History of the Farndale Family

 Chapter 2 

The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries

1400 -1600

Home Page Return to the Home Page of the Farndale Family Website

The Farndale Story The story of one family’s journey through two thousand years of British History

The Farndale Lineages The 83 family lines into which the family is divided. Meet the whole family and how the wider family is related

The Farndale Directory Members of the historical family ordered by date of birth

Themes Links to other pages with historical research and related material

Related Family Stories The story of the Bakers of Highfields, the Chapmans, and other related families

Martin Farndale’s original history of the Farndale family, now superseded by the wider website.

By the Beginning of the 15th Century the Farndales had become established beyond the small valley that had given them its name. Some had moved southwards to York and Sheriff Hutton and one or two beyond that, but the majority had moved north into Cleveland. It is of interest that apart from minor spelling differences the name has remained much as it was when first recorded. It is of interest too that the name is seldom found  other than in NE Yorkshire. The name Ferndale does not appear at all in connection with the men of Farndale, although it obviously has a similar derivation.

The first record so far discovered in the new Century refers to the transfer of the same piece of land  transferred  to William Farndale is 1368 at Loversalle as described in the last chapter. A document on the PRO states;

‘Know men present and to come that I, William Farndale, vicar of the Church of Doncaster, have given, granted and by this my present charter confirmed to John Burton of Waddeworth, his heirs and Assigns, 5 acres of land and appurtenances lying in the fields of Loversalle, viz, those 5 acres which I had as gift and enffeoment of Robert Ryppes of Loversalle and which extend from the meadows of the wyke to the Kardyke, as the charter drawn up for me by Robert Ryppes more fully sets out. To have and to hold the said 5 acres of land with appurtenances to the said John Burton, his heirs and assigns from the chief lords of the fee by the services thence owed and customary by right. And I, the said William Farendalle and my heirs will warrant the said 5 acres of land with all appurtenances to the said John Burton, his heirs and assigns against all men forever. In witness thereof I have affixed my seal to this present charter. Those being witness: John Yorke of Loversalle, Robert Oxenford of Loversalle, William Ryppes of the same, William Clerke of the same and many others. Given at Loversalle, 6th April 3 Henry IV (1402).’

Although it is clear that William was a vicar and  owned land at Loversalle, we do not know why he sold it in 1402, except that there is an entry in Fasti Parochcales Vol 1 which says;

‘William Couper, priest, presented by the same on the resignation of William Farndale. Admitted in person by Richard Rasyn his proctor. (Register Scrope folio)  There is also an entry in the Calendar of the Registry of Richard Scrope, Archbishop of Yorke 1398 - 1405 edited by RN Swanson (two volumes, which says;

Institution of William Couper, priest, in person of M. Richard Rasyn, his proctor, to the village of Doncastre, vacant by resignation of William Farndale, Castle (The Archbishop’s Palace), 31st August 1403.

By 1428 we read of William Farndayll of Huton who held three bovates of land, part of the fee of the Archbishop of York. This could refer to Huton-le-Hole, just a few miles from Farndale.*

Next in 1435 we find the Will of Richard Farndale of Sherrif Hutton, without doubt the son of William Farndale which was proved in 1398 and is spelt out in Chapter 1.

‘In the name of God Amen. 8th December 1435. I, Richard Farndell of Sherifhoton, being of sound mind, make my will in this manner; Firstly, I bequeath and commend my soul to God Almighty, my creator and my body to be buried in my said Parish Church. Item. I bequeath  a grey horse with saddle and reigns and my armour, viz, a bascinet, a breast plate, a pair of vambraces and a pair of rerebraces with leg harness, as my mortuary payment. And I bequeath 3lbs of wax to be burned around my body on the day of my burial. Item. I bequeath to the vicar of my Parish 6s 8d and to every Chaplain taking part in my burial service and Mass, 4d. And I bequeath 26s 8d for mending a service book for the use of the Parish Church. And to the fabric of the Cathedral Church of St Peter, York 12d. And I bequeath to my daughter Margery at her marriage, 10 Marks, if she live to be of marriageable age. And if she dies before she arrives at her years of discretion, I wish the said  10 Marks to be divided equally between my daughters Agnes and Alice. And I bequeath to John Brantyng 40s and a bed. And to the four orders of Friars mendicant of York, 20s and 2 quarters of corn, divided in equal portions. And to John Pyper 2s. And, as regards the rest of my funeral expenses, I wish them to be paid at the discretion of my executors. The rest of my goods, not bequeathed above, my debts having been paid, I bequeath to Thomas Robynson, John Couper and the said Margery, my daughter. My executors faithfully to implement the terms of my will. Witness, Robert, Vicar of the Church of Hoton, William Huby of the same, John Burdley of the same and many others.’

Administration granted to Thomas and John, 21st December 1435 with rights preserved for a similar administration to be granted to Margery).

Note that there is no mention of Richard’s wife who presumably  pre-deceased him. There is some evidence to that Marjorie, presumably his eldest daughter was quite young, perhaps about 16. Does this in turn mean that Richard was also quite young at the time of his death? All we know for certain that a family of Farndales was living at Sheriff Hutton in 1398 and 1403. Although they had probably been there much longer than that.

Then on 16th April 1445,  ‘At Westminster.........for not appearing before William Babyngton and his fellows when impleaded, with Richard Coke of Cokewald Co  York...........Lawrence Hoggeson of Farndale and John Farndale of Styllyngton Co Durham, wryght, to answer Thomas Bishop of Durham touching trespass.’

So far no other Farndale entries have been found for the 15th Century. The Farndales essentially seem to be located in an area about 50 miles radius from their place of origin. More fragments of a family tree can be established, but still no direct links to the Farndales of today to any one of them.

There are very few entries for the 16th Century. The first so far found states, ‘ 7th February 1546. John Bennisonne presented by William Beanison, John Beanisonne of Farndale and Henry Noble of Sherburn by grant from the Prior and Covenant o Bridlington on the death of Robert Stockton.’ This tells us very little, except to note that the Benisonne family crops up several times in the Farndale history in the 18th Century.

Then in 1547 the will of Alice Farndale of Southcliffe, near Pocklington, is recorded;

‘In the name of God Amen. The 7th Day of July 1547, I Alice ffarndale of Southclif do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. First, I give my soul unto Almighty God to our Blessed Lady and to all the celestial company of Heaven and my body to be buried in the churchyard at Northcave. Item. I give to Jennet Brightin a kerchief. Item. I give to Isabell Brightin a veil. Item. I give to my mother Agnes Pratt a violet gown. Item. To my sister Isabell Prate (sic) a red kirtle. Item. I give to Thomas Brightin and to John Pratt to either of them a calfe of the best of my parte. Item. I give to Jennet Brightin a green kirtle. Item. I give to my brother John Prate (sic) A stagg of the best of my parte. The residue of my goods, my debts paid and my will fulfilled, I give to Symon Farndale and to Iasbell, my children whom I make my executors. And further I will that my brother John Prate (sic) shall have the custody and keeping of my said children and bequest unto them by this my testament unto they become to lawful years of age  and if they depart before they become of lawful years of age, then I will that the said portions go to the use and profit of my brother, John Pratt, provided always that my brother John Lonsdale and Laurence shall have custody and keeping of my aforesaid children, Simon ffarnedaill and Isabell as specified in their father’s testament. And also if my said children die before the come to their years of age, I will my brother John Pratt to give unto John Lonsdesdale and Laurence aforesaid, a cowe of my parte. These witnesses: Symon Garthorne, Thomas Dean, Thomas Stevyns and Sir Robert Barker, Priest.’

Proved 1st August in the year above, written before Simon Garthorne and Master Robert Barker, Priest, witnesses to the will and commisionaries before whom administration was granted to John Pratt, guardian of Simon and Isabell ffarnedale, minors.

We do not know who Alice was. She clearly died young while her children were minors. Her husband was already dead. If Simon and Isabell were, say, 15 and 12 respectively when their mother died in 1547 and they both lived to say, 60, then they were born in 1532 and 1535 and would have died in 1592 and 1595. There is no other mention of a Simon but an Isabell Farndale was buried at Skelton in 1592, but this is a very doubtful link. We do, however know that a family of Farndales was established at Southcliffe about this time.

There is an entry in Yorkshire fees of 1554 referring to the will of Thomas Yoward on 4th May 1554 which states;........’to Wylson, wyff of Farndayll iiij (4s). This tells us little except to note that this very odd Christian name appears again in the 18th Century.

It is at this stage that the first Farndale entries in Parish Registers so far discovered, have been found. The first is that of Jean Farndale who married Richard Fairley at Kirkleatham on 16th October 1567. If she was 20 when she married she was born in 1547. This simply tells us that there was a family of Farndales living in the Kirkleatham area at that time. This is proved in 1572 when the Parish Registers record that on 6th August 1572, Nicholas Farndale was buried at Kirkleatham. If he was 60 when he died, he was born in 1512. If he married at 25, that would be in 1537. This would make it possible for Jean to be his daughter.

15 years later Kirkleatham Parish Registers record that, ‘Agnes Farndaile was buried on 23rd January 1586.’ If she was 70 when she died, she was born in 1516. If she was 20 when she married, it would be in 1536. Thus she could well have been Nicholas’ wife and Jean’s mother. The dates all tie and make sense. Kirkleatham is only a few miles from Skelton, Moorsome and Brotton, soon to become central to the Farndale story.

The first Farndale entry in Skelton Parish Register states that on.  ‘11th February 1588, Jane Farndale married Valentine Wraye.’  If she was 20 when she married, then she was born in 1568 which is a bit too old  to be daughter of Nicholas at Kirkleatham, so there is probably another family now established in Skelton. The second entry states,  ‘2nd April 1592 Isabel farndaile was buried.’  She could be of any age from infant to an elderly person, so it is impossible to predict who she might be. We must assume that she too came from the Skelton family.

An entry in a document, states, ‘1595 Farndale, George of Skelton and Nelson, Margery of Wilton, either place, married.’ This is a key entry as this George is possibly our first proven ancestor as I will show. If he was 25 when he married, then he was born in 1570, again too late to be son of Nicholas of Kirkleatham. If Nicholas had a son born about 1545, who married at 25 in 1570, George could be his son.  In any case this entry links with detail about a George Farndale of Moorsom who owned land in Skelton and it ties up closely with the will of George Farndale of Skelton, whose wife was Margorie and who died in 1607. See below.

An ancient Yorkshire Deed, relating to property at Skelton dated 1592 mentions George ffarnedale of Moorsome who at one stage had purchased the land in question. There is no absolute proof that it was this George, indeed it is unlikely because this George died young in 1607, aged about 37 leaving a very young family, see below. It is more likely that the George mentioned in this deed was his father, and possibly the head of the other Skelton Farndales at this time. But so far we have no record of him, if that were so. 

On 28th March 1602 Georgins ffarndayle was baptised at Skelton, a year later, on 4th January 1603, Infanta Farndayle was buried at Skelton, almost certainly at birth, to be followed on 3rd February 1604 by the baptism of Rychards ffarndayll. Then on 9th March  1606, Georgeus farndayll sepulta (died) and was buried at Skelton. This was almost certainly the George who married Margery in 1595 and was father to the above because of two entries in the Deanery of Cleveland Act Books. A Tuition dated 13th April 1607 States; ‘William Farndaile, Susanna, George and Richard Farndale, children of George Farndale deceased. Goods to Mergerie Farndale, sister, (sic) of the children and elected sponsor of the same.’ Then, also on 13th April 1607 is the ‘Administration of the goods of George Farndaile, late of Moorsome (which is in the Parish of Skelton), in the Diocese of York, dec’d. Margerie Farndale and Isabella Pinkney standing for same and directing Susanna, George and Richard Farndale, children of the dec’d.’ Finally is a document which states, ‘The Dean of Cleveland grants guardianship of William Farndaile, Susan, George and Richard Farndaile, children of George Farndaile, deceased, together with the Administration of their affairs, goods, rights and portions to Margerie Farndaile, by choice of the said children.’

George called his eldest son William. Was he named after George’s own father, which was frequently, but not always the custom. If so was such a William a son of Nicholas of Kirkleatham, born about 1545? So far we know no more about this family, but we will see how the Hearth Taxes levied by Charles II show Farndales living at Moorsome. It would seem that they all worked on the land, probably as farm labourers.

The next entry in the Skelton Parish Records states, ‘ Georgs Farndall baptised on 3rd October 1624, parent Wylyam.’ This fits William son of George of Moorsome who would be about 26 at the time, but so far no record of his marriage has been found. An important entry occurs in the Liverton Bishops Transcripts,  ‘William the sonne of George Farndal, baptised 20th November 1625.’  The only recorded George Farndale at that time was the George born at Skelton only a few miles away, in 1602. If this is so and it fits, his father died at Moorsome when he was five and he was brought up by his mother, Margorie. In  1628.  ‘Isabell Farndayll baptised last day of May 1628, parent Wylyam.’ Then the sad entry,  ‘Anne ffarnddell, born and died, September 1632 - parent Wylyam.’

Then at Liverton, Richard farndale married Emmie Nellice on 29th July 1632. This must be the Richard born on 3rd February 1604, making him 28 years old when he married. Liverton was fast becoming the centre of gravity for the Farndale family. Then on 6th July 1634 Nicholas, the sonne of George Farndale was baptised at Liverton.’ He was a direct line ancestor. The name Nicholas is also interesting, was he called after Nicholas Farndale of Kirkleatham who was buried there in 1572? On 20th July 1634, Robert son of Richard farndale was baptised at Liverton, but he was buried there on 4th December 1635, just over a year later. It was in 1635 that Richard was recorded as Churchwarden  of Liverton when he would be 31 years old. For the next few years Richard and George produced children at Liverton as follows;

       George, sonne of Richard Farndale, baptised, 6th Oct 1636.

       Jane, daughter of George Farndale, baptised,17th Nov 1636.

       George, sonne of Richard Farndale, baptised,21 Nov 1637.

       Isbel, daughter of George Farndale, baptised, 18 March 1637.

       George sonne of Richard Farndale, baptised,6th May 1638.

Thus by 1638 George had two surviving sons, William and Nicholas, and two surviving daughters, Jane and Isabell. Richard had one surviving son , George. There is then a gap of 14 years when there appears to be no records. This was, of course during the Civil War and is a period that still needs research.

On 25th March 1654, ‘Willm ffarndell, born at Skelton, parent George ffarnedell of Skelton.’ He must be the son of George baptised in 1624, who was son of William, son of George. On 14th April 1655, ‘Robert  ffarndaill born at Skelton, parent James ffarndaill of Moorsom.’ This presents a problem as so far we have no record of a James Farndale being born. If James was his first born, then he was probably married in 1654 aged 25. Thus he could have been born in 1629. This ties up with the Will of William Farndale who died in 1697, see later.

By 1661 it is clear that a family of Farndales were living in Whitby. The first Farndale entry in the Whitby Parish Registers is, ‘John Farndale and Alce Peckcock of this Parish, Married.’ This rather implies that John Farndale was not of the Whitby Parish, although there is no other record of a John at that time. Assuming he was 25 at the time of his marriage, he would have been born in 1636. Then only two years later, Alice, his wife, died and was buried at Whitby on 28th November 1663. There is no record of any off-spring. Then, ten years later, John married again, this time to Margaret Herd on 25th November 1673. They had three, just possibly four children.

Margaret, daughter of John Farndale of Whitby, baptised 6th

       September 1674.

George, son of John Farndale of Whitby, baptised, 21st April

       1676.

        (Thomas, son of John Farndale, baptised, Whitby, 1685; not

        proven, see text, next chapter.)

Henry, son of John Farndale of Whitby, baptised 6th October

       1689.

Meanwhile back in Liverton, Ane (Anne?) the daughter of William Farndale was baptised on 2nd August 1662. William must have been the elder son, born 1602 and brother to Nicholas. A few days later Nicholas’ first born, George Farndale was baptised at Liverton on 10th August 1662. Nicholas had probably married in 1661, aged 26. On 2nd November 1662 Roberte Porritte and Aills (Alice?) Farndaill married at Liverton If she was 20 when married she was born about 1642. Two years later Elizabeth Farndale was baptised, daughter of Nicholas Farndale,  at Liverton on 9th October 1664 and on 23rd January 1666, a second daughter, Margorie Farndale  was born to him, surely linking him to his grand parents George and Margorie Farndale. Then on 12tth January 1669 a third daughter Isabel  was baptised daughter of Nicholas Farndale, but a year later, ‘On 10th February 1670, Elizabeth, the wife of Nicholas Farndaill was buried at Brotton.’ Some five years later, ‘On 10th November 1675, Ellin, (Eleanor?) ye wife of Will: Farndale was buried at Liverton.’ She must have been the wife of William, Nicholas’s elder brother.

The next entry in Liverton Bishop’s Transcripts shows that Nicholas must have married for a second time, since, ‘Will: sonn of Nic Farndale baptised 6th May 1679 and a year later, ‘Jno son of Nicholas Farndale was baptised on 27th June 1680. This was another vital link as it is almost certain that he was the first Farndale to live at Kilton. Then, only four days later, ‘William Farndale died at Liverton, on 1st July 1680.’ It is not clear whether this is William, born 1625, or the young William, brother to John born  1679. It is more likely to be the former.

About this time a family of Farndale’s was established at Hilton, not far from Kirkleatham. On 25th November 1666, Thomas Browne married Marye Farndaile and on 24th March 1667 George son of George Farnedaile was baptised at Hilton. A few years later, George Tunstall married  Ellice (Alice?) Farnedaile at Hilton.

At this time too the family was established at Great Ayton.