In 1855, James Raine observed
that "Hardly one of the Yorkshire pedigrees is more confused and more
inaccurate in its earlier descents than that of Boynton." (Test Ebor, ii,
249n). He was probably thinking of Poulson’s Boynton pedigree in the History of Holderness
when he made this remark. Unfortunately, in the 160 or so years since Raine
made this statement, nothing much has changed.
One branch of the Boynton
family resided at Acklam in north Yorkshire, near the river Tees, and theirs’
is the confused pedigree criticised by Raine. Acklam came to the Boyntons in
the early thirteenth century with the marriage of Ingram, son of William
Boynton and Joan daughter of Roger de Acklam.
The male line descent of the
Boynton family of Acklam is given in an entry in the Patent Rolls of 1425, but
without dates and few wives.
Below I have tried to trace
the genealogy of the family from the meagre contemporary sources which exist
for the family, from the twelfth to the fifteenth century, adding dates and marriages
where possible. Many of the early dates are approximate.
Ingram de Boynton I (c. 1195 – c. 1255)
Roger de Acklam (Acclum) was a
tenant of the Brus family in Acklam, Yorkshire. He also possessed property in
Tollesby, Newbiggin and Roxby. He had two daughters and heirs, Joan and Agnes.
Joan married firstly Peter de Amundeville of Lincolnshire, and secondly Ingram
son of William, grandson of Walter de Boynton, [1]
who was probably born about 1195. Ingram and Joan were married before 16 March
1221, when they were in dispute with Ursellus of Lincoln, concerning land in
Orby, Lincolnshire which Joan was holding in dower of her first husband. [2]
Roger de Acklam died before 1231 when Ingram de Boynton and Joan his wife,
Henry son of Ralph and Agnes his wife were summoned to answer Robert de Acklam
why they did not keep the covenant made between Robert and Roger de Acklam
father of Joan and Agnes, whose heirs they were, touching 3 bovates in Tollesby
and a mark's worth of rent in Newbigging. [3]
On 7 September 1217, Ingram de
Boynton had letters of safe conduct from the king. [4]
In 1224-5, 10 Henry III, Ingram de Boynton reached an agreement with the
Knights of the Temple regarding the manor of Snainton. [5] In an undated deed, Ingram de Boynton gave to
his son and heir William, 20 bovates in Boynton with a capital messuage,
sometime of Ingram's father William, and 4 tofts. [6]
Ingram de Boynton was living
in October 1251, when he was on a jury at York, [7]
but was dead before 1256, when William son of Ingram de Boynton made an
agreement with Geoffrey de Aresum and Henry de Alverton. [8]
William de Boynton (c. 1220 – c. 1297)
William son and heir of Ingram
de Boynton was probably born about 1220. He married Alice, daughter of Ingram
de Monceaux and Agnes his wife. In an undated charter, Agnes wife of Ingram de
Monceaux confirmed to William de Boynton and her daughter Alice, all the lands
which Ingram de Monceaux gave to them in marriage (i.e. 3 carucates in Boynton
with his chief messuage there) and the service of Henry son of Peter for 2
bovates. [9]
In April 1258, by a fine at
Westminster, William de Boynton granted 2 messuages, 17 tofts and 26 bovates of
land in Boynton to Walter de Thirkelby for life. [10]
Around 1270, William son of Ingram de Boynton granted land in Roxby to his
daughter Joan, with remainder in tail to his sons William and Michael and his
daughter Margaret. [11]
On 24 September 1279, at the inquisition
post mortem of Peter de Brus, it was found that William de Boynton held Acklam
for 1 fee and 1/2 carucate and half a fee in Linthorpe. [12]
In 1284-5, he was holding three parts of a fee in Acklam, Linthorpe, Thornton,
Marton, Tollesby and Roxby. [13]
William de Boynton was living
in 1296 when he demised a messuage and 2 bovates in Boynton to Walter de
Roston, [14] but
died before June 1299 when his son Ingram granted 6 bovates in Boynton to John
de Folkton, chaplain, which Walter had previously held from Ingram’s father
William. [15]
Ingram de Boynton II (c. 1250 – c. 1320)
Ingram, son of William de
Boynton was married to Margaret before October 1272, when they were parties to
a fine concerning land in Snainton and Ebberston. [16]
In 1301, Ingram de Boynton
paid 9s. 10d. lay subsidy in Acklam, Langbaurgh Wapentake, and 18d. in Roxby in
Hinderwell parish. [17]
In 1302-3, Ingram de Boynton was holding three parts of a fee in Acklam,
Leventhorpe, Marton, Thornton, Tollesby and Roxby. [18]
In 1310 Ingram de Boynton gave to the canons of Healaugh Park in frank-almoign,
a toft and croft in Marton in Cleveland, which he bought from William, son of
Aylmer. [19] Ingram
Boynton was dead before 9 January 1323, when Walter de Boynton, lord of Acklam witnessed
a deed concerning land in Linthorpe. [20]
Margery (Margaret?) de Boynton, possibly
his widow, paid lay subsidy in Snainton in 1 Edward III, 1327. [21]
Walter de Boynton (c. 1280 – c. 1338)
Walter de Boynton, son and
heir of Ingram, was probably born about 1280. He paid lay subsidy in Snainton
in 6 Edward III, 1332. [22]
On 20 June 1337, Walter de Boynton, lord of Acklam, gave power of attorney to
William de Boynton (presumably his brother) to deliver to Sir John Neuham,
chaplain, seizin of tenants with their sequelae and chattels and 10 crofts with
tofts and 10 bovates of land in Acklam. [23]
Walter died before October 1340, when the manors of Acklam, Roxby and Newton
under Roseberry were settled on his son Thomas and his wife Katherine. [24]
The name of his wife is unknown.
Thomas de Boynton I (c. 1315 – c. 1365)
Thomas, son of Walter de
Boynton was probably born about 1315. In October 1340, the manors of Acklam,
Roxby and Newton under Roseberry were settled on Thomas de Boynton and his wife
Katherine. [25] Katherine
was almost certainly the daughter and co-heir of Geoffrey, son of Sir William Rosel
of Newton under Osenbergh (nowadays, Newton under Roseberry). Katherine brought
a moiety of the manor of Newton to her husband.
In 1346, Thomas de Boynton was
holding 5 carucates in Boynton, and three parts of a fee in Acklam,
Leventhorpe, Marton, Thornton, Tollesby and Roxby, previously held by Ingram de
Boynton. [26] On
4 July 1365, Thomas de Boynton was granted a charter of free warren in his demesne
lands in Acklam, Ayresome, Roxby, Newton, Snainton and Boynton. [27]
Exactly when Thomas de Boynton
died is uncertain. He was succeeded by his son Thomas.
Thomas Boynton (c. 1340 - 1402)
Sir Thomas Boynton deposed in the
Scrope-Grosvenor enquiry in 1386 that he was 40 years old and had been armed
for eighteen years, although he was probably older than 40. In his deposition
he stated that he had been at the funeral of Sir Geoffrey Scrope in Königsberg,
East Prussia in 1362 and in the Pays de Caux in Normandy in 1369. [28]
On 8 November 1367, Thomas de Boynton, going beyond seas by the king's licence,
had letters nominating attorneys in England for one year. [29]
Thomas Boynton became
associated with Henry de Percy and is listed among the thirteen knights who attended
a dinner held on 15 August 1376 for Henry, hosted by the Abbot of Alnwick. [30]
This relationship with the Percies proved disastrous for his son in 1405. Thomas
de Boynton was sheriff and escheator of Durham from November 1391 to January
1401. [31]
Thomas Boynton married, before
June 1382, when they purchased property in Linthorpe, [32]
Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Conyers of Ormesby by his wife Julian de
Percy. She was sister of Sir Robert Conyers junior and John Conyers of Hornby.
The will of Sir Thomas
Boynton, knight, is dated 18 July 1402 and was proved on 6 September 1402. He
wished to be buried in the church of Acklam. The following relatives are
mentioned in his will: John de Boynton his cousin; Henry Boynton his son;
Margaret his wife. He makes his executors, his wife Margaret and John Conyers
her brother, Christopher his son and William Skipwith his chamberlain. [33]
Margaret died on 22 October
1408, holding half of the manor of Newton and land in Boynton and Snainton in
dower. [34]
Her Durham inquisition post mortem held on 29 October 1408, found that she was
holding lands in Seaham, Plawsworth and Whitworth of the gift of John Conyers,
brother of Robert Conyers of Ormesby. [35]
Henry Boynton (c. 1375 - 1405)
Henry son and heir of Sir
Thomas Boynton was probably born about 1375. Little is known about his early
life. He was of age in April 1399, when he and his father gave a bond to the
prior of Durham. [36]
In traditional pedigrees of
the Boynton family, Henry Boynton is said erroneously to have married Elizabeth
Conyers. Henry Boynton married, about 1397, Elizabeth daughter of John de
Fenwick of Fenwick, Northumberland by his wife Elizabeth de Heton. She was the widow
of John de Felton of Felton, Northumberland who died on 31 March 1396. The inquisition
post mortem of John de Felton, taken at Northampton on 20 July 1396 found that he
married firstly Joan, daughter of John Fitz William, knight, and had issue two
daughters, who were still living. Joan died and John de Felton afterwards
married Elizabeth daughter of John de Fenwick, knight. [37]
The inquisition post mortem of Elizabeth widow of John de Felton, taken on 23
May 1422 found that she died on 7 April without issue by John de Felton.
William Boynton, aged 22 years and more, was her son and next heir by Henry
Boynton, formerly her husband. [38]
Although Henry Boynton,
knight, had sworn an oath of fealty to Henry IV and renouncing Henry Percy in
September 1403, [39] he
became involved with the rebellion of the first earl of Northumberland and in July
1405 he was one of four knights and others who held the town and castle of
Berwick on Tweed against the king. They were captured by the king’s forces and
executed for treason. Henry’s lands and goods were forfeit to the king. On 12 July 1405, the mayor of Newcastle was
ordered to place Henry’s head on the Tyne Bridge. [40]
On 23 July 1405, the king ordered that his head was to be taken down and given
to his widow for burial. [41]
On 16 August 1405, Elizabeth, widow of Henry Boynton, was granted the manors of
Roxby and Newton, for life, to support herself and her six children. [42]
Elizabeth died (as above) on 7 April 1422.
William Boynton (c. 1400 - 1428)
William Boynton, eldest
surviving son of Sir Henry Boynton was born about 1400, his elder brother
Thomas having died sometime before April 1422 without heir of his body. [43]
In 1425, William petitioned
the king for the return of his father’s lands. [44]
He was evidently successful in reclaiming his lands, because on 5 November
1427, William Boynton, esquire, granted to Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland,
Ralph Neville, earl of Westmorland, John Fenwick, William Strother, William
Harding, esquires, and John Slegh, chaplain all his manors in the County of
York. [45]
In the traditional pedigrees
of the Boynton family, William Boynton is said to have married “Jane daughter
of Simon Harding.” It appears however, that he married Elizabeth, daughter of
Sampson Harding, of Beadnell, Northumberland, who was M.P. for both Newcastle
and Northumberland eleven times between 1382 and 1421. [46]
William Harding, eldest son of Simon, was one of William Boynton’s feoffees in
November 1427.
William Boynton died shortly
before 15 October 1428, when the writ of diem
clausit extremum was issued to the escheator in Yorkshire. [47]
No inquisition appears to have survived. Elizabeth was living in Hilary term
1448, when Elizabeth Boynton of Newcastle on Tyne, widow of William Boynton,
son of Henry Boynton, knight, sued Christopher Boynton of Sedbury, Yorkshire in
a plea of debt. [48]
Thomas Boynton ( c. 1427 - 1461)
Thomas son and heir of William
Boynton was probably born about 1427. He
married firstly before February 1449, Agnes, daughter of Sir William Normanville
of Kilnwick, Yorkshire. [49]
He married, secondly, about 1458, Isabel,
widow of Robert Musgrave, junior, of Ryal, Northumberland who died shortly
before 27 January 1458. [50]
On 3 January 1449, William
Harding, esquire (his uncle), quitclaimed to Thomas Boynton all lands etc. in
the vill and territories of Snainton in Pickering Lythe and Newton under
Roseberry, which he had from William Boynton, Thomas's father. [51]
On 8 February 1449, Roger Harding, esquire (another uncle), Francis Newby and
Roger Newark enfeoffed Thomas Boynton, son and heir of William Boynton,
esquire, and Agnes his wife, daughter of William Normanville, knight, of lands
in Snainton in Pickering Lythe, and Newton under Roseberry which they had of
the gift of Thomas, to hold to Agnes and their heirs, remainder to the right
heirs of Thomas. [52]
In Hilary term 1460, John
prior of Tynemouth sued, amongst others, Thomas Boynton of Acklam in Cleveland
and Isabel his wife, formerly the wife of Robert Musgrave of Ryal, in a plea
of debt.[53]
The will of Thomas Boynton, of
Acklam in Cleveland, knight, is dated 25 January 1461 and was proved on 15
October 1461. He mentions his sisters Elizabeth and Alice, Isabel his wife and
Henry his son. [54]
Henry Boynton (c. 1450 - 1488)
Henry son and heir of Sir Thomas
Boynton, was probably born about 1450. He was of age on 8 October 1472, when Roger
Harding son and heir of William Harding, granted to Henry Boynton, son and heir
of Thomas Boynton, knight, all the manors, etc., which William; the grantor’s
father, had held conjointly with Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland, Ralph
Nevill, earl of Westmorland, John Fenwick, William Strother and John Slegh,
chaplain, of the grant of William Boynton, Henry’s grandfather.[55]
Henry Boynton married Margaret
daughter and co-heir of Sir Martin de la See of Barmston in Holderness, and held
the manor of Barmston in her right. The will of Henry Boynton of Acklam,
esquire, is dated 19 July 1488 and was proved on 31 July 1488. [56]
William bishop of Dromore was commissioned
to veil Margaret, widow of Henry Boynton of Acklam on 12 June 1495. [57]
The will of Dame Margaret Boynton of Barmston, vowess, is dated 2 September
1533 and was proved on 3 August 1536. [58]
The further pedigree of the
Boyntons of Acklam and Barmston, from Henry and Margaret’s son Thomas who died
in 1523, to Griffith Boynton of Barmston, twelfth Baronet, born in 1849, is adequately
described in J. W. Clay’s additions to Dugdale’s visitation of Yorkshire and
does not need repeating here. [59]
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[2] Calendar
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[3]
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[4]
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[5] Thomas
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[6]
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[7] John
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[8] J.
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[9]
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[10] Feet
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[11] C.
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[12] Calendar
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[14]
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[16]
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[17] William
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[18] Inquisitions
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[19] J.
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[20] C.
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[21] Robert
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[22] Robert
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[23] C.
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[24] Feet
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[25] Feet
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[26] Inquisitions
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[27] Calendar
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[28] N.
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[29] Calendar
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[30] William
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[31] H.
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[32] Feet
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[33] James
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[34] Calendar
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[35] Forty-Fifth
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[36] Durham
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[37] Calendar
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[38] Calendar
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[39] Calendar
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[40] Calendar
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[41] Calendar
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[42] Calendar
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[43] Calendar
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[44] Special
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[45] C.
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[46] http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/hardyng-sampson-1427
[47] Calendar
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[48] Court
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[49] The
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[50] Calendar
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[51] West
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[52] West
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[53] Court
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[54] James
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[55] C.
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[56] Francis
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[57] James
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[58] Francis
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[59] J.
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146-152.
