Matthew ELLERTON

• Born - 1608?, possibly at Barden Dykes (a farm in the Parish of East Hauxwell).
• Baptised -
• Died - 1682? Downholme?
• Parents -
• Married - Margaret, 1634?
• Children - possibly 12. Those mentioned in his 1682 Administration Document were Matthew, Giles, Edward, Elizabeth, Anne, and John (the youngest?;1630?-1701?). Other possible children were George, Frances (m. John Binks in 1667?), Alice, Henry, and Margaret. One of the daughters possibly married a Christopher Robinson.
• Occupation - Yeoman

The 1682 Administration Document for Matthew showed that he lived at Ewe Close House, Applegarth (manor of Walburn, property of Sir Roger Bedwith/Beckwith). The executor was Margaret Ellerton, and probate witnesses were Edward and John Ellerton.

"A History of Richmond and Swaledale" (Fieldhouse and Jennings, 1978) includes this comment on page 150 relating to the 1600's: "The only mention of corn growing in nine 17th century Walburn leases is some arable ground in Ewe Close". While Walburn Hall is in Downholme parish, it seems quite possible that the estate extended north of the Swale river to Applegarth.

Ewe Close House no longer exists, but, according to researcher Peter Ellerton there are still "remnants of a substantial retaining wall. Matthew probably administered the advawsoms [?] for Downholme church. These passed to Sir Roger Bedwith/Beckwith on Matthew's demise in 1682, and is in part recorded in the Victorian Charted History series for North Yorkshire."

Page last updated: April 2008