t is not yet known what the relationship was between John and the two earliest named Dillinghams in Dean: Thomas (1448) and William (1452). John is first mentioned in Dean records in 1521, and from the available evidence he was probably born ca 1495, which suggests a gap of two generations making him a possible grandson of either Thomas or William. It is likely that they were sons of Thomas Dylyngham, mentioned in 1448 in a land grant relating to land grants in Bolnhurst, Pertenhall, Keysoe and Dean. [Speculations by ED] There is evidence that John’s wife Joan was the daughter of an Oundle mercer, Richard Olyff, as a legacy from Olyff was the subject of a dispute. ... When John Dillingham, yeoman, prepared his last will and testament (being whole in mind and sick in body) on the 19th August 1540, he made bequests to his eight sons, Thomas, William, John, Henry, Walter, Robert, Richard and Humphrey, and daughter Alice, in addition to "the child that my wife is great with". All ten of the children survived to maturity, including Agnes, and sons John, William and Thomas had already produced male heirs. Dillingham Family Genealogical Exchange Bulletin, Vol IX, page 8ff. John was contemporaneous with Henry VIII (b.1491). [DILLIN.GED]

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