Earwaker in his history of East Cheshire expands a lot on the information provided by Barlow and provides details of many more of the family of Nicholas and Jordan de Verdon. This is detailed below.
East Cheshire: Past and Present; or A History of the Hundred of Macclesfield in the County Palatine of Chester. From Original Records.
By J. P. Earwaker, MA, FSA (of Merton College, Oxford)
In Two Volumes - Volume I. London 1877
Chapter: Wilmslow Parish, Section: Fulshaw Township, Page: 151-152
Subsequent to this date we meet with no further mention of this family, w and by the end of the 14th century the lands seem to have become much subdivided. The share of Fulshaw that Crosse held appears to have passed to the Leghs of Adlington, and the share of the Sherts to have been devided between the Verdons who actually acquired theirs by marriage with Margaret del Shert an heiress; a family of the name Scorgel, x whose lands ultimately passed in 1388 to the Leghs of Adlington; and the Davenports. y In 1387 EDMUND LE VERDON held lands in Woodford, in Prestbury parish; his son Geoffrey le Verdon, married Margaret del Sherd, the daughter of Thomas del Sherd, a younger brother of Robert del Sherd, and is so mentioned in an entail in 1339. GEOFFREY LE VERDON died in 1421, z 1 beqeauthing in his will his best beast as a mortuary, and 2s. 4d. to make a torch, and to William Staveley, The chaplain 6d. HENRY VERDON, his son, is mentioned in his father’s will; and in 1491 a THOMAS VERDON next occurs; and in 1507, by a deed dated “at Scherd in Fulshaw”, he grants all his lands in Fulshaw, in trust to perform his will to William Hondford of Hondford, Esq., Nicholas Davenport of Woodford, Humphrey Newton of Newton, gentleman, and John Hondford, Rector of the Church of Aston. The witnesses to this deed are Sir William Bothe of Bolyn, Knight, Thomas Davenport (of Fulshaw), gent., Robert Ryley (of Chorley),2 John Gatley, and Thomas Matley, chaplains, and others. In it he mentions his wife Janet 3 and eight sons 4. His son and heir EDMUND VERDON, succeeded his father, but was dead before 1530, in which year “THOMAS VERDON, of Sherd, son and heir of Edmund Verdon, late deceased,” is mentioned. His father appears to have resided much in Yorkshire; and amongst the Fulshaw deeds is a very curious one date 1530, in which “Thomas, the Prior of the monastry of Watton, of the order of Saint Gilbert, nigh Beverley co.York,” and a number of knights, esquires, gentry, and clergy made a declaration that Thomas Verdon was the only son of his father, and that he was born at Beswick, and baptised at Kinwick, co.York, and “had to his godfathers Thomas Dalby, late Archdeacon of Richmond, and Sir Henry Thwaitts, knight and Mastres Metham, wiff of Thomas Metham of Metham, squire, yet being of lyf, to his godmoder.” a In 1537 he leased all his lands in Fulshaw to Humphrey Newton, son of Humphrey Newton (of Pownall) the elder, and in 1561, by a deed dated April 12th in that year, in which he is described as “Thomas Verdon of Knottyngley, in the countie of York, gentillman,” b he sells them to Humphrey Newton then called “of Fulshaw, senior,5 ” for the sum of £112; and in 1581 William Verdon, his son and heir releases all his rights in the said lands to William Newton of Fulshaw, son and heir of Humphrey Newton of Fulshaw.
Footnotes provided with the original text:-
w A family of the Sherds or Sherts is met with at a later date in Disley, where they were hereditary foresters of Macclesfield Forest for many generations.
x The Scorgels appear also to have inherited by marriage. In 1388 John, the son of Richard Scorgel and Cicely his wife, daughter of John Hobsonne, of Fulshaw, by their deed dated at Butley, quit claim to Sir Robert Legh of Adlington, Knt., all right and title which they may have to the lands &c., in Fulshaw, in right of the said Cicely. In 1413 William, the son of Richard Scorgell, releases to Robert, the son of Robert de Legh, Knt., all his right and claim in one messuage called the Hall of Fulshaw, and certain fields, the Blackfield, the Dufhouseflatt, &c., thereto adjacent.
y Mr. Finney says, "These three families had each a capital messuage in Fulshaw. The Leghs possessed the old Hall, which according to tradition, stood in the Blackfield, opposite to the end of the Rasfield Lane; there are still traces of a moat, and some pavements and large stones have been discovered in my time there. But what puts the matter out of dispure is the name of the Old Hall Crofts given to the piece of ground thereabouts. When this building was pulled down I do not know. The Verdons' habitation was called Scherd (as I suppose from the family of that name), and was on the same site where the Hall [Fulshaw Hall] now stands. My great-grandfather pulled down a large old timber house to make room for the present one. The Davenports are believed to have lived in the Cross House."
z In 1393 he effected an exchange with John Scorgel and Cecilia his wife, of one acre of land in Fulshaw called Gudamons. This is perhaps what was afterwards known as “Goodmans Acre.”
a To this curious deed there were ten small seals attached seven of which now remain; but they are not heraldic.
b A pedigree of this family of Verdon of Fulshaw is in my Cheshire MSS., Vol. ii.
Additional footnotes:
1 This is an error by Earwaker, who provided 1421 as the numerical church year based on the Julian calendar; as already confirmed above, the calendar year was in fact 1422.
2 A later Robert Riley of Chorley's daughter Katherine married William Newton of Fulshaw at Wilmslow on 9th October 1569. William was the son of Humphrey Newton the younger who was a nephew of Thomas Verdon and his wife Johanna Newton, the parents of Edmund Verdon of Beswick & Fulshaw.
3 This appears to be the only place where her name is recorded as 'Janet'; elsewhere in other records her name appears as Johanna or Johanne. Her parentage is discussed below.
4 All of these eight sons are mentioned in another of the Fulshaw Deeds that Earwaker transcribed - see below.
5 Clearly 'Humphrey Newton then called "of Fulshaw, senior"' is the son of 'Humphrey Newton (of Pownall) the elder', who is mentioned above (he married Ellen Fitton and died in 1536), and father of 'William Newton of Fulshaw' mentioned below. The reason for the confusion is no doubt due to the fact that Humphrey Newton who married Ethelreda Starkey and was father of William Newton, had other sons who included yet another Humphrey, who from 1536 would have been 'junior' to his father, who had become 'senior', after the death of his own father in 1536.
All of the eight sons of Thomas Verdon referred to above are mentioned in another of the Fulshaw Deeds, dated 1507, that Earwaker transcribed, parts of which is copied below. The deed represents Thomas's will, arranging the management and inheritance of his estate in Fulshaw. It confirms Edmund was Thomas's eldest son and that his other sons, seemingly in order of age were: John, Humfrey, Randall, Charles, Thomas, Henry and Laurence.
Transcription of Earwaker’s Collection ZCR/63/1/43
Page 48 / 49
Original Deed No.5
1507
Thomas Verdon of Fulshaw by his Deed dated at Sherde in Fulshaw 1st January 22. Hen. 7. gives to William Honford of Honford Esqr, Nicholas Davenport de Widford, Humphry Newton of Newton gents and John Honford Rector of the Church of Ashton, all his Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Burgages, Rents, Reversions and services with their appurtenances in Fulshaw in the County of Chester or elsewhere in the same County, To hold the same to the intent to perform his will as appears in the indenture annexed &c.
1507 Sciant presentes et future qd.....
Translation: Know all men present & future that….
Page 50 / 51 through to 54 / 55
In cujus rei testimonium huic present cart [?] me indentar..[?] sigilla mea apposui luis testibus Wills Bothe de Bolyn milit [William Booth of Bolyn, Knight], Thom: Davenport gent, Robt: Ryley (valect[?]), Johe Gattley, Thome Mattley capell et multes aliis dat apud Sherde in Fulshawe primo die Januarii anno Regni Regis Henrici sept’ post conquest’ Anglie vicissimo scud.
Attached to this is the following English deed.
This Indenture made the fyrt day of January the XXIId yere of the reigne of Kinge Henre the VIIth [i.e. 1st January 1507] wittnesseth that the Wylle and intente of me the said Thomas Verdon is that Willm Honford of Honford Squyer, Nycholl’ Davenport of Wydford, Humfrey Neuton of Neuton gentylm’ and Sir John Honford Parson of Ashton and theyr heirs beyinge my Feoffez of all my Messez [messuages], Landz Tents [tenements], Burgagez, Rents, Reversions and services with the appurtenances in this Dede indentyd to this Indenture annexed schall thereof stande possessed and seased to the use of me the said Thomas during my lyfe in manner and forme followying that is to sey of one messuage with the appurtenances and certeyn pastures called Ryddynges and another clause called the Syngle More lying in Fulschawe in the [start of page 53] holding of me the said Thomas, I will that my said Feoffez and theyr Heyers shall make an Estate thereof to Jonet my Wyffe terme of her life in name of her joyntur and Dower, and after my decease I will that my said feofeez and their Heiyers shall make an Estate of all the said Messes, Lands, Tenaments, burgages, rents, reversions and services with theyr appurtenances except the said messe wt appurtenances to the said Jonet for terme of her life, to Edmond Verdon my son terme of his life and to the Heirs male of his body lawfully begotten and for defaute of suche issue to John Verdon his Brother and to the Heirs male of his body lawfully begotten and for defaute of such issue to Humfrey Verdon his Brother and the Heirs male of his Body lawfully begotten and for defaute of such issue to Randall Verdon his Brother and the Heirs male of his Body lawfully begotten and for defaute of such issue to Charles Verdon son of me the said Thomas and to Heirs male of his body lawfully begotten and for defaute of such issue to Thomas Verdon son of me the said Thomas and to the Heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, and for defaute of such issue to Henry Verdon, Brother of the said Thomas Verdon the yonger, and the Heirs male of his Body lawfully begotten and for defaute of such issue to Laurence Verdon his brother and to the Heirs male of his Body lawfully begotten and for defaute of such issue to the right heirs of me the said Thomas Verdon the elder forver provydet alleway that my said Feofez and their Heirs shall see that Jonet my [start of page 54/55] wife have all these said lands discharged of alle Chefe Rents and that my Heirs shall be charged wt ye same.
Earwaker adds the following note:
N.B. There are duplicates of this deed and declaration.
The importance of the terms of Thomas's will, in which he stipulated the order of inheritance of his estate starting with his eldest son Edmund, and dependent on the existence of heirs, was highlighted some years later and was the cause of the rather unique 1530 Yorkshire deed, which was designed to prove that Thomas Verdon of Burghwallis was the true legitimate son and heir of his father Edmund Verdon of Fulshaw & Beswick. This is covered in greater detail below.
Some years after the death of Thomas Verdon of Fulshaw, his son Charles Verdon as Plaintiff was involved in a legal dispute with Thomas Legh of Adlington as Defendant. The case is found in Chancery pleadings addressed to William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury as Lord Chancellor. Verdon accused Legh of detention of deeds and withholding of rent for lands at Fulshaw in Cheshire and others in Derbyshire, which Charles's father Thomas Verdon had held 'in his demeane as of fee'. The mention of lands in Derbyshire is rather interesting. Perhaps these came from his wife Jonet / Johane (Johanna), daughter of Richard Newton & Jane the daughter of Lawrence Lowe of Denby in Derbyshire; or perhaps they arose from another Verdon inheritance - Thomas's brother John Verdon was Rector of Linby in nearby Nottinghamshire and also a Chaplain at All Saint's Chesterfield in Derbyshire, where he is buried (see below). These connections might also explain the existence of the Verdons at Pentrich and Crich in Derbyshire. It is notable that Charles Verdon appears acting in this way on behalf of his father's interests, and later acts as executor of the estate of his brother John Verdon and also with his brother Edmund in respect of Fulshaw (see both incidences below). One wonders whether he was a lawyer or simply seen as the safest pair of hands to handle family matters.
A transcription of the pleading from the National Archives is provided below. It is not known what the outcome was of this case.
C 1/368 - Chancery pleadings addressed to William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury as Lord Chancellor.
C 1/368/52
Short title: Verdon v Legh
Plaintiffs: Charles, son of Thomas Verdon
Defendants: Thomas Legh, of Adlington, esquire
Subject: Detention of deeds relating to lands in Fulshaw. Cheshire, Derbyshire
Date: 1504 - 1515
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
To the most reurende Fader in god William Archebishop’
of Caunterbury and Chaunceller of England
Mekely besechith’ your gracious lordship’ your daily Oratour Charlys Verdon son of Thomas Verdon late decessed That when the seid Thomas in his life was seased of certeyn londez in Fulshawe in the Countiez of Chestr’ & Derby in his demeane as of fee of whech’ londez dyurs & mony euydencez consnyng the prmyssez came to ye handez of one Thomas Legh’ of Adlyngton esquyer, by colour wherof & yt your seid oratour wants the seid euydencez which he ough’t to haue of righ’t the seid Thomas Legh’ deteignez & wtholdez xxvs of rent which he ought to pay and ye seid oratour hath’ mony tymes reqired the delyurance of the seid euydencez & also ye rents whech’ the seid Thomas Legh’ +to do+ vttrely hath’ refused & yet doth contrary to alle righ’t & goode consciens and for asmoch’ as your seid oratour knoweth’ nat the nowmbr’ nor certeynte of the seid euydencez wheder they be in bag box or Chist he is wtout remedy by cours of the Co’ien Lawe & vndone: oneles þen yor gracious lordship’ to hym be shewde in thiese behalfe to graunt a subpena to be direct to ye said Thomas Legh’ opon a greate peyn comandyng hym by the same tapper’ afor your lordship’ at a certeyn day & place þrin to be lymytted to aunswer ro ye prmyssez and at his apparens to be forther ordered after righ’t & goode consciens and ye seid oratour shall dayly pray for yor goode lordship’ long to endur’
pleg’ de ps’ 1 Thomas Hunt de London’ Gentilman
Rob’tus Blunte de London’ Haburdassher
[endorsed:]
Coram d’no Rege in Canc’ sua in crastino A’iar px’ futur’
Translation: Before the lord king in his Chancery, on the morrow of All Souls next
Added footnote:
1 pledges of prosecution
The transcription above is kindly provided by professional palaeographer David Bethell.
Of the brothers of Edmund Verdon of Fulshaw and Beswick, later records have only been found to date that mention John and Charles (see below), and possibly Henry, who is mentioned in an indenture from 1523:
A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient deeds in the Public Record Office, Volume VI.
H. C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). Published in 1915.
Page 489: Deed: C. 7544
[Chester] C 7544. Indenture dated 5 January, 14 Henry VIII [1523], witnessing that Richard Leftwiche has demised to Henry Vardon a house, oven and land in Broke Holl [i.e. 'The Brockhurst'] and the Hylle Heye, crofts called 'Hycke Crofte' and 'Pykmercrofte,' 'too daye mathe of medowe,' and land in Horton Egh, at Claye Gape, and on the Sandywaye hill, all in Leftwiche, held by the said Henry as tenant-at-will, together with two other closes in Leftwiche, for 40s.; the said Henry to hold as tenant at will at a yearly rent of 22s. 4d., not to sublet any part of the premises, but to keep them in repair, and to find an able horseman equipped to serve the king in time of war in the retinue of the said Richard. English. Paper.
In respect of Henry Verdon, son of Geoffrey, nothing is known beyond the details provided above. Henry's son and heir may have been Edward Verdon who is recorded in the Vale Royal's 1445 list of Knights, Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire. The next to be mentioned as succeeding to Fulshaw was Thomas Verdon, who appears in a variety of documents, as does Thomas's apparent brother John Verdon, Rector of Lyndeby in Nottinghamshire. He first appears in a charter dated 1467/8 of Richard Newton of Newton near Wideford (Woodford, Cheshire) as John Verdon Rector of the Parish Church of Lyndby in the county of Nottingham. Earwaker translated and transcribed these charters under the heading of 'The Newton Chartulary', which he wrote had been made by Humphrey Newton of Pownall Hall 1525?. They are held at The British Library - the original chartulary is BL. Add. MS 42134. A. and Earwaker's translation is BL. Add. MS 42134. B. The charter in question appears on page 96 and 97.
Extract from 'The Newton Chartulary'
The British Library BL. Add. MS 42134. B.
‘B’ is the translation by Earwaker of what he called the ‘Newton Chartulary’ and describes as having been ‘made by Humphrey Newton of Pownall Hall 1525?’. The original chartulary, now bound, is ‘BL. Add. MS 42134. A.’
Pages 96 and 97
Date: [ 1467 - 8 ]
Let all present and future know that I Richard Newton of Newton1 near Widford2 have given, granted and by this my present charter confirmed in Randle Davenport Rector of the Parish Church of Wilmslow, James Hall Rector of the Parish Church of Northenden, John Verdon Rector of the Parish Church of Lyndby3 in the county of Nottingham, Geoffrey Davy Rector of the Parish Church of Swettenham, Ralph Arden Chaplain, Lawrence Lowe, Humphrey Newton son of the said Richard, Thomas Fitton of Earthen [???], Robert Newton and Thomas Newton my brothers, John Moburley, John Bradley son of Christopher Bradley, all my lands and tenements, rents and reversions and services with all their appurtenances which I have in Newton aforesaid and elsewhere within the county of Cheshire, and all my goods and chattels, To have and to hold all the aforesaid lands and tenements, rents, reversions, and services with all their appurtenances to the said Randle James, John Verdon, Geoffrey, Randle, Lawrence, Humphrey, Thomas Fitton, Robert, Thomas Newton, John Moburley, and John, their heirs and assigns forever, of the chief lords of those fees by the service thence due and of right accustomed. And I, truly the aforesaid Richard Newton and my heirs, all the aforesaid lands and tenements, rents, reversions, and services with all their appurtenances, to the aforesaid Randle, James, John Verdon, Geoffrey, Randle, Lawrence, Humphrey, Thomas Fitton, Robert, Thomas Newton, John Modburley4, and Bradley, theirs and assigns, aganst all people will warrant and for ever defend. In testimony of which thing to this my present charter, I have placed my seal.
These being witnesses : Robert Leigh of Adlington, senior Esquire, John Honford of Honford, Esquire, Christopher Davenport of Wideford, Esquire, John Davenport son and heir apparent of him the said Christopher, Christopher Bradley and many others.
Given on Monday next after the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary [February 2nd] in the 7th year of the reign of King Edward the Fourth after the conquest of England. [1467-8].
Footnotes (not given within Earwaker’s text):
1 Richard Newton of Newton : Richard (born 1441, died 1497) was the son of Oliver Newton (died 1452-3). He married Jane (died 1498), daughter of Laurence Lowe of Denby and had a son Humphrey Newton of Pownall, who married Ellen, daughter and co-heir of Thomas Fitton of Pownall (died 1506). Humphrey was born in 1466 and died in the 28th year of the reign of Henry VIII (1536). His heir was his eldest son William Newton of Pownall. His second son, Humphrey Newton junior, married Ethelreda Starkey and leased, then acquired the Verdons’ lands at Fulshaw from Thomas Verdon, son of Edmund. Edmund's father Thomas married Johanna daughter of Richard Newton by Jane Lowe of Denby; Denby is c.6km south of Pentrich, which is mentioned below in footnote No.3.
2 Widford : Woodford, Cheshire.
3 Lyndby : Linby in Nottinghamshire, situated north of Nottingham and c.20km south east of Chesterfield and c.14.5km east south east of Pentrich, where Verdons are found living in the 1570s, and in the early 1600s in Fritchley, near Crich.
4 Modburley : i.e. Mobberley, otherwise written in this charter as ‘Moburley’.
As well as being Rector of Lyndeby (Linby, Nottinghamshire) in the Diocese of York, John Verdon became chaplain of the Chantry Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel, in the parish Church of All Saints, Chesterfield. He was probably a brother of Thomas Verdon of Fulshaw who granted his lands at Fulshaw in trust to his son and heir Edmund Verdon in 1507, and therefore an uncle to the younger John Verdon from Wilmslow, who was in royal service in London where he died in 1522 (see below).
John died on 2nd May 1500 and was buried in All Saints, Chesterfield. The place is marked by a brass plate memorial to the east side of the south door, which has these words:
Hic subtus humantur ossa Domini Johannis Verdon, quondam Rectoris de Lyndeby in Comitatu Nottinghamiae, Ebor. Dioec. et Capellani Cantariae Sancti Michaelis Archangeli, in Ecclesia paroch. Omniium Sanctorum de Chesterfield; qui obiit secundo die mensis Maii, Anno Domini Mo. D o., pro cujus anima. sic quaeso, orate, et ut pro vestris animabus orare volueritis.
This is recorded on page 96 of ‘The History of Chesterfield, With Particulars of the Hamlets Contiguous to the Town, and descriptive accounts of Chatsworth, Hardwick and Bolsover Castle’ by Rev. George Hall. On the same page, Hall provides a translation, which misses out the words ‘Chantry Chapel’:
Here underneath are interred the mortal remains of John Verdon*, formerly Rector of Lyndeby, in the county of Nottingham, in the Diocese of York, and chaplain of St. Michael the Archangel, in the parish Church of All Saints, in Chesterfield; who died on the 2nd day of May, in the year of our Lord 1500; for whose soul, I entreat you, pray, even as you would pray for your own souls.
Footnote featured within the original text:
* One of the representatives of the County of Derby, in the fourth Parliament of Edward the third, was named John de Verdon, and probably an ancestor of the above Mr. John Verdon.1
Additional Footnote:
1 It is possible that Hall has confused the Parliaments of Edward III and has not realised that the John Verdon of Chesterfield was descended from the de Verdons of Woodford and Fulshaw, Cheshire who are a different branch of de Verdons than the man called to Edward III’s Parliaments. Edward III’s fourth Parliament was summoned on 5th March 1328; it assembled and met at York on 24th April and was dissolved on 14th May 1328. Cokayne in his ‘Complete Peerage’ tells us that John de Verdon, son of Sir Thomas de Verdon of Brixworth (Northamptonshire), Bressingham (Norfolk) and other manors in Norfolk, Suffolk, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire, was summoned to Parliament from 27th January 1331/2 (i.e. 1332) in the 6th year of the reign of Edward III, by writs directed [to] Johanni de Verdon, whereby he is held to have become LORD VERDON. Cokayne adds (in a footnote) that this same John de Verdon was also summoned to Great Councils in 1342 and 1347 (source: Lords’ Report; Calendar of Close Rolls, 1346-49, p 373). He is also recorded as having been summoned to the Great Council of 1324, as Knight of Derbyshire, Northamptonshire & Hertfordshire. The 1332 Parliament was Edward III’s 9th Parliament. It assembled and met at Winchester on 16th March and was dissolved on 21st March 1332.
Lyndeby or Linby as it is on today's maps, is located c.12km west of Southwell, also in Nottinghamshire. As detailed further below, five years after John Verdon's death, his nephew Edmund Verdon appeared in church records in relation to Southwell Minster. Perhaps it was through John's influence that Edmund ended up working within the church's hierarchy in Yorkshire for a man with a role that was connected to the Diocese of Chester.
The pedigree Earwaker refers to, in his History of the Hundred of Macclesfield, within the chapter covering Fulshaw) - A pedigree of this family of Verdon of Fulshaw is in my Cheshire MSS., Vol. ii. (see above) has recently been re-found, having been unwittingly hidden from view as a result of a spelling error on the labelling of an archive collection. It reveals that Edmund Verdon had moved to live in Yorkshire, at Beswick in the parish of Kilnwick, where he married Margaret, the widow of William Danyell of Beswick and they had a son called Thomas and a daughter called Anne.
It is clear that Margaret was a member of the Gascoigne family, the senior branch of which was seated at Gawthorpe, in the parish of Harewood, north of Leeds. There has been confusion over the identity of her father, caused by errors and conflicting data presented within the various Heraldic Visitations of Yorkshire. William Danyell died in 1505 and was buried at Kilnwick; he left a Will dated 1st September 1504, on which Probate was granted 22nd March 1504. The Visitation of Yorkshire 1563-4 by William Flower, Norroy King of Arms (published 1881) has an entry for the Danylls of Beswick on page 29; it tells us about their coat of arms and the lineage that connects with the Gascoignes:
Danyell : “Beryth Gules, on a crosse Argent fyve Egles Sable.”.
William Danyell of Beswyke in Yorkshire. = Ales doughter to Sir John Normanvyle.
[their son:-]
William Danyell son & heyre = Margaret, doughter to Sir William Gascoigne
Harvey's Visitation of 1552, which is published by The Surtees Society, also claims that William Danyell's wife was the daughter of Sir William Gascoigne (Visitations of the North, Part 1, pages 12-13):
WYLLIAM DANYELL of Beswyke, maryd Alyce, dowghter to Sir John Normanvylle, and had yssu William.
WYLLIAM DANYELL, sone and heyre to Wylliam, maryed Margaret, dowghter of Sir William Gascoyne, and had yssu Wylliam; Ysabell, wedyd to Warde of Loconton ['Roger Ward']; Margaret, wedyd [blank]; Elenore, wedyd to William Clyffe; Alyce, wedyd to Hornby of Holderness.
However, Margaret's parentage as recorded in these publications, is not correct. The first suggestion of this is found within William Flower's 1563-4 Visitation of Yorkshire, in the entries for the Gascoigne family of Gawthorpe. There is no mention of any 'Sir William Gascoigne' with a daughter named Margaret who married a man called Verdon. But there is mention in the same Visitation of an Elizabeth Gascoigne, granddaughter of Sir William Gascoigne of Gawthorpe and daughter of his 3rd son, John Gascoigne of Gawthorpe, who married a man with the surname 'Verden'. The entry appears on page 134 of the Harleian Society's 1881 publication of Flower's Visitation, edited by Charles Best Norcliffe MA:
Sir William Gaskon son & heyr = Margaret doughter to Thomas Clarell to her 2 husband Robert Waterton & after to John Fytz William of Sprotboroo.
[their 3rd son]
John Gaskon of Gawthorpe 3 son to Sir William. Of this John cam the house of Thorpe of the Hill. = F 98 says - ". . . . . doter & heyr of Swyllyngton,"
[their daughter]
Elsabeth wyff to . . . . Verden.
In 1874, Joseph Foster's 'Pedigrees of The County Families of Yorkshire' was published, providing detailed and extensive genealogies based on the Visitations - a true magnus opus. The title page states the pedigrees had been 'authenticated by the members of each family'. Although the pedigrees are not without errors, Foster's work is fairly magisterial. In Volume I, covering the West Riding, he details the Gascoignes of Gawthorpe and their cadet branches, including the family of Thorpe-on-the-Hill. Unfortunately, he provides no footnotes to enlighten us about his sources, but perhaps the notes he made in preparation for his publication exist in an archive somewhere. Below is an extract from his pedigree of the Gascoignes, relating to the family of Thorpe-on-the-Hill:
British Library ref: Wq7-7674 (Volume 1), with other copies L.1.a.2. and 1861.b.16.
1. Sir WILLIAM GASCOIGNE, Knt., of Gawthorp, high sheriff, co. York 1442. and died before 1466. = MARGARET, youngest daughter of Thomas Clarell, of Aldwarke, widow, 1st, of John Fitzwilliam, of Sprotborough, who died at Rouen, in 1421, and 2ndly, of Sir Robert Waterton, of Waterton, dead before 1425/6. On 7 February, 1425/6, a commission was granted to adsolve Thomas Clarel, chaplain, for celebrating this third marriage, it being clandestine (see CLARELL pedigree).
[their 3rd son]
3. JOHN GASCOIGNE, of Gawthorpe, and j.u. of Thorp-on-the-Hill, married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Sir William Swillington, of Thorp, Knt. She married, 2ndly, to William Arthington, of Arthington (? Redman). She died 7 September, 1528.
Their children:
WILLIAM GASCOIGNE, of Thorp-on-the-Hill, died 13 June, 1565. = JOANE, daughter of Thos. Thwaites, Esq., of Marston, died 21 Jan., 1561.
JOHN GASCOIGNE, a clerk.
ELIZABETH, married to ...... Verdon.
Although Foster was clearly uncertain about Elizabeth's remarriage to a Redman, he was on the right track and other manuscripts provide ample proof to confirm this.
A suit arose sometime between 1502 and 1503, which reveals the first evidence that leads us to be able to confirm the parentage of Margaret Gascoigne, wife of William Danyell and Edmund Verdon, and in so doing correct the errors made in some of the Visitations.
Early Chancery Proceedings Preserved in the Public Record Office
Published by the Public Record Office, 1963.
Volume IV
Bundle No: 262 [on page 81]
No. of Suit: 83.
Addressed to: William Warham, Bishop of London, Keeper
Period: 1502 - 1503
Name of person applying to the Chancery for a writ: Richard Grene
Name of the other party in the suit: Leonard Redmayn and Elizabeth, his wife, previously the wife of William Arthyngton.
Details of the subject of the suit: Action of Sir Rauf Bygod against complainant as surety for the late William Arthyngton.
County: - [blank]
William Arthyngton had been resident at Burghwallis when he died, a fact that is revealed by the Will that survives of Will'ms Ardyngton' de Burghwales, dated 20th January 1485/6 [i.e. 1486, as Easter that year was on 26th March]. It is written in latin and mentions his wife Elizabeth [i.e. Elizabeth Swillington/Gascoigne], Sir Henry Horseman of Burghwales and Thomas Slyngesby gentleman, as well as witnesses Sir William Hall chaplain and Thomas Cooke. He left bequests to the church and to the nuns of Arthington Priory. William stipulates that he was to be buried in his parish church of St. Helen of Burghwallis. The Will was proved on 24th March 1485/6.
Leonard Redmayn appears to have been from Burghwallis, where Thomas Verdon, son of Margaret Gascoigne (Danyell) and Edmund Verdon, is found living years after his father's death. We discover this from Leonard's appearance in a list of people given General Pardons by Henry VII in 1487. The details are recorded as follows within 'Materials for a History of the Reign of Henry VII, from original documents preserved in The Public Record Office:
The Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Journal
Volume II. (published in 1873)Volume 2, edited by William Campbell.
Page 200:
1487, 26th October: General Pardon to Leonard Redmayn (or Redman) of Burghwaleys (or Borughwaleys), co. York, gentleman, with restitution of goods and chattels. Given at the castle of Warrewic.
E. October 30. P.S. No. 235. Pat. P. 1. m. 19 (8).
Foster tells us that Elizabeth died on 7th September 1528 (see above). In 1524 we find a record of her continued residence or otherwise ownership of land at Thorpe-on-the-Hill, from the Subsidy Roll for Agbrigg and Morley; the same record also mentions a William Arthyngton, who one assumes must have been the son of Elizabeth's 2nd husband, William Arthington. Whether this William was Elizabeth's son has not been established, but it is not impossible that she was his mother.
January, 1524: Wapentake of Morley within the Honour of Pontefract
Page 47: Subsidy Roll for Agbrigg and Morley
THORP OF THE HYLL — William Arthyngton for 16l. guds. 8s. ;
Elizabeth Redman for 4l. lands, 4s.
Sum 12s.
The mention of a William Arthington is potentially significant because the Will (18th July 1548, proved 8th May 1549) of another William Arthington, 'of Knottingley' mentions a bequest to his godson William Vardon i.e. William Verdon, son of Edmund Verdon's son Thomas, who lived at Knottingley after having been brought up with relatives at Burghwallis. This is dealt with in more detail below. William Arthington's wife is named in his will as 'Jennet' and when probate was granted her name is given as 'Joan'. He names his children Robert, Thomas, Nicholas, William, Jennett and Anne; and leaves property in Knottingley and Ripon. he leaves a ring to Sir John Reademan. More about the identity of Sir John Reademan has yet to be uncovered, but it's possible he is related to Leonard Redmayn - perhaps his son or brother, and potentially also a relative of William Arthington
Perhaps the widowed Elizabeth Gascoigne married William Arthington of Knottingley's father, or her husband was a close relative. A case is recorded in the Common Pleas in 1536, which appears to suggest that the former is quite likely. If correct, this would make William Arthington of Knottingley a half-brother to Margaret (Gascoigne), widow 1stly of William Danyell of Beswick and then 2ndly of Edmund Verdon, thus making Arthington an uncle to Thomas Verdon of Burghwallis and great uncle as well as godfather to Thomas's son William. The plea mentions Henry Gascoigne clerk, Rector of Bughwallis who was bringing a plea against Richard Byrkys of West Melton in Yorkshire, and also against William Ardyngton of Knottyngley.
It is clear there was some debate about whether John Gascoigne married the daughter of Sir William Swillington, Sir Thomas Swillington or the unknighted William Swillington, and whether this Gascoigne-Swillington marriage even occurred in this generation. It is quite possible that Sir William and Sir Thomas may be mistaken references to earlier members of the Swillington family and there is a chance that Elizabeth was in fact the daughter of William Swillington of Driffield. Interestingly, Driffield is only c.6 miles north of Beswick and Kilnwick. This William may be the grandson of Adam Swillington, who is mentioned by Canon Beanlands, in his work 'The Swillingtons of Swillington': Now one of the Adam de Swillingtons had a bastard son William, whose descendant, another William was of Driffield, and claimed in 1430 to be the heir of Sir Roger. Blomfield says: “At this time Sir William was living who accompanied John, Duke of Lancaster, into Spain, son of Adam, and brother of Sir Robert, he was of Driffield, and married Margaret daughter and heiress of John Dringe. Harley MS 1487 may support this proposition. It provides slightly differing data on John Gascoigne, his wife and parents, calling Elizabeth's father 'William' rather than 'Sir William'. The entry is found within what is described on the title page as: The Visitation of Yorkshire made by Robert Glouer Somerset Herald, Marshall & Deputie to Norroy King of Armes Anno Dommini 1584 and 1585 together wth the Visitation of the same Countie made by Richard St. George Esq: alias Norroy King of Armes Anno Dom: 1612. And inlarged with the Visitation made by Thomas Tong ats Norroy King of Armes in the tyme of King Henry ye 8th 1530. [signed] John Withy.
This is the information that is provided on folio page 268 (r) of Harley MS 1487:
Sir William Gascoigne of Gawthorp Kt oldest sonne = Mary or Margaret d: of Tho: Clarell & relict of Jo: Fitzwilliame 2 wife.
John 3 sonn Mard: Eliz: d: & coh: of Wm Swillington.
However, confusingly on folio page 272, a pedigree for Gascoigne of Thorpe-on-the-Hill, contradicts what Glover / St George had recorded on page 268 - they give John's parents as:
Sir Willm Gascoigne of Gawthorpe Kt and a da: & h: of Sir Robt. Clarell, record that John Gascoigne was their 3rd son, and that John's wife was Eliz: da & h: of Sir Wm Swillington of Thorpe on the Hill.
Harley MS 1487 contradicts other visitations by recording that Sir William married 1stly Jane d: & h: of Hen: Wyman by Anne his wife d & heir of John Bardon. This error is corrected in 1875 by the publication of Joseph Foster's edited The Visitation of Yorkshire made in the years 1584/5, by Robert Glover, Somerset Herald; to which is added The subsequent Visitation made in 1612 by Richard St. George, Norroy King of Arms, with several additional pedigrees. This shows Jane Wyman as the daughter and heiress of Henry Wyman, wife of Sir William Gascoigne and mother of Sir William who married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Clarrell.
This now brings us back to the presumed error made in the visitations with regard to the name of John Gascoigne of Thorpe-on-the-Hill's daughter who married firstly William Danyell and secondly Edmund Verdon.
William Danyell's will, dated 1st September 1504 provides the proof we need. In it he refers to Leonrd Redyma' my fader i lawe, who William appointed as one of his executors, and to whom Probate was granted on 20th October 1504.
On the basis that Leonard Redmayn married William Danyell's wife's mother, then that person was Elizabeth Swillington, wife of John Gascoigne of Gawthorpe and, through his wife's inheritance, 'of Thorpe-on-the-Hill'. We know that William Danyell married Margaret Gascoigne, who after being widowed remarried Edmund Verdon. So, we can say with confidence that Edmund Verdon married Margaret, daughter of John Gascoigne of Thorpe-on-the-Hill, and that either the Heralds misnamed her 'Elizabeth' in their visitations, or Edmund Verdon married two sisters - Elizabeth and then Margaret. However, in view of the other mix-ups in the visitations, the most likely explanation is that Margaret was mistakenly written down as 'Elizabeth', confusing her name with that of her mother. In reference to her appearing in the Danyell of Beswick entry in one visitation as the daughter of Sir William Gascoigne, it may be that when the Heralds were examining the Danyell family's records, they were told by the member of the family they liaised with that Margaret was the daughter of Sir William Gascoigne when she was in fact the granddaughter of Sir William Gascoigne and his wife Margaret Clarell, and the 1st cousin of their son and namesake Sir William Gascoigne. Her cousin's eldest son and heir was Sir William Gascoigne thelder Knyght, who was a signatory to a deed (copied below) that was concerned about the inheritance of Margaret's son Thomas Verdon. This would then explain why, when the same Herald's Visitation gleaned information from the Gascoigne family, it produced no mention of a daughter of any Sir William Gascoigne having married William Danyell, but did record a marriage between a man called 'Verdon' and a daughter of John Gascoigne, son of Sir William Gascoigne.
