The Ledes Family

Catherine de Ledes

Father: Roger de Ledes

Mother: Joan (_____) de Ledes

Notes:
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.

Sources:

Elizabeth de Ledes

Father: Roger de Ledes

Mother: Joan (_____) de Ledes

Notes:
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.

Sources:

Emma (de Ledes) Pygot

Father: Roger de Ledes

Mother: Joan (_____) de Ledes

Married: 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).

Children: Notes:
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 —

Death: Before March 1415, by which date her husband is recorded with his second wife, Joan.

Sources:

Joan (____) de Ledes

Married: Roger de Ledes

Children: Notes:
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.

Sources:

Roger de Ledes

Married: Joan
possibly of the Darrell family

Children: Notes:
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.)

Death: Administration of Roger's estate was granted on 27 February 1398, so he likely died shortly before this.

Buried: 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))

Will: 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).

Sources:

William de Ledes

Father: Roger de Ledes

Mother: Joan (_____) de Ledes

Married: 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.

Notes:
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.

Death: 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)

Will: 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].

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