John was born into the landed Wessex Stratford Family of Hampshire and Wiltshire, son of Robert Stratford, grandson of Andrew de Stratford. As his father died when he was still in infancy, John was raised as a ward of the King. On reaching 21 John inherited much of his late father's and grandfather's estates in Hampshire and Wiltshire, including a meadow called ‘Haresmede’ in South Baddesley in the New Forest, and land in Alderstone, Farnham, Chute, Whelpley, Cowesfield, and Winterbourne.'Close Rolls, Henry VI: May 1425' July 12. Westminster., in Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI: Volume 1, 1422-1429, ed. A E Stamp (London, 1933), pp. 174-177 [accessed 11 February 2016]. He regularly sat as a juror in Inquisitions Post Mortem,Calendar of inquisitions post mortem and other analogous documents preserved in the Public Record Office, Volume 23. Public Record Office, Christine Carpenter, Claire Noble. Boydell & Brewer Ltd, 2004 - pp.53, 54, 115. and acted as Verderer in the forests of Chute and Milchet in Wiltshire until his death in July 1433.'Close Rolls, Henry VI: September–November 1429' - Nov. 22. Westminster., in Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI: Volume 2, 1429-1435, ed. A E Stamp (London, 1933), pp. 1-3 [accessed 11 February 2016].'Close Rolls, Henry VI: July 1433' - July 14. Westminster., in Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI: Volume 2, 1429-1435, ed. A E Stamp (London, 1933), pp. 217-219 [accessed 11 February 2016].
