The family of Port was based in Chester. John Port was the only son of Sir John Port by Jane Fitzherbert, widow of John Pole of Radbourne, and daughter and heiress of John Fitzherbert of Etwall, King's Remembrancer of the Exchequer. His great-grandfather, Henry Port, was described as a merchant. A mercer, also named Henry Port, was his grandfather; a monument to the latter in St Helen's Church, Etwall records that he died in 1512, having had seventeen children by his wife Elizabeth, the daughter of Banowayte of Flowresbrook. Port had three sisters: Ellen, who married firstly Sir Edmund Pierrepont of Holme, Nottinghamshire and secondly Sir John Babington; Barbara, who married Sir John Francys of Foremark; and Maria, who was the wife of Sir George Findern of Findern. Hospital
Career
Port was the first lecturer or scholar at his father's foundation at Brasenose College. He was elected Knight of the Shire for Derbyshire in 1539. He was knighted at the coronation of Edward VI in 1547 and was a member of Queen Mary's first parliament, representing Derbyshire in 1553. He was High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1554. In 1556 he was involved in the execution of Joan Waste, a 22-year-old blind Protestant.
Bequests
Port had no surviving sons when he died on 6 June 1557. By his will he left bequests for the creation of an almshouse at Etwall, and a "Grammar School in Etwalle or Reptone", where the scholars every day were to pray for the souls of his parents and other relatives. The executors purchased land which had once been the grounds of the AugustinianRepton Priory. The priory had been dissolved in 1538, however the buildings remained standing until 1553 when then owner, Gilbert Thacker, fearing the priory would be recommissioned under Catholic Queen Mary I, had the church completely destroyed; a task that was almost entirely completed within a single day. Gilbert Thacker claimed "He would destroy the nest, for fear the birds should build therein again." Thus only a few fragments and foundations of the original priory church remain, though other buildings survived and are now part of Repton School. Port also confirmed and augmented his father's grants to Brasenose College, Oxford.
Marriages and issue
Port married firstly Elizabeth Giffard, daughter of Sir Thomas Giffard of Chillington in Staffordshire by Dorothy, his wife, third daughter and co-heiress of Sir John Montgomery, which Elizabeth was heiress to her mother. By his first wife he had three daughters and two sons:
Walter Port, who died young.
Thomas Port, who died young.
Elizabeth Port, who married Sir Thomas Gerrard of Bryn Hall, ancestor of the baronets of that name.
