The Ledes Family
Catherine de Ledes
Roger de Ledes
Joan (_____) de Ledes
Catherine is mentioned in the wills of her father in 1398 and her brother,
William, in 1400, both of which make provision for her marriage, so clearly
she was not married by 1400.
The Yorkshire Archæological Journal vol 17
p56n (1903)
Administracio concessa in bonis domini Rogeri de Ledes, militis.
... Et, si quid ex perceptione vendicionis hujusmodi, solutis debitis,
superesset, quod illud residuum reservaretur in ad maritagium Elizabethe
et Katerine, filiarum suarum.
A rough translation of this part of the will is:
Administration granted in the goods of
Sir Roger de Ledes, knight. ... And if anything remained from the
proceeds of such a sale, after the debts had been paid, that residue was
to be reserved for the marriage of Elizabeth and Catherine, his daughters.
The Yorkshire Archæological Journal vol 17
pp55-6 (1903)
TESTAMENTUM1
WILLELMI DE LEDES, FILII ET HEREDIS ROGERI DE LEDES, FACTUM.
... Et volo quod dicta Johanna, mater
mea, habeat et teneat ad terminum vite sue totum manerium de Ledes,
cum pertinenciis suis, reddendo inde et solvendo Elizabethe, sorori
mee, ad maritagium suum, xxli. sterlingorum; et Katerine,
sorori mee, ad maritagium suum, xxli. Et si altera eorum
obierit, illa que vixerit habeat ad maritagium suum totam pecuniam eis
superius legatam.
A rough translation of this part of the will is:
TESTAMENT OF
WILLIAM DE LEDES, SON AND HEIR OF ROGER DE LEDES, MADE.
... And I will that the said Johanna, my mother, shall have and hold for
the term of her life the whole manor of Leeds, with its appurtenances,
rendering thence and paying to Elizabeth, my sister, for her marriage,
20li. sterling; and to Katerine, my sister, at her marriage, 20li.
And if one of them dies, she who survives shall have for her marriage
all the money bequeathed to them above.
Elizabeth de Ledes
Roger de Ledes
Joan (_____) de Ledes
Elizabeth is mentioned in the wills of her father in 1398 and her brother,
William, in 1400, both of which make provision for her marriage, so clearly
she was not married by 1400.
The Yorkshire Archæological Journal vol 17
p56n (1903)
Administracio concessa in bonis domini Rogeri de Ledes, militis.
... Et, si quid ex perceptione vendicionis hujusmodi, solutis debitis,
superesset, quod illud residuum reservaretur in ad maritagium Elizabethe
et Katerine, filiarum suarum.
A rough translation of this part of the will is:
Administration granted in the goods of
Sir Roger de Ledes, knight. ... And if anything remained from the
proceeds of such a sale, after the debts had been paid, that residue was
to be reserved for the marriage of Elizabeth and Catherine, his daughters.
The Yorkshire Archæological Journal vol 17
pp55-6 (1903)
TESTAMENTUM1
WILLELMI DE LEDES, FILII ET HEREDIS ROGERI DE LEDES, FACTUM.
... Et volo quod dicta Johanna, mater
mea, habeat et teneat ad terminum vite sue totum manerium de Ledes,
cum pertinenciis suis, reddendo inde et solvendo Elizabethe, sorori
mee, ad maritagium suum, xxli. sterlingorum; et Katerine,
sorori mee, ad maritagium suum, xxli. Et si altera eorum
obierit, illa que vixerit habeat ad maritagium suum totam pecuniam eis
superius legatam.
A rough translation of this part of the will is:
TESTAMENT OF
WILLIAM DE LEDES, SON AND HEIR OF ROGER DE LEDES, MADE.
... And I will that the said Johanna, my mother, shall have and hold for
the term of her life the whole manor of Leeds, with its appurtenances,
rendering thence and paying to Elizabeth, my sister, for her marriage,
20li. sterling; and to Katerine, my sister, at her marriage, 20li.
And if one of them dies, she who survives shall have for her marriage
all the money bequeathed to them above.
Emma (de Ledes) Pygot
Roger de Ledes
Joan (_____) de Ledes
Geoffrey
Pygot
This marriage probably occurred before the administration of Emma's father's
estate on 27 February 1398 as Roger makes provision for the marriage of two
daughters, Elizabeth and Katherine, but not for Emma (The Yorkshire Archæological Journal vol 17
p56n).
This agreement dated 25 November 1418 between William, son of Sir Roger de
Ledys, and Geoffrey Pigot in which William's property "manors of Northall of
Ledys and Okewell" is deeded to his heirs, with remainder to Randolph, son
of Geoffrey Pigot, and the heirs of his body; remainder to Emma daughter of
Geoffrey Pigot and the heirs of her body; remainder to Joan wife of William
(de Ledys) and her heirs for ever. It is hard to read in to this anything
but that Randolph and Emma Pigot are descendants of Roger de Ledes, children
of his daughter, presumably the Emma Leeds named in 19th century sources.
That she predeceased Geoffrey is clear from the agreement, since she is not
named in the succession, only her son and daughter.
The
Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 26 pp26-8 (1924)
Birstall, Gomersall, and Heckmondwike.
BY W. T. LANCASTER
On 25 November, 6 Hen, V (1418), an agreement was made at Ripon
between William son and heir of Sir Roger de Ledys, knt., and Joan his
wife of the one part, and Geoffrey Pigot, esquire, of the other part, by
which William and Joan undertook to levy a Fine of the manors of
Northall of Ledys and Okewell in favour of William Roger and John Dalby,
chaplains, so that these two chaplains should become seised of the said
manors for the said William son of Roger and Joan and the heirs of their
two bodies: Remainder to the heirs of the body of William, son of Roger;
Remainder to Randolph son of Geoffrey Pigot, and the heirs of his body;
Remainder to Emma daughter of Geoffrey Pigot and the heirs of her body;
Remainder to Joan wife of William (de Ledys) and her heirs for ever:
Roger and Dalby to make a grant of a rent of £60 out of the two manors
to secure this settlement and to arise on any attempt by William de
Ledys or his heirs to upset it.1
... William de Leeds had a sister Emma, wife of Geoffrey Pigot,
and under the settlement of 6 Hen. V, the succession now passed to her
son Randolph or Ranulf Pigot.
1
Thoresby deeds.
Notes to the will of Emma's son Ranulph:
Testamenta
Eboracensia vol 3 p156 (1865)
Apr.
20, 1466. Ranulphus Pigott† de
Clotherom, in com. Ebor., armiger ...
†Randolph Pigot, of Clotherham, the testator was the eldest son and heir
of Geoffrey Pigot of that place, by Emma his wife, daughter and
eventually heiress of Roger de Ledes, of North Hall, in Leeds, co. York,
and grandson of Sir Randolph Pigot, of Melmerby, in the parish of
Coverham, N. R. co. York, who obtained the estate of Clotherham by
marriage with Johanna, daughter and heiress of John de Clotherham, the
last of a race of that name, which had been settled there from the early
part, at least, of the twelfth century.
The genealogist vol 2 pp295-6 (George W.
Marshall ed, 1878)
PIGOT OF
MELMORBY IN COVERDALE, AND OF CLOTHERHAM NEAR RIPON, CO. YORK.
... VI. SIR GEOFFRY PIGOT
of Clotherham, Kt., living 1418. Married EMMA, dau. and
heiress of Sir Roger Leeds of Northall, Leeds, Kt., and eventually heir
of her brother WILLIAM LEEDS, Esq. This
family was descended from Thomas de Leeds, grandson of Ashulf, lord of
Birkin, co. York, temp. Hen. I. The said Thomas de Leeds married a
coheiress of the family of de Cauz, which was descended from Reginald de
Normanville, Forester of Sherwood temp. Will. I. (Visitation pedigrees.)
Sir Geoffry had issue —
Before March 1415, by which date her
husband is recorded with his second wife, Joan.
Joan (____) de Ledes
Roger de Ledes
Joan was possibly of the Darrell family.
The
Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 26 pp23-5 (1924)
Birstall, Gomersall, and Heckmondwike.
BY W. T. LANCASTER
In the Poll Tax
return of 1379 Roger de Ledes ‘esquier’ and wife were rated in Leeds at
20s.
... Roger de Leeds had been knighted by 12 Rich. II, as appears by a
Fine of that year between Isabel, widow of Walter Fauconberg, and Sir
John Bygod, querents, and Roger de Ledes and Joan his wife, deforciants,
respecting the manor of Brodsworth and lands in Sessay. I suspect from
this that Joan was a member of the Darrell family, who owned both
Brodsworth and Sessay, There was a connection by marriage between the
Darrells and the Bygods about this time.3
2 Patents, 8 Rich. II.
3 See the Darrell pedigree in Foster’s Visitation
of Yorkshire, 1584-5.
Joan is the primary legatee in and an executor of, the will of her son,
William, dated 22 July 1400
The Yorkshire Archæological Journal vol 17
pp55-6 (1903)
TESTAMENTUM1
WILLELMI DE LEDES, FILII ET HEREDIS ROGERI DE LEDES, FACTUM.
... Et insuper volo quod
Johanna, mater mea, habeat et teneat ad terminum vite sue totum
manerium de Okewell,3 cum omnibus membris et pertinenciis
suis, reddendo inde annuatim Willelmo Burgoigne sexaginta solidos
sterlingorum ad totam vitam suam, ita quod post decessum dicte
Johanne, matris mee, dictum manerium, cum omnibus membris et
pertinenciis suis, rectis heredibus meis integre remaneat imperpetuum.
... Et volo quod dicta Johanna, mater mea, habeat et teneat ad
terminum vite sue totum manerium de Ledes, cum pertinenciis suis,
reddendo inde et solvendo Elizabethe, sorori mee, ad maritagium suum,
xxli. sterlingorum; et Katerine, sorori mee, ad maritagium
suum, xxli. Et si altera eorum obierit, illa que vixerit habeat
ad maritagium suum totam pecuniam eis superius legatam. ... Residuum
vero omnium bonorum meorum, superius non legatorum, do et lego prefate
Johanne, matri mee, ad faciendum inde pro anima mea et animabus omnium
fidelium defunctorum, prout melius viderit expedire. Et prefatam
Johannam, Thomam Gra, et Willelmum Burgoigne facio et et (sic)
constituto executores meos per presentes.
1 York Corporation Records, B.y., fo.
23b. My copy of this will, made in 1867, has been kindly collated
with the original by Mr. William Brown, F.S.A., to whom I am also
indebted for transcripts (see next page) of those of Sir Roger de Ledes
and his descendant Dame Jane Hussey.
3 Oakwell, in the parish of Birstall, about three
miles west from Morley (?).
A rough translation of this part of the will is:
TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM DE LEDES, SON AND HEIR OF
ROGER DE LEDES, MADE.
... And
moreover I will that Johanna, my mother, have and hold for the term of
her life the whole manor of Okewell,3 with all the parts and
appurtenances thereof, paying thence yearly to William Burgoigne sixty
shillings sterling for her whole life, so that after the decease of the
said Joan, my mother, let the said manor, with all its parts and
appurtenances, remain to my right heirs in perpetuity. ... And I will
that the said Johanna, my mother, shall have and hold for the term of
her life the whole manor of Leeds, with its appurtenances, rendering
thence and paying to Elizabeth, my sister, for her marriage, 20li.
sterling; and to Katerine, my sister, at her marriage, 20li. And
if one of them dies, she who survives shall have for her marriage all
the money bequeathed to them above. ... But the remainder of all my
goods, not bequeathed above, I give and bequeath to Johanne, my mother,
to be done thence for my soul and the souls of all the faithful
departed, as she sees fit. And I make the aforesaid Johanna, Thomas Gra,
and William Burgoigne my executors by this present.
Roger de Ledes
Joan
possibly of the Darrell family
Sir Roger de Ledes of Northall, Leeds, Yorkshire. When he witnessed a deed
on 3 September 1374, Roger is described as "Roger de Ledis, lord of Okewell"
(Yorkshire
deeds vol 7 in Yorkshire Archæological
Society Record Series vol 83 p98)
Calendar of the Close Rolls Edward III 1374-1377 p267
(1913)
1375.
Oct. 20.
Westminster.
Roger de Ledes of Yorkshire to John Botiller of Brynkele.
Recognisance for 40 marks, to be levied etc. in Yorkshire.
Cancelled on payment.
Roger was appointed to a "commission de walliis et fossatis" or commission of
sewers, in 1377.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Richard II 1377-1381 p41
(1895)
1377.
July 12.
Westminster.
Commission de walliis, fossatis, &c., to Roger de
Fultthorp, John de Aske, William son of William de Skipwith, John
Brakenholm, John de Sadyngton and John de Kirkeby, for the parts between
the Ouse and Derwent, Houedenshire and Spaldyngmore, co. York.
The like commissions to the following in the places named:—
... Dec. 8.
Westminster.
Roger de Fulthorp, John de Ask, John de Brakenholm, Roger de
Ledes, Thomas de Ledenesse, and Richard Drax, between the Ouse and Eyre
in the soke of Drax, co. York.s
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Richard II 1381-1385 pp466-7
(1897)
1384.
Oct. 28.
Westminster.
Pardon to Katharine, late the wife of Edmund Grammory, of her
waiver in the Husting court, London, for not paying the king a ransom
for not prosecuting her appeal in the King’s Bench against Roger de
Ledes touching the death of her said husband, she having surrendered
to the Marshalsea prison, as certified by Robert Tresilian, chief
justice.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Richard II 1381-1385 p506
(1897)
1384.
Nov. 18.
Westminster.
Commission to Robert Nevill, knight, Thomas Graa, William
Moubray, Thomas Elys and John de Wynteworth, to enquire and certify
touching the following circumstances:—Robert de Stokes having obtained
in Chancery a writ de minis, directed to the sheriff of York,
against Adam de Mirfeld and others, and Roger de Ledes being assistant
to the said sheriff in the execution of the writ, certain evildoers
assembled in arms, lay in wait to kill the said Roger, and barred him
in his house at Okwell until they were driven off by Robert de Nevyll,
one of the keepers of the peace in the said county.
This entry in the Patent Rolls on 15 January 1398(9) describes Roger's
involvement in the death of John Passelewe, for which he forfeited not only
£40 of his own money that he had put as surety to keep the peace towards the
Passelewes, but a further £20 surety stood by four of his friends, including
Ranulph Pygot, father of his daughter's husband.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Richard II 1396-1399 p465
(1909)
1399.
Jan. 15.
Coventry.
Grant to Richard de Werburton, Matthew de Radclif, Richard de
Assheton, Richard del Wode and John le Tawer of the 20l. in
which Ranulph Pygot, knight, William Malory, knight, Richard Norton
and Stephen del Fall of the county of York, were each bound over at
York on behalf of Roger de Ledes, knight, that he would keep the peace
towards William Passelewe and all other the king’s lieges, and of the
40l. in which said Roger was bound to the like effect; inasmuch
as by the assent of the the said Roger one John Passelewe was killed
and another person wounded and grievously beaten. By p.s.
[12591.]
The
Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 26 pp23-5 (1924)
Birstall, Gomersall, and Heckmondwike.
BY W. T. LANCASTER
In 1373 Roger
de Ledis, lord of Hokwell, demised a messuage called Spen within the
bounds of Gomersal, to Richard Kouper and Richard Kytsun for twenty
years.5 In 1374 he was charged in the Honour of Pontefract
with a hundred shillings for his Relief for the manor of Gomersal.6
On Tuesday after Christmas, 1 Rich. II (1377), there was a deed
between Robert de Mersh, junr., of Mar, and Roger de Leeds, by which the
former released to Roger and the heirs of his body all claim to the
lands and tenements formerly John Tilly’s in “Hekynwyk and Gomersale,”
and Roger released to Robert and the heirs of his body all claim to the
lands and tenements formerly John Tilly’s in Bilham and Stodfold.1
From this it appears that John Tilly had held an estate in Bilham and
Stotfold—a fact unknown to Hunter. Who Robert de Mersh of Mar was or how
he came to be interested in that estate I cannot say, but it may be
mentioned that Marr was at this time in the possession of the Metham
family. The deed is witnessed by “Sir Richard, vicar of Byngley”—who was
of the Leeds family. In the Poll Tax return of 1379 Roger de Ledes
‘esquier’ and wife were rated in Leeds at 20s.
On 18 November, 1384, a commission was issued to Sir Robert
Nevill and others to enquire into an allegation that, a writ having been
issued against Adam de Mirfeld and others, certain evildoers assembled
against Roger de Ledes, assistant to the Sheriff of York, in the
execution of the writ, lay in wait to kill him (Roger) and barred him in
his house at “Okwell” until they were driven off.2
Roger de Leeds had been knighted by 12 Rich. II, as appears by a
Fine of that year between Isabel, widow of Walter Fauconberg, and Sir
John Bygod, querents, and Roger de Ledes and Joan his wife, deforciants,
respecting the manor of Brodsworth and lands in Sessay. I suspect from
this that Joan was a member of the Darrell family, who owned both
Brodsworth and Sessay, There was a connection by marriage between the
Darrells and the Bygods about this time.3
On the 28th December, 1402, John Mareschall, of the County of
Derby, late servant to Roger de Ledes, knt., received a pardon for
having on the 17 July, 1398, killed John son of Robert Passchewe, of
Newton, apprentice of the law, at Sheepscar Bridge, by the abetting of
the said Roger.4 It appears that there was a feud between the
Leeds family and the Paslews of Newton, prominent townsmen of Leeds. On
the 15 January, 1399, a grant was made by the Crown to Richard de
Warburton and others of the £40 in which Sir Roger had been bound over
to keep the peace towards William Paslew and all others—notwithstanding
which John Paslew had been killed and another person grievously wounded
by the assent of Roger, who had obviously been the inciter of the
murder.5
Dodsworth made a note of a deed dated 30 September, 1400, by
which William de Ledes, of Ripon, gave to William de Ledes, son and heir
of Roger de Ledes, knt., the manors of Oakwell, Northall, and Cusworth
with the appurtenances in Cusworth and Morley.1 It would
appear that Sir Roger de Leeds was then dead and that William his son
had succeeded him. The properties had probably been conveyed to William
de Leeds, of Ripon, under some trust or settlement. He was a prominent
man in the Ripon district, a Justice of the Peace, and we find his name
repeatedly in the Patents of the period. He was a joint founder of the
Chantry of St. James in the Church of Ripon and the King’s proctor
there. No doubt he was a near relation of the Northall family.
It is possible that the properties mentioned above had been
conveyed to him as a precaution when the Paslew troubles were hanging
over Roger de Leeds, and over William his son who was also one of the
culprits. William received the royal pardon for his share in the deed on
21 July, 1400, and an amplified one on 5 April following; the latter
recites that in addition to the Paslew affair William (alluded to as son
and heir of Sir Roger de Ledes, chivaler) had been charged with being a
common highwayman.2
5 Thoresby deeds.
6 Feodary of Pontefract.
1 Thoresby deeds.
2 Patents, 8 Rich. II.
3 See the Darrell pedigree in Foster’s Visitation
of Yorkshire, 1584-5.
4 Patents, 4 Hen. IV.
5 Patents, 22 Rich. II.
1
Harl. MS. 797, fo. 41.
2 Patents, 2 Hen. IV. Contemporary with William de
Leeds was a vicar of Birstall not mentioned in Torre’s list—Richard
Liversedge, party to a deed dated 1404 (Add. Ch. Brit. Mus. 8319).
The genealogist vol 2 pp295 (George W.
Marshall ed, 1878)
... VI. SIR
GEOFFRY PIGOT of Clotherham, Kt., living
1418. Married EMMA, dau. and heiress of Sir Roger Leeds
of Northall, Leeds, Kt., and eventually heir of her brother WILLIAM
LEEDS, Esq. This family was descended from Thomas de
Leeds, grandson of Ashulf, lord of Birkin, co. York, temp. Hen. I. The
said Thomas de Leeds married a coheiress of the family of de Cauz, which
was descended from Reginald de Normanville, Forester of Sherwood temp.
Will. I. (Visitation pedigrees.)
Administration of Roger's estate was
granted on 27 February 1398, so he likely died shortly before this.
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
A descendant of Roger, Dame Jane Hussey, in her will dated 2 February
1593(4), requests "to be buried within the high quear of Leedes, neare unto
Sir Roger Leedes, my ancester" (The Yorkshire Archæological Journal vol 17 p58
(1903))
Roger's nuncupative (oral) will was
granted administration on 27 February 1398
The Yorkshire Archæological Journal vol 17
p56n (1903)
Administracio concessa in bonis domini Rogeri de Ledes, militis.
Memorandum quod hoc est ultima voluntas, nuncupative probata, domini
Rogeri de Ledes, militis, videlicet; quod primo et principaliter quod de
bonis suis mobilibus solverentur debita in quibus tempore mortis sue
creditoribus suis tenebatur. Et si bona hujusmodi ad hoc non
suffecerint, alienarentur redditus sui in Burlay et Cusseworth, ac
parcelle reddituum ad ipsum pertinentes, in villa de Morlay. Et, si quid
ex perceptione vendicionis hujusmodi, solutis debitis, superesset, quod
illud residuum reservaretur in ad maritagium Elizabethe et Katerine,
filiarum suarum. Nullos tamen constituit executores hujus voluntatis
sue, et ideo ex officio, tanquam ab intestato, penultimo die mensis
Februarii, anno Domini supradicto [1398] commissa est administracio in
bonis dicti domini Rogeri, nuper defuncti, in forma constitucionis super
hoc edita, domine Johanne, relicte dicti defuncti, cum addito juramento
per eandem [quod] conservabit dominum archiepiscopum et ejus officiarios
totaliter indempnes in hac parte, etc. (Reg. Test., iii, fo.
17).
A rough translation of this will is:
Administration granted in the goods of Sir Roger de Ledes, knight.
It should be remembered that this is the last will, proved by
nuncupative, of Lord Roger de Ledes, knight, to wit; first and foremost,
that the debts owed to his creditors at the time of his death should be
paid out of his movable goods. And if goods of this kind were not
sufficient for this purpose, they were to alienate their rents in Burlay
and Cusseworth, and the parcel of rents belonging to them, in the town
of Morlay. And if anything remained from the proceeds of such a sale,
after the debts had been paid, that residue was to be reserved for the
marriage of Elizabeth and Catherine, his daughters. However, he
appointed no executors of this will of his, and therefore, ex officio,
as if by an intestate, on the penultimate day of the month of February,
in the aforesaid year of the Lord [1398], he was entrusted with the
administration of the goods of the said lord Roger, late deceased, in
the form of a constitution issued thereon, Sir John, leaving the said
deceased, with an additional oath by the same [that] he will keep the
lord archbishop and his officers totally indemnified in this part, etc.
(Reg. Test., iii, fo. 17).
William de Ledes
Roger de Ledes
Joan (_____) de Ledes
Joan
Joan is not mentioned in the early will of William, dated 22 July 1400, in
which he leaves his estate to his mother, and so this marriage would have
occurred after that date, but before 1 February 1408, when a license is
given to "William de Ledes and Joan his wife" (Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry IV 1405-1408 p402)
17 Henry VI was from 1 September 1438 until 31 August 1439.
The
Genealogist vol 18 p34 (1902)
De Banco, Hillary. 17. Hen. 6. m.
317.
Ebor.—Alexander Ledes sued Ralph Pygot for lands and rents in Ledes and
Heton, in Bradfordale, and he sued Joan, late wife of William Ledes, for
other lands and rents in the same vill.
The
Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 26 p25 (1924)
Birstall, Gomersall, and Heckmondwike.
BY W. T. LANCASTER
Like his father William de Leeds married a lady whose Christian
name was Joan. Of what family she came is uncertain. She may have been
the Joan Rolleston whose father, William Rolleston, of Beverley, is
recorded as having been excommunicated in 1412 for having procured a
clandestine marriage between Joan his daughter and William Ledes.3
But it is perhaps more likely that she was the “Jenet wyf to William
Ledes” who appears as the daughter of Henry Savile, of Thornhill, in the
Savile descent registered at the visitation of 1563-4.4 There
is among the Thoresby deeds a lease dated 31 March, 18 Hen. VI (1440) by
“Jonet of Leedes” to William Nettilton, of the manor of Okewell, for
twenty years, at a rent of eight marks. This was doubtless William’s
widow and Oakwell may have been part of her dower.
3 Surtees Soc., xlv, 321.
4 Harleian Soc. xvi, 275. There appears to be an
error on page 274, where the will referred to in the second note is
stated to be that of Henry Savile—it was the will of his grandson, Sir
John Savile.
On 17 July 1398, William participated in the murder of John Passelewe.
William's royal pardon describes that he, "armed and of malice aforethought
awaited the coming of John son of Robert Passelewe of Newton, apprentice of
the law, to his lodging at Newton ... and then after the setting of the sun
murdered him there".
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry IV 1399-1401 p310
(1903)
1400. July 2.
Westminster.
Pardon
to William son and heir of Sir Roger de Ledes, ‘chivaler,’ for all
felonies, ambushes and murders committed by him except treason, rape and
common larceny.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry IV 1399-1401 p472
(1903)
1401. April 5.
Leeds Castle.
Whereas
William son and heir of Sir Roger de Ledes, ‘chivaler,’ is charged with
having with others on Wednesday before St. Margaret the Virgin, 22
Richard II, come to Ledes in the highway in a place called Shepkerbrygge
and there armed and of malice aforethought awaited the coming of John
son of Robert Passelewe of Newton, apprentice of the law, to his lodging
at Newton, to kill him by the abetting of the said Roger, the said John
being then in the company of the duke of Lancaster at his hunt (venacionem)
of Rothewell, and then after the setting of the sun murdered him there super
onus suum naturale deponendum sedentem, and with being a common
highwayman; the king, out of reverence for Good Friday last, pardons
him. By K.
John Mareschall "late servant of Roger de Ledes" received a similar pardon
on 28 December 1403 (Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry IV 1401-1405 p189).
Calendar of the Patent Rolls Henry IV 1405-1408 p402
(1907)
1408. Feb. 1.
Westminster.
Licence, for 20s. paid in the hanaper by the abbot of St. Mary’s,
Kirkestall, for William de Ledes and Joan his wife to grant in mortmain
two messuages, 12 acres of land, an acre and a rood of meadow, and 3
acres of pasture in Burlay by Ledes, held of the king as of the honour
of Pontefract by knight service, as appears by an inquisition taken
before Alexander de Lound, escheator in the county of York, to the abbot
and convent to hold at a rent of 13s. 4d. yearly to the
said William and Joan and the heirs of William.
The
Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 2 p43 (1889)
DE BANCO ROLL.—RECORD
OFFICE (Memb. 92).
ADD. MS., 26,731, fo. 253.—Fine, 11 Hen. IV.—Abbot
of Kirkstall, quert, and William Ledes and Joan his wife, defts,
of two messuages and land in Burley-juxta-Leeds.
ADD. MS., 26,731. fo. 261.—Fine, 6 Hen. V.—William
Roger, cap., and John Dalby, cap., querts, and William, son
of Roger de Ledes, Kt., and Joan his wife, defts, of the
manors of Okewell and Northalle de Ledes.*
* The North-hall here referred to has vanished, and its site is
rather obscure. It was situated near Lady Beck, and probably between the
modern Lady Lane and George’s Street, but perhaps on the east side of
the beck. North hall bridge was spoken of and known at the close of the
last century, and its site has been upon or near that of the bridge now
at the bottom of George’s Street, about which was the old Boggart House;
the Danish Bonde-gaart or farm-house, and an illustration of
mediæval Leeds.—W W.
Yorkshire
deeds vol 7 in Yorkshire Archæological
Society Record Series vol 83 pp98-9 (ed. Charles Travis
Clay, 1932)
Gomersal.
287.
June 20, 13 Henry IV (1412). Grant by William de Ledes and Joan his wife
to John de Gomersall and his heirs that they could enclose and hold in
severalty every year from the Purification of the B. V. M. to Michaelmas
a certain culture of land within the bounds of Little Gomersall called
Nelleroyde, within the grantors’ lordship of Gomersall, provided they
set a fence, ditch or hedge, quick or dead, round it. Gomersall1.
(Ibid. [Lord Allendale, Gomersal], No. 5.)
1 Seal: red wax, round, 1 in.; a shield of arms,
couché, surmounted by a helmet, a fess between three [?] fleurs-de-lis;
legend indecipherable. Endorsed: Rayner.
Dated 16 March 1415
The Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 9
p16 (1899)
Duchy of
Lancaster Depositions
Curia cum turno
tenta ibidem xvjti die Marcii, anno regni Henrici Querti (sic),
secundo, etc.
Roberti Tottye Thome Darlinge, Roberti Widisonne et
aliorum, Juratorum.
Qui dicunt quod quedam juventa de estray remanit in bosco
Willielmi de Ledes per unum annum integrum, etc. Ideo preceptum est
seissire, etc.
which roughly translates to:
The court of tourn
tried there on the 18th day of March, in the second year of the reign of
Henry Fifth, etc.
Robert Tottye, Thomas Darlinge, Robert Widisonne,
and others, Jurors.
Those who say that a certain stray youth remains in the
forest of William of Leeds for one whole year, etc. Therefore it is
commanded to cease, etc.
Dated 17 November 1427 and 9 June 1428
The Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 9
p22 (1899)
Duchy of
Lancaster Depositions
Curia cum turno tenta ibidem xvijmo die Novembris, anno regni
Henrici vjti, vjto.
Item, dicunt quod Alexander Nevell et Willielmus Leedes, armiger,
non purgaverunt fossatos suos apud Orgreves, ideo pena ijs.
utriusque eorum.
Curia cum turno tenta ibidem nono die Junij, anno regni Henrici
vjti, vjto.
Item, dicunt quod Willielmus Leedes, armiger, non purgaverit
fossatos suos ibidem prout in pena ijs. ei inde assessata, ideo
preceptum est levare penam predictam.
which roughly translates to:
The court of tourn
tried there on the 17th day of November, in the sixth year of the reign of
Henry VI.
Also, they say that Alexander Nevell and William Leedes, esquire,
did not clean their ditches at Orgreves, therefore they were each fined 2s.
The court of tourn tried there on the 9th day of June, in the sixth
year of the reign of Henry VI.
Also, they say that William Leedes, esquire, did not clean his
ditches there as he was under penalty of 2s. therefore it was
ordered to relieve the aforesaid penalty.
The history of the parishes of Sherburn and Cawood
p141 (William Wheater, 1882)
2,
Henry VI.—Fines between William Scargill and Thomas Wombwell,
plaintiffs, and William, son of Roger de Ledes, Kt., deforciant of one
messuage, 7 tofts, 165 acres of land, 12 acres of meadow, 12 acres of
wood, and 4 pence rent, with the appurtenances in Lede, Saxton, and
Lede-Wodehus, which Thomas Scargill, of Lede, holds for term of life,
William, the son of Roger, acknowledges to be the right of William
Scargill, and hath granted, &c., that the aforesaid tenements with
appurtenances which the said Thomas Scargill holds for term of life of
the inheritance of the said William, the son of Roger, in the said
towns, the day that, &c., and which, after the decease of the said
Thomas, ought to revert to the said William, son of Roger, and his heirs
should wholly remain to the said Wm. Scargill and Thos. Wombwell, and to
the heirs of the said William, to be held of the Chief Lord by services,
with appurtenances, &c.
Dated 6 April 1429
The Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 9
pp16-7 (1899)
Duchy of
Lancaster Depositions
Curia cum turno tenta ibidem sexto die Aprilis, anno regni Henrici
Sexti, septimo, etc.
Willielmus de Ledes liber tenens ibidem pro secta curie ibidem
amerciatur vjd.
Yorkshire
deeds vol 5 in Yorkshire Archæological
Society Record Series vol 69 p174 (ed. Charles Travis Clay,
1926)
Tong.
503. April 8, 11 Henry VI (1433). Grant by William de
Ledes, esq., to Emma Pygot, his kinswoman,4 of a yearly rent
of 13s. 4d. from all his lands and tenements in Schaye
within the township of Tonge; to hold for her life, payable at
Whitsuntide and Martinmas in equal portions; power to distrain if three
weeks in arrear. In the name of seisin of the said rent Hugh Tonge, then
tenant of the lands and tenements, attorned to Emma by one [blank]
in the presence of the testimony of the deed.5 Witnesses,
Hugh Tonge of Hundisworth, Richard Popelay of Popelay, Robert Flemyng of
Wakefeld, Thomas Smyht of Scoles. Schay.6 (Ibid. [Lord
Allendale, Tong], No. 9.)
504. Michaelmas, 13 Henry VI (Sept. 29, 1434). Grant7
in tail by William Ledes, esq., to Emmota Pygot, his kinswoman, of a
messuage, and all lands and tenements, meadows, woods and pastures, with
easements belonging thereto, lying in a place called Schage by Tonge.
Witnesses, William Mirfeld, Thomas Eland, Hugh Tong, John Popley. Scagh.8
(Ibid., No. 10.)
4
Emma, daughter of Roger de Ledes, married Geoffrey Pigot and had a
daughter Emma, who was therefore niece of William de Ledes. (Thoresby
Soc., xxvi, Miscellanea, pp. 26-7.)
5 In presencia testimonii huius carte. For a note
bearing on this practice see vol. iv, p. 26 n.
6 Seal: red wax, small; letter W beneath the sacred
monogram.
7 Also, same day and place, appointment bv William
Ledes, esq., of John Nevell as attorney to deliver seisin; same seal. (Ibid.,
No. 11.)
8 Seal: same as to No. 503.
This agreement, summarised below, dated 25 November 1418 between William and
Geoffrey Pigot in which William's property of "manors of Northall of Ledys
and Okewell" is deeded to his heirs, with remainder to Randolph, son of
Geoffrey Pigot, and the heirs of his body; remainder to Emma daughter of
Geoffrey Pigot and the heirs of her body; remainder to Joan wife of William
(de Ledys) and her heirs for ever. The property did eventually pass to
Ranulph Pigot, indicating that William and Joan did not have any surviving
children.
The
Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 26 pp24-6 (1924)
Birstall, Gomersall, and Heckmondwike.
BY W. T. LANCASTER
Dodsworth made a note of a deed dated 30 September, 1400, by
which William de Ledes, of Ripon, gave to William de Ledes, son and heir
of Roger de Ledes, knt., the manors of Oakwell, Northall, and Cusworth
with the appurtenances in Cusworth and Morley.1 It would
appear that Sir Roger de Leeds was then dead and that William his son
had succeeded him. The properties had probably been conveyed to William
de Leeds, of Ripon, under some trust or settlement. He was a prominent
man in the Ripon district, a Justice of the Peace, and we find his name
repeatedly in the Patents of the period. He was a joint founder of the
Chantry of St. James in the Church of Ripon and the King’s proctor
there. No doubt he was a near relation of the Northall family.
It is possible that the properties mentioned above had been
conveyed to him as a precaution when the Paslew troubles were hanging
over Roger de Leeds, and over William his son who was also one of the
culprits. William received the royal pardon for his share in the deed on
21 July, 1400, and an amplified one on 5 April following; the latter
recites that in addition to the Paslew affair William (alluded to as son
and heir of Sir Roger de Ledes, chivaler) had been charged with being a
common highwayman.2
Like his father William de Leeds married a lady whose Christian
name was Joan. Of what family she came is uncertain. She may have been
the Joan Rolleston whose father, William Rolleston, of Beverley, is
recorded as having been excommunicated in 1412 for having procured a
clandestine marriage between Joan his daughter and William Ledes.3
But it is perhaps more likely that she was the “Jenet wyf to William
Ledes” who appears as the daughter of Henry Savile, of Thornhill, in the
Savile descent registered at the visitation of 1563-4.4 There
is among the Thoresby deeds a lease dated 31 March, 18 Hen. VI (1440) by
“Jonet of Leedes” to William Nettilton, of the manor of Okewell, for
twenty years, at a rent of eight marks. This was doubtless William’s
widow and Oakwell may have been part of her dower.
On 1 February, 1408, William de Ledes and Joan his wife had
licence to grant in mortmain to Kirkstall Abbey two messuages, land,
pasture, and meadow in Burley near Leeds; to be subject to a yearly rent
of 13s. 4d. to William and Joan and the heirs of William.5
On 25 November, 6 Hen, V (1418), an agreement was made at Ripon
between William son and heir of Sir Roger de Ledys, knt., and Joan his
wife of the one part, and Geoffrey Pigot, esquire, of the other part, by
which William and Joan undertook to levy a Fine of the manors of
Northall of Ledys and Okewell in favour of William Roger and John Dalby,
chaplains, so that these two chaplains should become seised of the said
manors for the said William son of Roger and Joan and the heirs of their
two bodies: Remainder to the heirs of the body of William, son of Roger;
Remainder to Randolph son of Geoffrey Pigot, and the heirs of his body;
Remainder to Emma daughter of Geoffrey Pigot and the heirs of her body;
Remainder to Joan wife of William (de Ledys) and her heirs for ever:
Roger and Dalby to make a grant of a rent of £60 out of the two manors
to secure this settlement and to arise on any attempt by William de
Ledys or his heirs to upset it.1 The Fine was levied
accordingly in Michaelmas term, 6 Hen. V, and on 25 July, 1419, Thomas
son and heir of Henry Sayvell, lord of Thornhill, quit-claimed to the
two chaplains all right in the manors of Oakwell and Northall in Ledes,
which they had by the gift of William de Ledes, esquire, and Joan his
wife.2 This deed was no doubt taken to clear away any
contingent right of Savile in the two manors; but how that right accrued
is not apparent—unless possibly there had been some settlement to which
he was a party when William de Leeds married the abovenamed Joan or
Jenet Savile—if there was such a marriage—who was Thomas’ sister.
In the return called the Knights’ Fees of the Honour of
Pontefract, 3 Hen. VI. William de Leedes is entered as holding one fee
in Birstall, Gomersal, Popley, Heckmondwike, and Birkenshaw, late of
Roger his father.
William de Leeds was still in possession at North Hall in June,
1428, but was dead, without children, in 1433.3 With him
ended the direct male line of the Leeds family of North Hall, lords of
Oakwell and Gomersal.
1
Harl. MS. 797, fo. 41.
2 Patents, 2 Hen. IV. Contemporary with William de
Leeds was a vicar of Birstall not mentioned in Torre’s list—Richard
Liversedge, party to a deed dated 1404 (Add. Ch. Brit. Mus. 8319).
3 Surtees Soc., xlv, 321.
4 Harleian Soc. xvi, 275. There appears to be an
error on page 274, where the will referred to in the second note is
stated to be that of Henry Savile—it was the will of his grandson, Sir
John Savile.
5 Patents, 9 Hen. IV.
1 Thoresby deeds.
2
Ibid.
3 Thoresby Soc., Miscellanea, ix, 22. In
volume xvii, Yorkshire Archæological Journal, page 55, the late
Mr. Robert Skaife printed what purports to be the will of this William
de Leeds, from a copy in one of the York Corporation volumes of records.
The will is dated 22 July, 1400: but—if genuine—it must, I think have
remained ineffective, as it does not appear to have been proved at York,
and there is evidence, as shown above, that William was living many
years later.
between 9 June 1428, when William is
held responsible by a court for upkeep at Northall (The Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 9
p22) and 22 April 1433, when Radulphus Pigott is held responsible for
Northall (The Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 9
p22). Ranulph inherited Northall from William under the agreement
described above. Another, less clear court case, indicates that the earlier
bound on William' death should probably be 6 April 1429 (The Publications of the Thoresby Society vol 9
pp16-7)
William wrote a will dated 22 July
1400, just days after receiving a royal pardon for his involvement in the
murder of John Passchewe, and many years before his death. W. T. Lancaster
notes that the will, which was copied from the the York Corporation volumes
of records, "does not appear to have been proved at York" (The Publications of the Thoresby Society vol
26 p26n).
The Yorkshire Archæological Journal vol 17
pp55-6 (1903)
TESTAMENTUM1
WILLELMI DE LEDES, FILII ET HEREDIS ROGERI DE LEDES, FACTUM.
COMMUNICATED BY ROBERT H.
SKAIFE.
IN Dei nomine, Amen.
Vicesimo secundo die mensis Julii, anno Domini millesimo CCCCmo
ego Willelmus de Ledes, filius et heres Rogeri de Ledes,2
militis, condo testamentum meum in hunc modo. In primis do et lego
animam meam Deo Omnipotenti, Beate Marie Virgini, atque Omnibus
Sanctis, et corpus meum ecclesiastice sepulture ubicumque Deus
disposuerit. Et insuper volo quod Johanna, mater mea, habeat et teneat
ad terminum vite sue totum manerium de Okewell,3 cum
omnibus membris et pertinenciis suis, reddendo inde annuatim Willelmo
Burgoigne sexaginta solidos sterlingorum ad totam vitam suam, ita quod
post decessum dicte Johanne, matris mee, dictum manerium, cum omnibus
membris et pertinenciis suis, rectis heredibus meis integre remaneat
imperpetuum. Et volo quod omnia terre et tenementa mea, redditus et
servicia, cum pertinenciis suis, in villis et territoriis de Morlay et
Burlay, veniant per feoffatores, in eisdem terris et tenementis
feoffatos, cuicumque carnis venei possunt,4 et pecunia inde
recipienda ad satisfaciendum pro debitis meis et prefati Rogeri,
patris mei, et quod residuum fuerit in administracione pro salute
animarum nostrarum administretur. Et volo quod omnia alia terre et
tenementa mea, cum pertinenciis, in comitatu Eboracensi rectis
heredibus meis integre remaneant. Et volo quod dicta Johanna, mater
mea, habeat et teneat ad terminum vite sue totum manerium de Ledes,
cum pertinenciis suis, reddendo inde et solvendo Elizabethe, sorori
mee, ad maritagium suum, xxli. sterlingorum; et Katerine,
sorori mee, ad maritagium suum, xxli. Et si altera eorum
obierit, illa que vixerit habeat ad maritagium suum totam pecuniam eis
superius legatam. Et volo quod Johannes Marsshall, cognatus meus,
habeat et percipiat ad terminum vite sue redditum xxs. de
manerio de Ledes, cum pertinenciis. Et lego Willelmo Forester,
servienti meo, unum redditum xiijs. iiijd. ad totam
vitam suam, de manerio predicto percipiendum. Et Johanni Coke,
servienti meo, unum redditum xiijs. iiijd. ad totam
vitam suam, de predicto manerio percipiendum. Et Dakyn Birche,
servienti meo, unum redditum xiijs. iiijd. ad totam
vitam suam de manerio predicto percipiendum. Et lego domino Roberto de
Brompton, capellano, xxs. vel unum garum (?) vocatam
Jak. Et domino Johanni de Morley, capellano, vjs. iiijd.
Residuum vero omnium bonorum meorum, superius non legatorum, do et
lego prefate Johanne, matri mee, ad faciendum inde pro anima mea et
animabus omnium fidelium defunctorum, prout melius viderit expedire.
Et prefatam Johannam, Thomam Gra, et Willelmum Burgoigne facio et et (sic)
constituto executores meos per presentes. In cujus rei testimonium
huic presenti testamento sigillum meum apposui. Datum Eboraci die et
anno predictis. [Ex registro ejusdem civitatis vocato
Domeseday.]
1 York Corporation Records, B.y., fo.
23b. My copy of this will, made in 1867, has been kindly collated
with the original by Mr. William Brown, F.S.A., to whom I am also
indebted for transcripts (see next page) of those of Sir Roger de Ledes
and his descendant Dame Jane Hussey.
2 In 1284-5 his ancestor, Roger de Ledes, alias
de North Hall, held property in Leeds and East Armley of the fee of
Henry, Earl of Lincoln (Surtees Society, vol. xlix, page 38). One of the
jurors on the Inquisition concerning Knights’ Fees in Skyrack wapentake
in 1302-3 was Roger de Ledes, who then held the eighth part of a fee in
Leeds, for which he was assessed at 5s. in the Aid granted for
the marriage of the King’s eldest daughter (Ibid., page 28). He
was probably the same person as Roger de Northalle, who was assessed at
2s. 2¾d. for one carucate in Wortley, near Leeds (Ibid.,
page 279).
3 Oakwell, in the parish of Birstall, about three
miles west from Morley (?).
4 An obscure passage, which I am unable to elucidate.
Mr. Brown suggests that the testator intended that his property in
Morley and Burley should be sold to some relative.
A rough translation of this will is:
TESTAMENT OF
WILLIAM DE LEDES, SON AND HEIR OF ROGER DE LEDES, MADE.
COMMUNICATED BY ROBERT H.
SKAIFE.
In the name of God, Amen. On the twenty-second day of July, in the year
of the Lord one thousand four hundred, I, William de Ledes, son and heir
of Roger de Ledes,2 knight, make my testament in this manner.
First of all, I give and bequeath my soul to God Almighty, to the
Blessed Virgin Mary, and to all the Saints, and to bury my body in an
ecclesiastical manner wherever God has ordained. And moreover I will
that Johanna, my mother, have and hold for the term of her life the
whole manor of Okewell,3 with all the parts and appurtenances
thereof, paying thence yearly to William Burgoigne sixty shillings
sterling for her whole life, so that after the decease of the said Joan,
my mother, let the said manor, with all its parts and appurtenances,
remain to my right heirs in perpetuity. And I will that all my lands and
tenements, rents and services, with their appurtenances, in the towns
and territories of Morlay and Burlay, shall come through the feoffees,
feoffees in the same lands and tenements, to whomsoever they may be
sold,4 and money to be received therefrom to satisfy for my
debts and those of the aforesaid Roger, my father, and that which
remains in the administration shall be administered for the safety of
our souls. And I will that all my other lands and tenements, with their
appurtenances, in the county of York, remain whole to my right heirs.
And I will that the said Johanna, my mother, shall have and hold for the
term of her life the whole manor of Leeds, with its appurtenances,
rendering thence and paying to Elizabeth, my sister, for her marriage,
20li. sterling; and to Katerine, my sister, at her marriage, 20li.
And if one of them dies, she who survives shall have for her marriage
all the money bequeathed to them above. And I will that John Marsshall,
my kinsman, shall have and receive at the end of his life the rent of 20s.
of the manor of Leeds, with its appurtenances. And I bequeath to William
Forester, my servant, one rent of 13s. 4d. for the whole
of his life, to be held of the aforesaid manor. And to John Coke, my
servant, one rent 13s. 4d. for the whole of his life, to
be held of the aforesaid manor. And to Dakyn Birche, my servant, one
rent 13s. 4d. to receive all his life from the aforesaid
manor. And I bequeath to Sir Robert de Brompton, chaplain, 20s.
or one boy (?) called Jak. And to Sir John de Morley, chaplain, 6s.
4d. But the remainder of all my goods, not bequeathed above, I
give and bequeath to Johanne, my mother, to be done thence for my soul
and the souls of all the faithful departed, as she sees fit. And I make
the aforesaid Johanna, Thomas Gra, and William Burgoigne my executors by
this present. In witness whereof I have affixed my seal to this present
testament. Given at York the day and year aforesaid. [From the
register of the same city called Domeseday].
Return to Chris Gosnell's Home Page
If you have any comments, additions or modifications to the information on this page, please feel free to email me.
Created and maintained by: chris@ocotilloroad.com