John Cokayne (died 1438)

Sir John Cokayne knt.
Member of Parliament for Derbyshire
In office 1395–1397 Serving with Peter Melbourne
Preceded by	Sir Thomas Wensley Sir John de la Pole
Succeeded by	Roger Bradbourne Sir William Dethick
In office 1402 – January 1404 Serving with Roger Leche
Preceded by	Roger Bradbourne Sir William Dethick
Succeeded by	Sir Nicholas Longford John Curson
In office October 1404 – 1406 Serving with Roger Bradbourne
Preceded by	Sir John Cornwall, David Holbache
Succeeded by	Roger Bradshaw Roger Leche
In office 1419–1420 Serving with Hugh Erdeswyk
Preceded by	John de la Pole Sir Thomas Gresley
Succeeded by	Thomas Blount Henry Booth
In office May 1421 – December 1421 Serving with Sir Thomas Gresley
Preceded by	Thomas Blount Henry Booth
Succeeded by	Nicholas Goushill Thomas Okeover
In office 1422–1423 Serving with Sir Richard Vernon
Preceded by	Nicholas Goushill Thomas Okeover
Succeeded by	Henry Booth John Curson
In office 1427–1429 Serving with Henry Booth
Preceded by	Sir Richard Vernon John de la Pole
Succeeded by	John Curson Gerard Meynell
In office 1431–1432 Serving with Thomas Mackworth
Preceded by	John Curson Gerard Meynell
Succeeded by	Richard Vernon
In office 1433–1434 Serving with Sir Richard Vernon
Preceded by	Richard Vernon
Succeeded by	John Curson Gerard Meynell
Member of Parliament for Warwickshire
In office 1420 – May 1421 Serving with William Peyto
Preceded by	Sir Thomas Burdet John Mallory
In office December 1421 – 1422 Serving with John Chetwynd
Preceded by	William Holt John Mallory
Succeeded by	Sir William Mountfort Robert Castell
Personal details
Born	Late 1360s
Died	7 June 1438 Pooley Hall, near Polesworth, Warwickshire
Nationality	English
Spouse(s)	Margaret Isabel Shirley
Residence	Ashbourne Hall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire Pooley, Warwickshire
Occupation	Landowner, politician, soldier.

Sir John Cockayne (died 1438) was an English soldier, politician and landowner whose wealth made him a major force in the affairs of Derbyshire under the House of Lancaster. After numerous acts of criminality in concert with other Midlands landowners, he became a member of the Lancastrian affinity centred on John of Gaunt and a supporter of Henry IV. He fought in two campaigns of the Hundred Years War but his violence and lawlessness continued and he was decidedly out of favour during the reign of Henry V. With power less concentrated in the early years of Henry VI, he was able to serve three terms as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests and to wield considerable power and influence. He represented Derbyshire no less than nine times and Warwickshire twice in the House of Commons of England.

John Cokayne was the eldest son of

The Cockayne family are known to have lived at Ashbourne from the mid-12th century. The Derbyshire historian Stephen Glover wrote that the Cockaynes "resided and flourished for many generations in this town, and had considerable estates in the county, much increased by a match with the heiress of Herthill." His mother's patrimony was to be an important factor in the prominence Sir John Cockayne assumed in his county's affairs, although he did not gain full control of it until after his mother's death. However, the family were already wealthy before the Harthill inheritance, although it has been pointed out that they suffered over several generations from "reduced family income due to the longevity of dowagers," which led to Edmund and his brother John not being knighted in their youth.

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