Joan, d. 30 May 1394, probably daughter of Sir Thomas de Hoo and Isabel Seint Leger. [Ancestral Roots]--------------------He [Henry de Ferrers] married, before 27 April 1371, Joan, daughter (probably) of Sir Thomas de Hoo, of Luton Hoo and Stopsley, Beds, by Isabel, daughter and heir of Sir John DE SEINT LEGER, of Offley, Herts (a). He died 3 February 1387. His widow's dower was ordered to be assigned, 20 March 1387/8, and on 18 February 1388/9 she had livery of the knights' fees and advowsons of her dower, which were assigned to her by the King. She died 30 May 1394. [Complete Peerage V:351-3, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

(a) Dugdale, citing Glover (who seems, however, to have merely followed the Visitation pedigree), calls Joan "da. of Thomas Poynings": this being impossible, later writers altered the statement to "da. of Luke Poynings." But Luke, in his will (1376)--which was unknown to these writers--does not mention her, though he leaves legacies to some two dozen persons.

In 1371 the King gave to Luke de Ponynges the wardship of the lands of William de Ferrers (not the marriage of the heir, who was probably already married), but there is no reason to thence assume--as appears to have been done--that Joan belonged to the family of Poynings. However, her seal on a grant of hers, has a shield of Ferrers impaling on a chief two mullets pierced, presumably for St. John, as used by Poynings.

On the other hand, the fact that her eldest son was born at the principal manor of Sir Thomas de Hoo affords a strong presumption that she was a daughter of Sir Thomas: Sir William de Hoo, son and heir of Thomas, was a feoffee of Henry de Ferrers in 1377.Note: The portion of the above note (a) which reads "Poynings. However, her seal on a grant of hers, has a shield of Ferrers impaling on a chief two mullets pierced, presumably for St. John, as used by Poynings." was added by CP XIV: 321, published in 1998, and is the basis for Plantagenet Ancestry declaring that Joan was a daughter of Luke de Poynings. The impaling of Ferrers with the Poynings/St. John coat of arms makes a strong statement of Joan's background, stronger than the fact that her son was born at Luton Hoo.---------------------NOTE: According to Plantangenet Ancestry, Joan was a daughter of Luke de Poynings. PA2 cites CP XIV:321 for its identification, stating "Joan used a seal with a shield of Ferrers impaling St. John, as used by the Poynings". Douglas Richardson, in a post to SGM, also agrees with PA2 (see notes under mother Isabel de St. John). The entry from PA2 reads:He [Henry de Ferrers] was married before 27 Apr 1371 to JOAN POYNINGS, daughter, evidently, of Luke de Poynings (or Ponynges), Knt., 4th Lord St. John of Basing by Isabel, daughter of Hugh de Saint John, 2nd Lord St. John of Basing (which Luke had custody of the wardship of the lands of William de Ferrers in 1371).