Jon Trondson Benkestok

Jon Trondson Benkestok (1530 - circa 1593) was a Norwegian nobleman ("Adelsmann") and a member of the Benkestok family, one of the original noble families of Norway. 
Biography.
Jon Trondson Benkestok was the son of Trond Torleivsson Benkestok and Anna Jonsdotter Haard. Both of his parents were born of very high station. Anna died on November 27, 1569 in Bergen, Norway, she was buried on November 30, 1569 in the Bergen Domkirke in Bergen, Norway. 
Jon Trondson Benkestok was reported to be a direct descendant of Harald Gille, King of Norway. Most of his ancestors served as knights in the king's army of Norway. The Benkestok family was married into the Norwegian noble families Smør, Galte (later: Galtung) and Kane, which were the original Norwegian noble families. The common ancestral of the Benkestok family was Gaut at Ænes in Hardanger, born circa 1100. He was a lendmann and his son Jon Gautsson was a lendmann in the service of King Magnus Erlingsson. 
Jon Trondson Benkestok was a signatory when King Christian IV was hailed by the Norwegian nobility at Akershus Castle in 1591. He signed the document with the family's signet ring. 