Friday, February 5, 2016

Some Notes on the Family of Colville of Coxwold

Colville of Coxwold and Yearsley


The small village of Coxwold in the North Riding of Yorkshire, about 9 miles south-east of Thirsk, was the home for three centuries to a family called Colville. Within the parish of Coxwold was the Augustinian priory of Newburgh, where William of Newburgh (c. 1135-1198) wrote his Historia rerum Anglicarum. [1] Also close by was the Cistercian abbey of Byland whose ruins still exist today.

The first of the family in Coxwold was Thomas de Colville. The family probably had its origins at Colleville-sur-Mer on the Normandy coast. Members of the Colville family appear in several English counties and also in Scotland during the twelfth century. The heirs of the first Thomas for several generations were all called Thomas, and are very difficult to distinguish. Below I have attempted to show the genealogy of the family, based on contemporary records, although there may be additional generations in the thirteenth century.

Please note that the dates are mostly approximate.

Thomas de Colville I (c. 1125 – c. 1180)
Roger de Mowbray (d. 1188) enfeoffed Thomas de Colville of the manors of Coxwold, Yearsley and Oulston at some time before 1158.

About 1150, Thomas de Coleville gave to Byland Abbey his grange of South Thorpe (Torp del Suth) [2] and before 1158, king Henry II confirmed to Thomas de Colville all the lands of which Roger de Mowbray had enfeoffed him for the service of one knight. [3]

Thomas de Colville II (c. 1160 – c. 1230)
The second Thomas de Colville appears to have been in the service of the bishops of Durham. Before 1208, bishop Philip of Poitou had enfeoffed him with a carucate of land in Brompton by Northallerton in exchange for the park of Creit (Crake?). [4]

His younger brother Philip, ancestor of the Colville family of Dale and Ingleby Arncliffe, was also in the service of the bishop of Durham.

Thomas de Colville III (c. 1200 – c. 1250)
On 20 January 1237, in a final concord made at Westminster Thomas de Colville acknowledged the right of the abbot of Byland to a pasture for 200 sheep and 77 oxen in Coxwold by the gift of Thomas de Colville, grandfather of the said Thomas; and granted permission to the abbot to repair a fishpond on Thomas’s land in Coxwold, and to have free passage for fishing and dragging nets. The Abbot received Thomas to all the benefits and prayers of the church. [5]

Thomas de Colville IV (c. 1220 – c. 1280)
In 1252, the abbot of Byland sued Thomas de Colville to hold to an agreement made between Thomas de Colville, grandfather of the said Thomas (whose heir he is), and Hamo, formerly abbot of Byland, concerning 100 acres of pasture in Yearsley. [6] Since Hamo was abbot of Byland from 1198-to about 1203, this Thomas in 1252, was the grandson of the one living at that time

On 4 February 1256, Thomas de Coleville, at the instance of John, prior of Newburgh was exempted for life, from being put on assizes, juries or recognitions, and from being made sheriff, coroner, escheator, forester, verderer, agister, regarder or other bailiff of the king against his will. [7]

On 13 September 1257, the king granted Thomas de Colville fee warren in his demesne lands in Coxwold and Yearsley, Yorkshire. [8]

On 28 December 1257, Thomas de Colville and Beatrice, his wife, gave the king one mark for a writ ad terminum. The sheriff of Yorkshire was ordered to take security. [9]

Sir Thomas de Colville V (c. 1265 – c. 1327)
In 1284-85, at the time of Kirkby’s inquest, Thomas de Colville was holding land in Coxwold, Oulston and Yearsley. [10]

In 1284, William de Empingham, prior of Newburgh, sued Thomas de Colville, to permit him to have common of pasture in Coxwold, of which William de Louthorpe, formerly prior of Newburgh, was seized as of fee, as appurtenant to his free tenement in Coxwold, on the day of his death. [11]

In 1289, Thomas de Colville sued Ralph, abbot of Jervaulx, to hold to the agreement made between Thomas de Colville, father of Thomas (whose heir he is), and Thomas, late abbot of Jervaulx, concerning 3 tofts, 6 bovates and 12½ acres of land in Redmire. [12]

Thomas de Coleville served his feudal lord, Roger de Mowbray in both Scotland and France. On 17 June 1291, Thomas de Colville had protection until Christmas, for staying in Scotland with Roger de Mowbray on the king's service. [13] In 1294, Thomas de Colville coming with Roger de Mowbray to Gascony had letters of protection, directed to the sheriff of Yorkshire. [14]

Sir Thomas de Colville married Mabel, daughter of Hugh de Neville of Thornholme, Lincolnshire. On 4 August 1297, he and Mabel had a grant for life of the manor of Holtby near York, belonging to Henry le Scrope. [15]

On 16 June 1298, the prior of Newburgh complained that Thomas, having assembled a multitude, assaulted the prior's servants hunting in the warren of Coxwold, which he held jointly with the prior, and took away the prior’s dogs and greyhounds and other goods. [16]

In July 1298, Thomas de Colville and Mabel his wife, sold the manor of Edlington, Yorkshire to Henry le Scrope for £10. [17] In October 1298, a commission of oyer and terminer was ordered concerning the persons who hunted in the park of Thomas de Colville, of Coxwold, while he was on the king's service in Scotland, and under his protection. [18]

On 7 January 1304, Thomas de Colville, and his heirs, were granted a weekly market on Wednesday at their manor of Coxwold, Yorkshire, and of a yearly fair there on the vigil and the feast of the Assumption. [19]

On 23 March 1304, Thomas de Colville, who was staying in Scotland by the king's order, had letters to the justices of the Bench for respite of an assize of novel disseisin that Ralph de Thornton, parson of the church of Brandesby, arramed against him concerning tenements in Yearsley, Yorkshire, and the assize of novel disseisin that William Des of Fencotes arramed against him concerning a tenement in Little Fencotes, in the same county, until Midsummer. [20]

On 28 January 1307, Thomas de Colville, and his heirs were granted free warren in all their demesne lands in Holtby [and] Fencotes, Yorkshire. [21]

On 26 January 1313, Richard Kellawe, bishop of Durham and Sir Thomas Colville, knight and Mabel his wife reached an agreement regarding 4 acres of waste land in the moor of Allerton called 'Bullehoumore', between the fields of Allerton and Sigston, for their lives with sufficient pasture. After their deaths it shall remain to Henry their son. [22]

Before 1322, Sir Thomas de Colville was married secondly to Margaret. On 6 June 1322, there was an inquisition by Simon Ward, sheriff of Yorkshire which found that no evildoer broke into the house of Sir Thomas de Colville at Yearsley by night, nor carried off his wife Margaret: but on the Sunday after Easter Margaret fled from the house by the procurement of Agatha late wife of Marmaduke Darell, knight, and her son Richard, who received Margaret and still do so. No evildoer took away any goods or chattels of Thomas with Margaret, nor did Margaret take anything except her gown. [23]

Sir John de Colville (died about 1344) and his brother Thomas de Colville VI, esquire (died before 1344)
Sir Thomas de Colville died before 1327, when the inquisition post mortem of John de Mowbray found that: John de Colville was holding half a knight’s fee in Coxwold and Thomas de Colville was holding a quarter fee in Yearsley. [24]

On 10 July 1338, a commission of oyer and terminer was ordered to investigate the complaint by John de Colville, knight, that John, prior of Newburgh, Walter de Wystowe and William de Kirketon, his fellow canons, and many others assaulted him at Coxwold, depastured his grass there with beasts and assaulted his men and servants. [25]

On 22 June 1340, John de Colville and Margaret his wife had licence for the alienation in mortmain to the prior and convent of Newburgh, in satisfaction of 30s. of the £10 yearly of land and rent which they had the licence of Edward II. to acquire, of a messuage, four bovates of land and an acre of meadow, in Coxwold, which are not held in chief. [26]

In 1341, by a fine at Westminster. John de Colville, knight sold the manor of Little Fencotes to Thomas de Fencotes, (subject to the life estate of George de Colville in 6 messuages, 6 bovates and 6 acres of land, 2½ acres of meadow, and 10d. rent; and to the life estate of Thomas de Colville in 10 messuages, 6 bovates and 6 acres of land, the moiety of an acre of meadow, and 40s. rent; with cross life estates between George and Thomas) for £100. [27]

Sir Thomas de Colville VII (c. 1310 - Aug 1349)
On 3 April 1344. Sir Thomas de Coleville, knight., son and heir of Thomas de Coleville, esquire, confirmed various charters to Byland abbey. In the confirmation deed he mentions, "Domini Thome de Colevill proavi mei," and "Thome de Colevill, armigero, patri meo." [28]

On 9 February 1347, Sir Thomas de Colville, knight, sold the advowson of the priory of Thornholme, Lincolnshire to Sir Robert de Neville of Hornby, knight, for 20 marks of silver. [29]

On 10 April 1347, Thomas de Colville had licence to impark his wood of Bukdensike, in Yearsley, Yorkshire. [30]

On 17 August 1348, Thomas de Colville was granted of the stewardship and bailiwick of the king's forest of Galtres for life. [31] He died (probably of the plague) before 16 August 1349, when the king's yeoman Walter de Whithors was granted the stewardship of the forest of Galtres, to hold for life in like manner as Thomas de Colville, knight, deceased, held it of the king's grant. [32]

Sir Thomas de Colville VIII (c. 1325 – c. 1398)
It appears that Sir Thomas de Colville VIII granted the manors of Coxwold and Yearsley to Thomas Ughtred (probably for life). On 26 June 1354, the king confirmed the petition of Thomas Ughtred, to whose hands the said manors have now come by purchase, to grant free warren, a market and a fair in Coxwold and Yearsley to him and his heirs. [33] Thomas Ughtred died in 1365.

On 19 March 1366 John Colville (his uncle) released to Thomas Colville of Coxwold, all right in his lands, etc., in Coxwold except a plot of land called Lassart. [34]

In 1374, at the inquisition post mortem of Philip son of Geoffrey, son of Hugh de Neville of Thornholme, Lincolnshire it was found that Philip died on 19 May 1345 without heir of his body, seised of a rent at Thornholme. After his death, the rent descended to Thomas de Colville [VII] of Coxwold, knight, then 26 years of age and more [born before 1319], as his kinsman and heir, to wit, son and heir of Thomas de Colville, son and heir of Amabel [Mabel] de Colville, sister of Geoffrey son of Hugh de Neville. After the death of Thomas de Colville [VII] of Coxwold [in 1349] the service of the said rent descended to Thomas de Colville [VIII], knight, as his son and heir, then aged 22 years and more [born in or before 1327], who is now seised thereof. [35]

Before 21 November 1392, Thomas de Colville had recovered possession of the manors of Coxwold and Yearsley from Thomas Ughtred when the king confirmed free warren, a market and a fair in Coxwold and Yearsley to him and his heirs. [36]

Sir Thomas de Colville IX (c. 1360 - May 1405)
Sir Thomas Colville IX, son of Sir Thomas Colville VIII succeeded his father about 1398. He was Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in 1402 and his biography can be found here. 

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/colville-sir-thomas-1405

He was murdered at Yearsley [37] on 21 May 1405 [38].

He married Joan de Esh, daughter and co-heir of Thomas de Esh of Esh, Durham, widow of Robert del Bland (died before 3 November 1393). [39] After Thomas Colville’s death in 1405, she married thirdly, nn Forster, by whom she had a son Richard Forster, who died shortly before his mother in December 1439. Richard’s heir was his sister Maud, widow of John Wakerfeld, junior.[40]





[1] John Taylor, ‘Newburgh, William of (b. 1135/6, d. in or after 1198)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.
[2] Report on Manuscripts in Various Collections, vol. 2, Historical Manuscripts Commission (1903), 3.
[3] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 10: 1354-1358 (1909), 316.
[4] H. C. Maxwell Lyte, ed., Liber Feodorum. The Book of Fees Commonly Called Testa de Nevill. Part I, A.D. 1198-1242 (London: HMSO, 1920), 25.
[5] A. S. Ellis, ed., Yorkshire Deeds, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, vol. 12 (1893), 237.
[6] William Paley Baildon, Notes on the Religious and Secular Houses of Yorkshire, Vol. 1, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series 17, 1895, 29.
[7] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry III, vol. 4: 1247-1258 (1908), 461.
[8] Calendar of Charter Rolls, vol. 1, Henry III: 1226-1257 (1903), 472.
[9] Calendar of Fine Rolls 42 Henry III, No. 165.
[10] R. H. Skaife, ed., The Survey of the County of York Taken by John de Kirkby, Called Kirkby’s Inquest, Surtees Society 49, 1866, 94.
[11] William Paley Baildon, Notes on the Religious and Secular Houses of Yorkshire, Vol. 1, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series 17, 1895, 146.
[12] William Paley Baildon, Notes on the Religious and Secular Houses of Yorkshire, Vol. 1, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series 17, 1895, 95.
[13] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward I, vol. 2, 1292-1301 (1895), 434
[14] Francisque Michel, Roles Gascons, vol. 3: 1242-1307 (Paris, 1906), 277.
[15] Brigette Vale, The Scropes of Bolton and Masham, c.1300-c.1450: A Study of a Northern Noble Family with a Calendar of the Scrope of Bolton Cartulary. PhD Thesis, vol. 2 (University of York, 1987), 244.
[16] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward I, vol. 3: 1301-1307 (1898), 381.
[17] Feet of Fines: CP 25/1/268/69, number 11.
[18] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward I, vol. 3: 1301-1307 (1898), 383.
[19] Calendar of Charter Rolls, vol. 3, Edward I, Edward II: 1300-1326 (1908), 39.
[20] Calendar of Various Chancery Rolls: 1277-1326 (1912), 74
[21] Calendar of Charter Rolls, vol. 3, Edward I, Edward II: 1300-1326 (1908), 78.
[22] Thomas Duffus Hardy, ed., Registrum Palatinum Dunelmense, vol. 2 (1874), 1255.
[23] Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery), vol. 2 (1916), 140.
[24] Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, vol. 7, Edward III (1909), 54. No. 81.
[25] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 4, 1337-1339 (1900), 143.
[26] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 4, 1337-1339 (1900), 548.
[27] Feet of Fines: CP 25/1/274/115, number 39.
[28] Report on Manuscripts in Various Collections, vol. 2, Historical Manuscripts Commission (1903), 7.
[29] Feet of Fines: CP 25/1/139/115, number 13.
[30] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 7: 1345-1348 (1903), 534.
[31] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 8: 1348-1350 (1905), 143.
[32] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, vol. 8: 1348-1350 (1905), 368.
[33] Calendar of Charter Rolls, vol. 5, 15 Edward III-5 Henry V: 1341-1417 (1916), 141.
[34] William Brown, ed., Yorkshire Deeds, vol. 2, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series 50, 1914, 56.
[35] Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, vol. 14, Edward III (1952), 69, No. 70.
[36] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Richard II, vol. 5: 1391-1396 (1905), 197.
[37] Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry IV, vol. 3: 1405-1408 (1907), 488.
[38] Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, vol. 18, Nos. 1151-1159.
[39] Forty-Fifth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (1885), 164.
[40] Forty-Fourth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (1884), 385

1 comment:

  1. Many thanks, John, for publishing the results of your hard work.

    Yorkshire Deeds x. p 35 no 100 s.v. Brandsby

    Wednesday after the Purification of the B.V.M. [Feb 3], 1345[-6]. Indenture whereby John Chaumont and Henry de Bollying grant to Thomas de Coluille, knt., all the manor of Euerslay near Brandesby, with all the services of free tenants and villeins and with the reversion of the third part of the said manor which Robert de Eure and Margaret, his wife, mother of the said Thomas, hold in the name of dower of the same Margaret, with all other appurtenances of the same manor, with the exception of 8 tofts, 6½ bovates and 25 acres of land, 8 acres of pasture and an annual rent of 17s. 2d. and the common pasture with appurtenances which Thomas son of Thomas de Coluille, and Ellen, his wife, hold to them and their lawfully begotten heirs, in the same manor, to hold to Sir Thomas for the term of his life, performing the due and accustomed services, and after his death remainder to Thomas, son of the said Thomas and Ellen, his wife, and their lawfully begotten heirs; and in default of issue to the right heirs of Sir Thomas de Coluille in perpetuity. John and Henry will and grant that Sir Thomas shall not be annoyed or disturbed by any action for waste, or by any other fines by reason of waste in respect of the said manor, or any part thereof, or in any tenement in Cokewald which he holds for a term of years by the demise of the said John and Henry. Alternate seals. Witnesses: William de Malbys and William Darell' knts., Marmaduke Darell, John de Baxby. At Euerslay. (Newburgh Priory Muniments, No. 8/25).

    It therefore appears that Thomas VI esq was married to Margaret, who married secondly Robert de Eure, and Thomas VIII, son of Sir Thomas VII, married Ellen. It also appears that Thomas VIII and Ellen had a son Thomas (?Thomas IX) alive in 1346 -- unless I have misconstrued all the different Thomases!

    Peter Howarth

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