John Watson
2013-01-13 06:44:28 UTC
Dear all,
Following my recent discovery that it is possible to download PhD
theses from British Universities for free, I have been looking for
medieval material which might be available.
I have recently downloaded a copy of the mainly 14th century cartulary
of the Scrope family of Bolton, Yorkshire, available from the British
Library Electronic Theses Online Service, Ethos http://ethos.bl.uk/Home.do
(free registration required). The cartulary contains a wealth of
information on the Scropes and other Richmondshire families in the
13th and 14th centuries. The document is by Brigette Vale, The Scropes
of Bolton and of Masham, c. 1300 - c. 1450 : A study of a northern
noble family with a calendar of the Scrope of Bolton Cartulary. It is
in two volumes, volume 2 is the cartulary, translated into English.
One surprising find in the cartulary concerns Joan de Melton, niece of
William de Melton, Archbishop of York who died on 5 April 1340.
Joan was the daughter of William's brother Henry and in 1333 she was
married to Robert, son of Thomas de Conyers of Norton Conyers, Hutton
Conyers and Badsworth, Yorkshire:
1333, York. Three weeks of Michaelmas, 7 Edw. III, 1333. Robert de
Conyers, knight, quer., William de Ponte Burgi, clerk, def, of the
manors of Hoton Conyers, Norton Conyers, and Overdydensale'-: To hold
to Robert for life ; remainder, as to the manors of Hoton and Norton,
to Robert son of Thomas de Conyers and Joan daughter of Henry de
Melton and the heirs of their bodies ; remainder to the right heirs of
Robert de Conyers [the party]. As to the manor of Overdydensale, to
hold to Thomas son of Robert de Conyers for life ; remainder to the
said Robert (son of Thomas) and Joan and the heirs of their bodies ;
remainder to the right heirs of Robert [the party].
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series, Vol. 42, Feet of
Fines for Yorkshire, 1327-47 (1910) p. 52, No. 52
Robert Conyers and Joan had one daughter, Margaret. Robert Conyers
died sometime before 1343, when Joan had re-married to Thomas de
Eland. In 1343, the wardship of Margaret, daughter of Robert son of
Thomas de Conyers was granted to Thomas Eland and Joan, his wife.
Surtees Society, Vol. 119, Richard D'Aungerville of Bury (1910) p. 77
What happened to Margaret Conyers is uncertain, but she probably died
shortly afterwards.
Thomas de Eland and Joan Melton had one daughter, Isabel. Thomas pre-
deceased his father Sir John de Eland, who was murdered in a feud in
1350 and his elder brother John who was also murdered in 1351. Isabel,
who by that time was married to Sir John de Saville, became the
heiress of the Elands and carried Elland and Tankersley to the
Savilles.
The Scrope cartulary contains a deed which shows that after the death
of Thomas de Eland, Joan Melton married for a third time, to Sir
Christopher Mallory. In or before 1350, they sold the manor of Norton
Conyers to John de Carlton:
17 June 1350 at Norton Conyers, Re-grant by Christopher Maillore and
Joanna his wife to John son of Walter de Carleton, of their whole
manor of Norton Conyers with appurtenances. Also their lands in
'Armelay' and 'Heton Scales' which Joanna held in dower after the
death of her husband Sir Robert Coigners. To be held in perpetuity by
John and his heirs. Witnesses: John de Clother, Adam Forester of
Norton, John his son, Adam Warde of Norton, John Canan of Norton.
Scrope of Bolton Cartulary, p. 188, No. 502
I think that this deed puts paid to all those pedigrees where Joan
wife of Christopher Mallory is said to be the daughter of Robert
Conyers. Joan Melton and Christopher Mallory were the ancestors of the
Mallorys of Studely Royal, Yorkshire.
In 1355, Christopher and Joan quitclaimed all their rights in the
manor of Norton Conyers to John de Carlton:
Westminster. Octave of Trinity, 29 Edw. III , 1355. John de Carleton,
by Walter de Askham, his attorney, quer., Christopher Maillore,
chivaler, and Joan his wife, def., of the manor of Norton-Coignyers :
Release by Christopher and Joan of whatsoever they had in the manor
for the life of Joan, to John and his heirs. John gave 100 marks.
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series, Vol. 52, Feet of
Fines for Yorkshire, 1347-1377 (1915) p. 51, No. 16
In 1375, John de Carlton sold the manor of Norton Conyers to Richard
Scrope:
Westminster. Quindene of Michaelmas, 49 Edw. III, 1375. Quindene of
St. John Baptist, 50 Edw. III, 1376 Richard Lescrope, chivaler, quer.,
John de Carleton [?] and Alice his wife, def., of the manor of Norton-
Coniers near Ripon : To hold to Richard and his heirs (together with
10s. rent and the moiety of one knight's fee in the same manor, and
also the homage and service of William son of Robert de Norton-Coniers
and Margaret daughter of Robert de Tollerton, and their heirs), paying
£10 yearly to John and Alice, for their lives, and also to John for
his life one robe of an esquire's suit [unam robam de secta
armigerorum]. Power of distress. Warranty by John and Alice for
themselves and the heirs of John. Richard gave 200 marks.
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series, Vol. 52, Feet of
Fines for Yorkshire, 1347-1377 (1915) p. 199, No. 36
I'm not quite sure what happened next, but Richard Scrope probably
sold Norton Conyers to Richard Norton, Justice of the Common Pleas -
in 1395 he was holding Norton Conyers (Feet of Fines Yorkshire, CP
25/1/279/147, number 30). Richard Norton almost certainly wasn't born
before 1340-43 when Robert Conyers died. He was probably born about
1370, and is first noted as an advocate in 1399 and became serjeant-at-
law in 1401 (ODNB), I can't see how the later Nortons claimed to be
descended from the Conyers and adopted their arms. Successors they may
have been, but descendants seems highly unlikely.
If I find any more interesting snippets in British academia on the
internet, I'll let you know - anything for free appeals to my
Yorkshireness. I'm off to download the cartularies of Lanercost and
Nostell right now.
Regards,
John
Following my recent discovery that it is possible to download PhD
theses from British Universities for free, I have been looking for
medieval material which might be available.
I have recently downloaded a copy of the mainly 14th century cartulary
of the Scrope family of Bolton, Yorkshire, available from the British
Library Electronic Theses Online Service, Ethos http://ethos.bl.uk/Home.do
(free registration required). The cartulary contains a wealth of
information on the Scropes and other Richmondshire families in the
13th and 14th centuries. The document is by Brigette Vale, The Scropes
of Bolton and of Masham, c. 1300 - c. 1450 : A study of a northern
noble family with a calendar of the Scrope of Bolton Cartulary. It is
in two volumes, volume 2 is the cartulary, translated into English.
One surprising find in the cartulary concerns Joan de Melton, niece of
William de Melton, Archbishop of York who died on 5 April 1340.
Joan was the daughter of William's brother Henry and in 1333 she was
married to Robert, son of Thomas de Conyers of Norton Conyers, Hutton
Conyers and Badsworth, Yorkshire:
1333, York. Three weeks of Michaelmas, 7 Edw. III, 1333. Robert de
Conyers, knight, quer., William de Ponte Burgi, clerk, def, of the
manors of Hoton Conyers, Norton Conyers, and Overdydensale'-: To hold
to Robert for life ; remainder, as to the manors of Hoton and Norton,
to Robert son of Thomas de Conyers and Joan daughter of Henry de
Melton and the heirs of their bodies ; remainder to the right heirs of
Robert de Conyers [the party]. As to the manor of Overdydensale, to
hold to Thomas son of Robert de Conyers for life ; remainder to the
said Robert (son of Thomas) and Joan and the heirs of their bodies ;
remainder to the right heirs of Robert [the party].
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series, Vol. 42, Feet of
Fines for Yorkshire, 1327-47 (1910) p. 52, No. 52
Robert Conyers and Joan had one daughter, Margaret. Robert Conyers
died sometime before 1343, when Joan had re-married to Thomas de
Eland. In 1343, the wardship of Margaret, daughter of Robert son of
Thomas de Conyers was granted to Thomas Eland and Joan, his wife.
Surtees Society, Vol. 119, Richard D'Aungerville of Bury (1910) p. 77
What happened to Margaret Conyers is uncertain, but she probably died
shortly afterwards.
Thomas de Eland and Joan Melton had one daughter, Isabel. Thomas pre-
deceased his father Sir John de Eland, who was murdered in a feud in
1350 and his elder brother John who was also murdered in 1351. Isabel,
who by that time was married to Sir John de Saville, became the
heiress of the Elands and carried Elland and Tankersley to the
Savilles.
The Scrope cartulary contains a deed which shows that after the death
of Thomas de Eland, Joan Melton married for a third time, to Sir
Christopher Mallory. In or before 1350, they sold the manor of Norton
Conyers to John de Carlton:
17 June 1350 at Norton Conyers, Re-grant by Christopher Maillore and
Joanna his wife to John son of Walter de Carleton, of their whole
manor of Norton Conyers with appurtenances. Also their lands in
'Armelay' and 'Heton Scales' which Joanna held in dower after the
death of her husband Sir Robert Coigners. To be held in perpetuity by
John and his heirs. Witnesses: John de Clother, Adam Forester of
Norton, John his son, Adam Warde of Norton, John Canan of Norton.
Scrope of Bolton Cartulary, p. 188, No. 502
I think that this deed puts paid to all those pedigrees where Joan
wife of Christopher Mallory is said to be the daughter of Robert
Conyers. Joan Melton and Christopher Mallory were the ancestors of the
Mallorys of Studely Royal, Yorkshire.
In 1355, Christopher and Joan quitclaimed all their rights in the
manor of Norton Conyers to John de Carlton:
Westminster. Octave of Trinity, 29 Edw. III , 1355. John de Carleton,
by Walter de Askham, his attorney, quer., Christopher Maillore,
chivaler, and Joan his wife, def., of the manor of Norton-Coignyers :
Release by Christopher and Joan of whatsoever they had in the manor
for the life of Joan, to John and his heirs. John gave 100 marks.
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series, Vol. 52, Feet of
Fines for Yorkshire, 1347-1377 (1915) p. 51, No. 16
In 1375, John de Carlton sold the manor of Norton Conyers to Richard
Scrope:
Westminster. Quindene of Michaelmas, 49 Edw. III, 1375. Quindene of
St. John Baptist, 50 Edw. III, 1376 Richard Lescrope, chivaler, quer.,
John de Carleton [?] and Alice his wife, def., of the manor of Norton-
Coniers near Ripon : To hold to Richard and his heirs (together with
10s. rent and the moiety of one knight's fee in the same manor, and
also the homage and service of William son of Robert de Norton-Coniers
and Margaret daughter of Robert de Tollerton, and their heirs), paying
£10 yearly to John and Alice, for their lives, and also to John for
his life one robe of an esquire's suit [unam robam de secta
armigerorum]. Power of distress. Warranty by John and Alice for
themselves and the heirs of John. Richard gave 200 marks.
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series, Vol. 52, Feet of
Fines for Yorkshire, 1347-1377 (1915) p. 199, No. 36
I'm not quite sure what happened next, but Richard Scrope probably
sold Norton Conyers to Richard Norton, Justice of the Common Pleas -
in 1395 he was holding Norton Conyers (Feet of Fines Yorkshire, CP
25/1/279/147, number 30). Richard Norton almost certainly wasn't born
before 1340-43 when Robert Conyers died. He was probably born about
1370, and is first noted as an advocate in 1399 and became serjeant-at-
law in 1401 (ODNB), I can't see how the later Nortons claimed to be
descended from the Conyers and adopted their arms. Successors they may
have been, but descendants seems highly unlikely.
If I find any more interesting snippets in British academia on the
internet, I'll let you know - anything for free appeals to my
Yorkshireness. I'm off to download the cartularies of Lanercost and
Nostell right now.
Regards,
John