiety of the land to the value of 40 marks a year which the king retained for the keeping of the said castle; and he is to restore the other moiety to the heirs of John de Verdun. The king has restored the said castle to the said Geoffrey as of the said Maud so that they and their heirs shall surrender it to the king and his heirs when they will, whether they be angry or reconciled.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 4, p. 325
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15 Jun 1258, Oxford
Grant to John de Verdun, and his heirs, in his demesne lands in Neubolt, Luttrewrth, Bittlesby, Cotesby, and Skeftynton, co. Leicester, Flekynho, co. Warwick, Hethe, co. Oxford, Farnham and La Sere, co. Buckingham, Depeden, co. Essex, Fulemere, and Barenton, co. Cambridge, Crakemershe and Bukenhale, co. Stafford, Nortstok, Morton and Suthstok, co. Salop, and Stokes and Wivelesford, co. Wiltshire.
Calendar of Charter Rolls, 42 Hen. III, p. 12
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23 May 1259, Westminster
Protection with clause, until Christmas, for John de Verdun gone to Ireland.
The like for Richard de Rupella, who has also gone.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 5, p. 23
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3 Aug 1260, Westminster
Simple protection, until Easter, for John de Verdun, going to Ireland.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 5, p. 86
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16 Jul 1261, Tower of London
Protection with clause, for one year from Michaelmas, for John de Verdun, gone to Ireland in the service of Edward the king's son.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 5, p. 167
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27 Jun 1262, Westminster
Protection, with clause, until Whitsunday, for John de Verdun, staying in Ireland; pleas summoned before the justices in eyre of the present, this year excepted.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 5, p. 218
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27 Nov 1266, Kenilworth
Grant to John de Verdun of murage in aid of his town of Lodelawe for five years from the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, 51 Henry III.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 6, p. 15
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4 Feb 1268, Westminster
Protection with clause volumus for two years from Easter for John de Verdun.
20 Jun 1268, Woodstock
Grant to John de Verdun, gone to Ireland on his affairs, that Robert Condecok, whom he has appointed in his place before the king, may appoint attorneys in the name of the said John as he will, to gain or lose for him in all pleas affecting him from Friday St. Peter and Paul, 52 Henry III, to Easter and for a year afterwards.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 6, pp. 188, 240
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25 Jul 1270, Westminster
Exemption of John de Verdun, going to the Holy Land with Edward the king's son, from all common summons in the eyres of the justices both for the forest and for common pleas; for four years unless he return before.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 6, p. 448
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8 May 1272, Westminster
Grant to John de Verdun, going to Ireland, that Theobald de Verdun, his son, whom he appointed before the king in his place, shall be admitted as his attorney, and may make other attorneys for him as shall be expedient.
13 May 1272, Westminster
Protection with clause volumus, for two years from Michaelmas, for John de Verdun, going to Ireland.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen. III, vol. 6, pp. 649, 648
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20 Jun 1275, Westminster
To the treasurer and chamberlains. Order to allow to the executors of the will of John de Verdun, in the debts that John owed to the exchequer, the arrears of 25 marks yearly, which he was wont to receive at the exchequer for the town of Drogheda, due to him at his death.
Like letters in favour of Theobald de Verdun for the arrears of the said 25 marks from the day of death of the said John, his father.
Calendar of Close Rolls, 3 Edw. I, p. 189
Orthographic variations: DE VERDON, DE VERDOUN