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HISTORY OF THE FARNDALE FAMILY CHAPTER
2 THE
15th AND 16th CENTURIES 1400 -1600
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By
the Beginning of the 15th Century the Farndales had become established beyond
the small valley that had given them its name. Some had moved southwards
to York and Sheriff Hutton and one or two beyond that, but the majority had
moved north into Cleveland. It is of interest that apart from minor spelling
differences the name has remained much as it was when first recorded. It is of
interest too that the name is seldom found other than in NE Yorkshire.
The name Ferndale does not appear at all in connection with the men of
Farndale, although it obviously has a similar derivation.
The first record so far discovered in the new Century refers to the transfer of
the same piece of land transferred to William Farndale is 1368 at
Loversalle as described in the last chapter. A document on the PRO states;
‘Know men present and to come that I, William Farndale, vicar of the Church of
Doncaster, have given, granted and by this my present charter confirmed to John
Burton of Waddeworth, his heirs and Assigns, 5 acres of land and appurtenances
lying in the fields of Loversalle, viz, those 5 acres which I had as gift and
enffeoment of Robert Ryppes of Loversalle and which extend from the meadows of
the wyke to the Kardyke, as the charter drawn up for me by Robert Ryppes more
fully sets out. To have and to hold the said 5 acres of land with appurtenances
to the said John Burton, his heirs and assigns from the chief lords of the fee
by the services thence owed and customary by right. And I, the said William
Farendalle and my heirs will warrant the said 5 acres of land with all
appurtenances to the said John Burton, his heirs and assigns against all men
forever. In witness thereof I have affixed my seal to this present charter.
Those being witness: John Yorke of Loversalle, Robert Oxenford of Loversalle,
William Ryppes of the same, William Clerke of the same and many others. Given
at Loversalle, 6th April 3 Henry IV (1402).’
Although it is clear that William was a vicar and owned land at
Loversalle, we do not know why he sold it in 1402, except that there is an
entry in Fasti Parochcales Vol 1 which says;
‘William Couper, priest, presented by the same on the resignation of William
Farndale. Admitted in person by Richard Rasyn his proctor. (Register Scrope
folio) There is also an entry in the Calendar of the Registry of Richard
Scrope, Archbishop of Yorke 1398 - 1405 edited by RN Swanson (two volumes,
which says;
‘Institution of William Couper, priest, in person of M. Richard Rasyn, his
proctor, to the village of Doncastre, vacant by resignation of William
Farndale, Castle (The Archbishop’s Palace), 31st August 1403.
By 1428 we read of William Farndayll of Huton who held three bovates of land,
part of the fee of the Archbishop of York. This could refer to Huton-le-Hole,
just a few miles from Farndale.*
Next in 1435 we find the Will of Richard Farndale of Sherrif Hutton, without
doubt the son of William Farndale which was proved in 1398 and is spelt out in
Chapter 1.
‘In the name of God Amen. 8th December 1435. I, Richard Farndell of
Sherifhoton, being of sound mind, make my will in this manner; Firstly,
I bequeath and commend my soul to God Almighty, my creator and my body to be
buried in my said Parish Church. Item. I bequeath a grey horse
with saddle and reigns and my armour, viz, a bascinet, a breast plate, a pair
of vambraces and a pair of rerebraces with leg harness, as my mortuary payment.
And I bequeath 3lbs of wax to be burned around my body on the day of my burial.
Item. I bequeath to the vicar of my Parish 6s 8d and to every Chaplain
taking part in my burial service and Mass, 4d. And I bequeath 26s 8d for
mending a service book for the use of the Parish Church. And to the fabric of
the Cathedral Church of St Peter, York 12d. And I bequeath to my daughter
Margery at her marriage, 10 Marks, if she live to be of marriageable age. And
if she dies before she arrives at her years of discretion, I wish the
said 10 Marks to be divided equally between my daughters Agnes and Alice.
And I bequeath to John Brantyng 40s and a bed. And to the four orders of Friars
mendicant of York, 20s and 2 quarters of corn, divided in equal portions. And
to John Pyper 2s. And, as regards the rest of my funeral expenses, I wish them
to be paid at the discretion of my executors. The rest of my goods, not
bequeathed above, my debts having been paid, I bequeath to Thomas Robynson,
John Couper and the said Margery, my daughter. My executors faithfully to
implement the terms of my will. Witness, Robert, Vicar of the Church of Hoton,
William Huby of the same, John Burdley of the same and many others.’
Administration granted to Thomas and John, 21st December 1435 with rights
preserved for a similar administration to be granted to Margery).
Note that there is no mention of Richard’s wife who presumably
pre-deceased him. There is some evidence to that Marjorie, presumably his
eldest daughter was quite young, perhaps about 16. Does this in turn mean that
Richard was also quite young at the time of his death? All we know for certain
that a family of Farndales was living at Sheriff Hutton in 1398 and 1403.
Although they had probably been there much longer than that.
Then on 16th April 1445, ‘At Westminster.........for not appearing before
William Babyngton and his fellows when impleaded, with Richard Coke of Cokewald
Co York...........Lawrence Hoggeson of Farndale and John Farndale of
Styllyngton Co Durham, wryght, to answer Thomas Bishop of Durham touching
trespass.’
So far no other Farndale entries have been found for the 15th Century. The
Farndales essentially seem to be located in an area about 50 miles radius from
their place of origin. More fragments of a family tree can be established, but
still no direct links to the Farndales of today to any one of them.
There are very few entries for the 16th Century. The first so far found states,
‘ 7th February 1546. John Bennisonne presented by William Beanison, John
Beanisonne of Farndale and Henry Noble of Sherburn by grant from the Prior and
Covenant o Bridlington on the death of Robert Stockton.’ This tells us very
little, except to note that the Benisonne family crops up several times in the
Farndale history in the 18th Century.
Then in 1547 the will of Alice Farndale of Southcliffe, near Pocklington, is
recorded;
‘In the name of God Amen. The 7th Day of July 1547, I Alice ffarndale of
Southclif do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form
following. First, I give my soul unto Almighty God to our Blessed Lady
and to all the celestial company of Heaven and my body to be buried in the
churchyard at Northcave. Item. I give to Jennet Brightin a kerchief. Item.
I give to Isabell Brightin a veil. Item. I give to my mother Agnes Pratt
a violet gown. Item. To my sister Isabell Prate (sic) a red kirtle. Item.
I give to Thomas Brightin and to John Pratt to either of them a calfe of the
best of my parte. Item. I give to Jennet Brightin a green kirtle. Item.
I give to my brother John Prate (sic) A stagg of the best of my parte. The
residue of my goods, my debts paid and my will fulfilled, I give to Symon
Farndale and to Iasbell, my children whom I make my executors. And further I
will that my brother John Prate (sic) shall have the custody and keeping of my
said children and bequest unto them by this my testament unto they become to
lawful years of age and if they depart before they become of lawful years
of age, then I will that the said portions go to the use and profit of my
brother, John Pratt, provided always that my brother John Lonsdale and Laurence
shall have custody and keeping of my aforesaid children, Simon ffarnedaill and
Isabell as specified in their father’s testament. And also if my said children
die before the come to their years of age, I will my brother John Pratt to give
unto John Lonsdesdale and Laurence aforesaid, a cowe of my parte. These
witnesses: Symon Garthorne, Thomas Dean, Thomas Stevyns and Sir Robert Barker,
Priest.’
Proved 1st August in the year above, written before Simon Garthorne and Master
Robert Barker, Priest, witnesses to the will and commisionaries before whom
administration was granted to John Pratt, guardian of Simon and Isabell
ffarnedale, minors.
We do not know who Alice was. She clearly died young while her children were
minors. Her husband was already dead. If Simon and Isabell were, say, 15 and 12
respectively when their mother died in 1547 and they both lived to say, 60,
then they were born in 1532 and 1535 and would have died in 1592 and 1595.
There is no other mention of a Simon but an Isabell Farndale was buried at
Skelton in 1592, but this is a very doubtful link. We do, however know that a
family of Farndales was established at Southcliffe about this time.
There is an entry in Yorkshire fees of 1554 referring to the will of Thomas
Yoward on 4th May 1554 which states;........’to Wylson, wyff of Farndayll iiij
(4s). This tells us little except to note that this very odd Christian name
appears again in the 18th Century.
It is at this stage that the first Farndale entries in Parish Registers so far
discovered, have been found. The first is that of Jean Farndale who married
Richard Fairley at Kirkleatham on 16th October 1567. If she was 20 when she
married she was born in 1547. This simply tells us that there was a family of Farndales
living in the Kirkleatham area at that time. This is proved in 1572 when the
Parish Registers record that on 6th August 1572, Nicholas Farndale was buried
at Kirkleatham. If he was 60 when he died, he was born in 1512. If he married
at 25, that would be in 1537. This would make it possible for Jean to be his
daughter.
15 years later Kirkleatham Parish Registers record that, ‘Agnes Farndaile was
buried on 23rd January 1586.’ If she was 70 when she died, she was born in
1516. If she was 20 when she married, it would be in 1536. Thus she could well
have been Nicholas’ wife and Jean’s mother. The dates all tie and make sense.
Kirkleatham is only a few miles from Skelton, Moorsome and Brotton, soon to
become central to the Farndale story.
The first Farndale entry in Skelton Parish Register states that on. ‘11th
February 1588, Jane Farndale married Valentine Wraye.’ If she was 20 when
she married, then she was born in 1568 which is a bit too old to be
daughter of Nicholas at Kirkleatham, so there is probably another family now
established in Skelton. The second entry states, ‘2nd April 1592 Isabel
farndaile was buried.’ She could be of any age from infant to an elderly
person, so it is impossible to predict who she might be. We must assume that
she too came from the Skelton family.
An entry in a document, states, ‘1595 Farndale, George of Skelton and Nelson,
Margery of Wilton, either place, married.’ This is a key entry as this George
is possibly our first proven ancestor as I will show. If he was 25 when he
married, then he was born in 1570, again too late to be son of Nicholas of
Kirkleatham. If Nicholas had a son born about 1545, who married at 25 in 1570,
George could be his son. In any case this entry links with detail about a
George Farndale of Moorsom who owned land in Skelton and it ties up closely
with the will of George Farndale of Skelton, whose wife was Margorie and who
died in 1607. See below.
An ancient Yorkshire Deed, relating to property at Skelton dated 1592 mentions
George ffarnedale of Moorsome who at one stage had purchased the land in
question. There is no absolute proof that it was this George, indeed it is
unlikely because this George died young in 1607, aged about 37 leaving a very
young family, see below. It is more likely that the George mentioned in this
deed was his father, and possibly the head of the other Skelton Farndales at
this time. But so far we have no record of him, if that were so.
On 28th March 1602 Georgins ffarndayle was baptised at Skelton, a year later,
on 4th January 1603, Infanta Farndayle was buried at Skelton, almost certainly
at birth, to be followed on 3rd February 1604 by the baptism of Rychards
ffarndayll. Then on 9th March 1606, Georgeus farndayll sepulta (died) and
was buried at Skelton. This was almost certainly the George who married Margery
in 1595 and was father to the above because of two entries in the Deanery of
Cleveland Act Books. A Tuition dated 13th April 1607 States; ‘William
Farndaile, Susanna, George and Richard Farndale, children of George Farndale
deceased. Goods to Mergerie Farndale, sister, (sic) of the children and elected
sponsor of the same.’ Then, also on 13th April 1607 is the ‘Administration of
the goods of George Farndaile, late of Moorsome (which is in the Parish of
Skelton), in the Diocese of York, dec’d. Margerie Farndale and Isabella Pinkney
standing for same and directing Susanna, George and Richard Farndale, children
of the dec’d.’ Finally is a document which states, ‘The Dean of Cleveland
grants guardianship of William Farndaile, Susan, George and Richard Farndaile,
children of George Farndaile, deceased, together with the Administration of
their affairs, goods, rights and portions to Margerie Farndaile, by choice of
the said children.’
George called his eldest son William. Was he named after George’s own father,
which was frequently, but not always the custom. If so was such a William a son
of Nicholas of Kirkleatham, born about 1545? So far we know no more about this
family, but we will see how the Hearth Taxes levied by Charles II show
Farndales living at Moorsome. It would seem that they all worked on the land,
probably as farm labourers.
The next entry in the Skelton Parish Records states, ‘ Georgs Farndall baptised
on 3rd October 1624, parent Wylyam.’ This fits William son of George of
Moorsome who would be about 26 at the time, but so far no record of his
marriage has been found. An important entry occurs in the Liverton Bishops
Transcripts, ‘William the sonne of George Farndal, baptised 20th November
1625.’ The only recorded George Farndale at that time was the George born
at Skelton only a few miles away, in 1602. If this is so and it fits, his
father died at Moorsome when he was five and he was brought up by his mother,
Margorie. In 1628. ‘Isabell Farndayll baptised last day of May
1628, parent Wylyam.’ Then the sad entry, ‘Anne ffarnddell, born and
died, September 1632 - parent Wylyam.’
Then at Liverton, Richard farndale married Emmie Nellice on 29th July 1632.
This must be the Richard born on 3rd February 1604, making him 28 years old
when he married. Liverton was fast becoming the centre of gravity for the
Farndale family. Then on 6th July 1634 Nicholas, the sonne of George Farndale
was baptised at Liverton.’ He was a direct line ancestor. The name Nicholas is
also interesting, was he called after Nicholas Farndale of Kirkleatham who was
buried there in 1572? On 20th July 1634, Robert son of Richard farndale was
baptised at Liverton, but he was buried there on 4th December 1635, just over a
year later. It was in 1635 that Richard was recorded as Churchwarden of
Liverton when he would be 31 years old. For the next few years Richard and
George produced children at Liverton as follows;
George, sonne of Richard Farndale, baptised, 6th Oct 1636.
Jane, daughter of George Farndale, baptised,17th Nov 1636.
George, sonne of Richard Farndale, baptised,21 Nov 1637.
Isbel, daughter of George Farndale, baptised, 18 March 1637.
George sonne of Richard Farndale, baptised,6th May 1638.
Thus by 1638 George had two surviving sons, William and Nicholas, and two
surviving daughters, Jane and Isabell. Richard had one surviving son , George.
There is then a gap of 14 years when there appears to be no records. This was,
of course during the Civil War and is a period that still needs research.
On 25th March 1654, ‘Willm ffarndell, born at Skelton, parent George ffarnedell
of Skelton.’ He must be the son of George baptised in 1624, who was son of
William, son of George. On 14th April 1655, ‘Robert ffarndaill born at
Skelton, parent James ffarndaill of Moorsom.’ This presents a problem as so far
we have no record of a James Farndale being born. If James was his first born,
then he was probably married in 1654 aged 25. Thus he could have been born in
1629. This ties up with the Will of William Farndale who died in 1697, see
later.
By 1661 it is clear that a family of Farndales were living in Whitby. The first
Farndale entry in the Whitby Parish Registers is, ‘John Farndale and Alce
Peckcock of this Parish, Married.’ This rather implies that John Farndale was
not of the Whitby Parish, although there is no other record of a John at that
time. Assuming he was 25 at the time of his marriage, he would have been born
in 1636. Then only two years later, Alice, his wife, died and was buried at
Whitby on 28th November 1663. There is no record of any off-spring. Then, ten
years later, John married again, this time to Margaret Herd on 25th November
1673. They had three, just possibly four children.
Margaret, daughter of John Farndale of Whitby, baptised 6th
September 1674.
George, son of John Farndale of Whitby, baptised, 21st April
1676.
(Thomas, son of John Farndale, baptised, Whitby, 1685; not
proven, see text, next chapter.)
Henry, son of John Farndale of Whitby, baptised 6th October
1689.
Meanwhile back in Liverton, Ane (Anne?) the daughter of William Farndale was
baptised on 2nd August 1662. William must have been the elder son, born 1602
and brother to Nicholas. A few days later Nicholas’ first born, George Farndale
was baptised at Liverton on 10th August 1662. Nicholas had probably married in
1661, aged 26. On 2nd November 1662 Roberte Porritte and Aills (Alice?)
Farndaill married at Liverton If she was 20 when married she was born about
1642. Two years later Elizabeth Farndale was baptised, daughter of Nicholas
Farndale, at Liverton on 9th October 1664 and on 23rd January 1666, a
second daughter, Margorie Farndale was born to him, surely linking him to
his grand parents George and Margorie Farndale. Then on 12tth January 1669 a
third daughter Isabel was baptised daughter of Nicholas Farndale, but a
year later, ‘On 10th February 1670, Elizabeth, the wife of Nicholas Farndaill
was buried at Brotton.’ Some five years later, ‘On 10th November 1675, Ellin,
(Eleanor?) ye wife of Will: Farndale was buried at Liverton.’ She must have
been the wife of William, Nicholas’s elder brother.
The next entry in Liverton Bishop’s Transcripts shows that Nicholas must have
married for a second time, since, ‘Will: sonn of Nic Farndale baptised 6th May
1679 and a year later, ‘Jno son of Nicholas Farndale was baptised on 27th June
1680. This was another vital link as it is almost certain that he was the first
Farndale to live at Kilton. Then, only four days later, ‘William Farndale died
at Liverton, on 1st July 1680.’ It is not clear whether this is William, born
1625, or the young William, brother to John born 1679. It is more likely
to be the former.
About this time a family of Farndale’s was established at Hilton, not far from
Kirkleatham. On 25th November 1666, Thomas Browne married Marye Farndaile and
on 24th March 1667 George son of George Farnedaile was baptised at Hilton. A
few years later, George Tunstall married Ellice (Alice?) Farnedaile at
Hilton.
At this time too the family was established at Great Ayton.