OWSTON FAMILY

SHERBURN BRANCH, EAST YORKSHIRE

APPENDIX 2A - OWSTON'S OF THORPE BASSETT AND RILLINGTON
THOMAS OWSTON 1627-1681

There is clear proof in Parish Registers that Thomas was the son of Peter Owston of Sherburn and had married Elizabeth Ruddock 1637-1693 daughter of William Ruddock of Langton at Thorpe Bassett and Langton in 1656/7.   There is that piece of information is in both registers. They had a large family who were quite young when Thomas died. Thomas Owston senior died not long after he made his Will on the 28 May 1681. William Ruddock was a yeoman of Langton and had married Jane Lawne in 1636.

It is very interesting how his children seem to have gone off and resettled in groups. Between the three researchers we have agreed on these results.

ISSUE:

1. Mary 1657-7.

2. Martha 1659-66.

3. Peter Owston the Yeoman of Thorpe Bassett 1661-1699.

4. Jane 1663/4- Married at Sherburn in 1684 Josias Fox of Sherburn and Rillington and had issue: Through the families of Fox, Harrington, Bulmer, Reed, Dunwell, Jackson and Stockill she is possible an ancestor of Agnes May Stockill 1925-1997 who married Charles Owston of Rillington 1917-1992. More information needs to be found about the Fox family and confirmation that I have found the correct Jane Owston.

5. Elizabeth 1665/6- Married at Thorpe Bassett 1687 to Thomas Vasey of Allerston and had issue.

6. William Owston 1668/9-1730/1 of Kirby Misperton and Seamer married 1698 to Elizabeth Moon and had issue; (For further information see Appendix 5)

7. George Owston 1670- of Allerston in 1716/7. He married and had issue, wife not known or other information. We only know that he had one daughter baptised at Allerston.

8. John Owston 1672-1720 of Brompton by Sawdon. Married and had issue who used the spelling Ouston. Roger Ouston is a descendant of his and is also researching the family.

9. Thomas Owston 1675-1725/6 followed his brother to Kirby Misperton, as a carpenter and founded a family at Little Barugh (pronounced Barr). He married in 1705 Susan Holme and had issue. He founded a farming family who prospered in that area. They too used the spelling Ouston.  The male line has now died out but there are other descendants.

10. Joan (Johney in fathers Will) 1678- who followed her brothers to Kirby Misperton and was married in 1701 to Thomas Otterburn and had issue.

Will

In the name of God Amen I Tho Owston of Thorpbasit in the County of York Yorke yeoman doe make this my last will & testament in manner & forme as followeth First I bequeath my soull into ye hand of allmighty god & to his son Jesus Christ in whome & by home I loke for sallvation & by noe other meanes & my body to be buryed at ye descreston of my Executors & as for my temporall estat I bequeath as followeth.

Item I give unto my wife my seven oxgangs of land my messag & cottage until my son Peter assumeth ye age of thirty years and then I give unto my son Peter Owston my messuage and cottage and six oxgangs of land to him and his heirs for ever. I give unto my son William Owston one roud oxgan to him and his heirs for ever. I give my wife the aforesaid oxgang of land he to enter when he assumeth the age of thirty years. This I give to hime and his heirs for ever.

All ye rest of my goods moveable and unmovable I give unto my wife and seven youngest children, Jane, Eliz[abeth], Will[iam], George, John, Tho:[mas] and Johney[Joan] whom I make executors of this my last Will & testament. Item order my son Peter to pay to six of my children Jane, Eliz, George, John, Tho, Joanney each of them ten pounds when he enter of his estate.

Dated 28 May 1681, signed by Tho Owston, witnessed by Tho Webster, Ann Wansford.

PETER YEOMAN OF THORPE BASSETT 1661-1699

He married Elizabeth who remarried Thomas Melton (dd 1760 of an old Thorpe Bassett family) in 1700 and had further issue. She died in 1741/2. Peter had a licence to marry Elizabeth Donkin, which would make sense. She was the daughter of Robert Donkin who was a Yeoman farmer at West Heslerton and Thorpe Bassett who died in 1718. In the nineteenth century there were two marriages of Donkins with Owston descendants of this marriage and this would give the impression of intermarriage. Elizabeth Donkin was mentioned by her second married name Melton in Robert's Will. She had a brother who I believe seems to be the ancestor if the later Donkins who married back into the Owston family of Thorpe Bassett. Elizabeth's son John Owston and her brother John Donkin may have married sisters from the Coulson family. Peter left a Will listed as a 'Dickering Will', and proved in 1699.

ISSUE:

1. Dorothy 1688/9- Buried West Heslerton as a child. 

2. Elizabeth 1690-1777 Married at Thorpe Bassett, Charles Cowper or Cooper of Wintringham, husbandman and had a large family, of whom most died in childhood. Charles Cowper 'the younger' 1721-1777 married Elizabeth Smailes in 1760 and had two children. John the son 1764-1790 died unmarried, but daughter Charlotte Cowper 1760-1815 was put under the guardianship of her father's cousin John Owston 1732-1809 and married another one of her father's middle aged cousins Peter Owston of Rillington 1731-1817 and had issue.

3. John Owston 1693-1762 a successful farmer who called himself Gentleman lived at Thorpe Bassett, married twice and had issue. (See Appendix 2b).

4. Thomas Owston 1696-1770 Husbandman and Church Warden of Rillington, married and had issue. His descendants were farmers and landowners at Rillington into the 20th Century. (See below).

5. Robert Owston 1699-1750 of Scagglethorpe who married in 1744 Mary Huntley of Seamer and had no issue.

Will

In the name of God amen I Petter Owston of Thorpe Bassett being weeke of body but of good and parfit memery & praise be to god do make and ordain this my last will and testement in maner as ffolow first I commend my sould into the hands of all mighty god in whom and by whom I hope for salvation and my body to the earth to be desently buried at the discretion of my executors Herafter named and as touching the desposing of all estates as ye have pleased almighty god to bestow upon me I give and dispose therof as ffolloweth First I will that my dets and ffunerall charges shall be paid and discharged.

Item I give unto my son John Owston one shiling

Item I give unto my son John Owston sex oxson of land one mesage and one cotag one close in the sands with all the portenance ther unto belonging to enter when he shall acompeleseth the age of thre and twenty years pay to his mother the sum of five poiund duering her life or els she to keep so much in possion.

Item I will is that my son John shall pay unto my son Thomas Owston the sum of thirty pounds when he shall accompelesh the age of tow and twente years.

Item my will is that my son Jon shall pay unto my son Robert Owston the sum of thiry pound when he shal acompelesh the age of tow and twenty years and for non payment of the same they sahll enter of tow oxson of land middow and pastuer and ther propostions in the sand close. But if my elsdes son chanst to die befor it com to his hand then my will is that my son Thomas shall enter of the said land paying to my son Robert the sum of 40 poiund when he shall come to the age of tow and twenty years and to my doter Elizabeth the sum of 20 pounds when he shal com of age. But if my son Thomas chans to die tow then my son robert shal pay to my doter Elizabeth the sum of thirty poiunds when he shall com to age.

Item I give to my son Thomas ten pound when he shall come to the age of one and twenty years.

Item I give to my son Robert ten pound when he shal com to the age of one and twenty years

I give to my dother Elizabeth the sum of twenty pounds when she shal come to the age of one and twenty years. But if either these my tow youngest sons or my dother chanst to die before they com to age then my will is that the other two shall equally devid their possessions.

All the rest of my goods and chattalls movable and unmovable I give unto my dear and well beloved wife home I make my sole Exetor of this my last will and testement in witnes Hearof I set to my Hand and Seal the sevent day of May Anno Domine 1699. Signed by Peter Owston, witnesses Thomas Walker, William Owston, Elizabeth Benneson, Thomas Owston, Thomas Welburn.Proved 14 March 1699/1700 by Elizabeth Owston of Thorpe Bassett widow and William Owston of Kirby Misperton yeoman.

THOMAS OWSTON 1696-1770, Husbandman and Church Warden of Rillington.

Thomas married a widow Mary Thornton (nee Easton) the widow of Peter Thornton of Rillington. He left a Will. He would have probably benefited from the law at the time which would have meant that he took all of Mary's property at his marriage. He mentions his two step children in his Will [the people mentioned as 'in-laws']. The small amount is not a sign of lack of kindness towards his step children as they were both settled by this time, John Thornton was married to a member of the Ruston family and Hannah was also settled in marriage.

ISSUE:

1. Peter Owston 1731-1817, Yeoman of Rillington, who married and had issue.

2. Thomas Owston 1735/6-1773, Yeoman of Rillington, did not leave a Will but left an administration and died unmarried in 1773. His administration was proved by Peter Owston, John Owston and George Oliver.

Will

In the name of god Amen I Thomas Owston of Rillington in the East Riding of the County of York Yeoman being mindful of my mortality, do make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following.

First I give and bequeath unto John Thornton my son in law one shilling. Also I give and bequeath unto Hannah Drape my daughter in law one shilling. Also I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Peter Owston all that my house and yard, barn and cow house situate lying and being in WestGate in Rillington, in the East Riding of the County of York, now in the occupation of Thomas Kield, and which I bought of Thomas marshal, to have and to hold to my said son Peter Owston the said House, Yard and Premises his heirs and assigns for ever. But without the oxgang of land west moor gates and low moor close, which I give and devise to be divided with the residue of my real and personal estate in and after the manner below expressed.

Also I give and evise unto my younger son Thomas Owston all that my House, Yard, Barns, Stables and Appurtenances where I now dwell and which I bought of George Walker, to have and to hold the said House, Yard and Premises unto my said son Thomas Owston his heirs and assigns forever.

Finally all the rest residue and remainder of all my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever or wheresoever as also my Personal Estate be it of whatever kind or quality not herein before effectually disposed of, (after payment of my debts legacies and funeral expences) I give devise and bequeath to be equally divided between my said sons Peter Owston and Thomas Owston whom I hereby appoiht and ordain joint executors of this my last Will and Testament, to be divided share and share alike between them by even and equal portions. to have and to hold their respective shares of my said remaining undisposed of lands and hereditaments to my said sons Peter Owston and Thomas Owston their heirs and assigns for ever.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of April in the Year of our Lord 1770. Sealed and marked by Thomas Owston, and witnessed by Edward Harrison, William Stork and John Cook.

PETER OWSTON 1731-1817

A Yeoman who lived at Rillington and Thorpe Bassett and left a Will. He married (see above) in 1777 Charlotte Cowper at Thorpe Bassett by license with consent of Guardians (his cousin John Owston). Peter had a bond to marry Susannah Pape in 1774 but the marriage did not take place. At the death of his younger brother Thomas junior he came into all his father's lands. His late marriage may have been influenced by his lack of inheritance at an earlier period, though the age gap of thirty years is somewhat remarkable and would have been a cause for comment at the time. Charlotte's brother John Cowper died without issue it seems. Despite the age gap Charlotte died before Peter, bearing her last child in 1801 when she was over 40 and her husband over seventy.

ISSUE:

1. Elizabeth Owston 1780-1845 Married in 1805 John Allison who died in 1825. She did not it seems have issue.

2. Charles Owston 1782-1852, Farmer of Rillington. Married and had issue.

3. Thomas Owston 1784-1852, Gentleman Farmer of Rillington and Thorpe Bassett 1784-1852. He had two hundred acres and employed at one time 5 labourers. He died unmarried and Intestate. His Administration was proved by his sister, Mary Lamplugh, widow, and his estate was worth less than eight thousand pounds.

4. Mary Owston 1787-1859 Married in 1827 Robert Lamplough of Great Driffield and had no issue. She outlived all her brothers and sisters and left a Will.

This is the last Will and Testament of me Mary Lamplugh of Great Driffield in the County of York Widow made by me this thirteenth day of May One thousand eight hundred and fifty nine. I give my gold watch chain and seal to John Wellborn Senior of North Burton my gold spectacles to Mrs Mary Rounding of Kilnwick my gold mourning Ring to Mrs George Smith of Malton my silver ring and wearing apparel to my servant Mary Elizabeth Shepherdson and all the rest of my plate and plated goods household furniture line n china glass pictures and printed books equally between the said Mary Rounding, Mrs George Smith and Mary Elizabeth Shepherdson to be divided by my Executors whose decision shall be final and conclusive I give all my monies and other personal estate not a b ove specifically bequeathed unto Thomas Pinder of Great Driffield Gentlemen and George Shepherdson of the same place Cabinet maker Upon trust to receive and convert the same into money and thereout to pay all my just debts funeral and testamentary expences and the costs of proving this my Will and carrying the trusts thereof into execution. And to pay the residue thereof unto and equally amongst my Nephews John Owston and Charles Owston and my nieces Charlotte Thorpe, Elizabeth Bailey and Mary Nicholson . And I appoint the said Thomas Pinder and George Shepherdson the Executors of this my Will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year above written. Mary LAMPLUGH

Signed by the said Mary Lamplugh as her last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in her presence at her request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses. Robert Tonge Solicitor Driffield, G B Tonge his clerk. Effects under £450

5. Hannah Owston 1789-1834 died unmarried.

6. Charlotte Owston 1801-1815 died unmarried.

Will

This is the last Will and Testament of me Peter Owston of Thorpbassett in the County of York Gentleman made the third day of October One thousand eight hundred and eleven _ I give and devise unto my son Charles Owston his heirs and assigns for ever. All those two Dwellinghouses with the yards or Garths and Appurtenances thereto adjoing or belonging situate in Rillington in the said County of Yorks and now occupied by John Bielby Isaac Linton and Thomas Harrison. Also all that my sleights close situate in Rillington aforesaid containing about nine acres Also all that my Westernmost Close situate in the West Field of Rillington aforesaid containing about seven acres and a half. Also all that my Low Moor Close containing about five acres And also two acres of land in the West Moors of Rillington aforesaid all which said last mentioned lands are now in my own occupation. Subject to and charged and chargeable with the payments of the sum of seven hundred poiunds to my Daughter Elixabeth as hereunafter mentioned. I give and devise unto my son Thomas Owston and to his Heirs and assigns for ever All that my Easternmost close situate in the West Field of Rillington aforesaid containing about six acres and a half also a close in Rillington aforesaid called Breckney Close containing about tow acres. Also all that yard or Garth in Sledgate in Rillington aforesaid containing about three Roods and occupied by John Bielby. I give and devise unto my Friend Robert Owston of New Malton in the said County Merchant and to his Heirs and assigns All that my messuage or tenement with the Farm of lands Grounds hereditaments and premised with the appurtenances now occupied by me situate at Thorpbassett aforesaid containing about one hundred and fifty one acres three roods and twenty six perches more or less Subject to the payment of the three several legacies hereinafter by me bequeathed to my three daughters (Mary, Hannah and Charlotte) upon trust to permit and suffer my dear wife Charlotte and my said son Thomas Owston to occupy the same and receive the rents issue and profits thereof during the natural life of my said wife for their joint and equal benefit and from and after the decease of my said wife upon Trust for my said son Thomas Owston his Heirs and assigns for ever. But my mind and Will nevertheless is that if my said wife shall at any time be desireous of leaving my son then I give and bequeath to her during her natural life one annuity of eighty pounds payable as hereinafter mentioned and also as much Furniture as she shall choose sufficient to furnish two rooms. I give and bequeath to my Daughters Elizabeth Mary Hannah and Charlotte the sum of seven hundred poiunds each which three first mentioned legacies I direct shall be paid at the end of twelve Calendar Months after my death with lawful interest in the mean time and the Legacy given to my Daughter Charlotte when she shall attain the age of twenty one years the interest whereof to be paid to my said Dear wife for the purpose of enabling her to maintain educate and support my said Daughter Charlotte during her minority from such time only as my said wife shall discontinue to live with my said son Thomas and that instead of such interest my said son Thomas shall maintain educate and support my Daughter Charlotte in the mean time. And I hereby charge all and singular the Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments above by me devised to my side son Charles with the full payment of the said seven hundred Pounds Legacy to my said Daughter Elizabeth. And thereby charge all and singular the Lands Tenements and Hereditaments above by me devised to my said son Thomas with the full payment of the said Legacy of Seven hundred Pounds to my said Daughter Mary also with the full payments of the said Legacy of Seven hundred Piunds to my said Daughter Hannah and also with the full payment of the said Legacy of seven hundred Pounds to my said Daughter Charlotte and it is my will that if my said Daughter Charlotte shall happen to die under Age and without lawful issue that the said Legacy so given and bequeathed to her shall become the property of her surviving sisters in such proportions and manner as my said wife shall by any writing signed by her in the presence of two credible witnesses think proper to direct for the purpose of enabling her the better to equalize the situation of my said daughters in points of fortune according to their then circumstances. I give my said wife one full undivided moety or half part of my said Farm of lands tenements and hereditaments at Thorpbassett aforesaid for and during her natural life if it shall happen to be agreeable to her and my said son Thomas to reside together so long and if not I then give her one clear annuity of Eighty Pounds payable half yearly on the sixth Day of April and tenth Day of October in each year from the time she shall happen to leave my said son Thomas the first payment to be maide six months after such of the said Days as shall first happen after that event. I hereby declare that the provision herein made for my said wife shall be in lieu of and full satisfaction of all Dower or thirds whatever and it is my will that in case the annuity so as aforesaid to become payable to my said wife shall be behind or unpaid by the space of twenty days after any of the said Days of payment whereon the same as herinbefore directed to be paid ... to and for my said wife and her assigns to enter and distrain as for rent for the same to and for the my said wife and her assigns to enter and distrain as for rent for the same and all charges into and upon all and singular my said Hereditaments at Thorpbassett aforesaid. I give and bequeath unto my said son Charles Owston all and singular the Household Furniture Stock, Crop, Farming Utensils, implements of Husbandry and personalty of every description in or about the Farm at Rillington occupied by me under Mr John Simpson. I give devise and bequeath unto my said son Thomas Owston his heirs executors administrators and assisgns all and singular other my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever not hereinby disposed of subject to and chargeable with the payment of my jus Debts Funeral expences andthe expences of proiving and executing this my will. I appoint my said son Thomas Owston sole Executor and hereby revoke all former Wills by me made. In Witness whereof I the said Peter Owston have to this my Will contained in this and the preceding sheet of Paper set my Hand at the bottom of the same prededing sheet and my Hand and Seal to this sheet the Day and year above written.

Signed by Peter Owston, Witness, William Rider, Thomas Chapman, Joe Chapman

CHARLES OWSTON 1782-1852

Farmer of Rillington who marred in 1803 Elizabeth Ruston of Rillington 1781-1850 (by license, dated 18 June 1803). She was the daughter of Nicholas Ruston and his wife Ann Petch. She was also the first cousin of Elizabeth Ruston, wife of John Hudson of Howsham, parents of George Hudson 'the Railway King', 1800-1871. There are numerous monumental inscriptions in Rillington Churchyard connected to the family of Ruston.  The great-grandfather of Elizabeth Ruston was William Ruston of Wintringham who was an ancestor of the compiler Tim Owston.

ISSUE:

1. John Cooper Owston 1804-1870 of Westfield House, Rillington, farmer and married to Mary Mook (died 1887) in 1853, from an old Thorpe Bassett and Rillington family, and a descendant of Ann Melton, the daughter of Elizabeth, Peter Owston's, widow, and Thomas Melton of Thorpe Bassett. She had illegitmate issue called John Mook (born 1825), but otherwise no known children by John Cooper Owston.

2. Charles Owston 1810-1862, Farmer of Rillington.

3. Jane 1813-1836 died unmarried.

4. Charlotte 1815- Married to Edward Thorpe of Ryton in Craven.

5. Elizabeth 1818-1892 Married to Samuel Bailey a Hind of Norton in 1852.

6. Ann 1820-1847 - Married to David Spink in 1844 and had issue.

7. Mary 1822-1901 Married to John Nicholson of Wold Street, Norton and had issue.

CHARLES OWSTON 1810-1862

A farmer of Rillington and Thorpe Bassett. He probably lived in a house which is adjacent to the Church in Thorpe Bassett. He married three times and had issue by all three wives. Any family connected with Thorpe Bassett is well remembered in the records as there are so many estate connected records in the East Riding Record Office at Beverley under 'DDTB'.

At Norton in 1839 he married Sarah (1810-1841) the daughter of Joseph Cook of Norton, who probably died subsequent to childbirth in early 1841.

ISSUE:

1. Elizabeth 1841-1863, A nursechild in the 1841 Census at Welham. She married at Norton in 1860 John Richardson Ingram, a farmer of Bilton in Skirlaugh and had issue. The evidence is that she never lived with her father or any of his subsequent wives. Sadly she died, it seems, subsequent to childbirth after the birth of her third child.

In Rillington in 1844 Charles married Margaret Spink the sister of David Spink (above) and daughter of another David Spink. She was a straw hat maker in 1851 and lived with her children in Rillington. On the night of the 1851 Census Elizabeth her step-daughter was with relatives of Sarah Cook at Settrington.

ISSUE:

2. William Spink Owston 1845-1919 of Rillington and York. He married in 1867 at Rillington, Fanny Freer, and had five children. One of his grandsons Alfred Owston Ward was extremely encouraging in compiling the family history information.

3. Jane 1848- Married at Malton in 1887 Thomas Cooper, an Agricultural Labourer at Brawby. They might have been the parents of twins who died as babies, but they were the parents of Margaret Hannah Cooper who lived from 1891 to 1918. It seems that Margaret died, probably, as a result of the Influenza outbreak at that time. She died in December, her father had died in November 1918 at Brawby in Salton in North Yorkshire.

4. Esther Ann 1851- Married at St Thomas's, York, Frederick William Stowe in 1874. and moved to Barnsley, Sheffield and Workington. They had 9 children.

5. Sarah Emily 1855- Married at Helperthorpe to John Midgley, labourer, in 1875 and had issue. At first they lived at Luttons Ambo. They later lived in York in seperate households in the 1881 Census. They had three children, Charles William Midgley, Emily Midgley and Jessie Midgley who died young. In 1890 she remarried William Kendrew at York and they were parents of Jessie Kendrew.

In 1857 he married thirdly Frances Ann Dennis who survived him, and had further issue. She was baptised on the 24th November 1830 at Rillington, the daughter of Francis Dennis. Francis Dennis of Thorpe Bassett had married Jane Peacock at Burythorpe in 1830. Francis Ann Dennis remarried at Norton in 1867 William Robinson of Settrington, a labourer. She gave birth to a daughter, Jane Robinson in 1868 and Frances Ann died in Summer 1869.  Jane went on to marry William Waites Rispin, a Shepherd, living at Atwick in Yorkshire and have children. The Owston children were living at Burythorpe with their grandfather Francis Dennis in 1881.

ISSUE:

6. Thomas John Owston 1859-1893 of Malton, North Yorkshire and Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Married Mary Jane Dowson in the Auckland area and had issue. The only descendants of this family in the male line still extant. His son was Charles William Owston of Bishop Auckland 1893-1970 who married and had issue.

7. Frances Ann Dennis 1862-1930 (Registered as Frances Eleanor Dennis Owston) Married at Norton in 1888 to Albert Newrick Yeoman of Menithorpe and lived at Norton near Malton and had issue. She gave birth to at least 8 children, but five died in their teenage years or before, all three traceable boys amongst them. The family moved to Stokesley where Frances died. Many of the surviving daughters married and had issue.

Adminstration: Charles Owston died on the 2 May 1862 at Thorpe Bassett intestate. At first his Effects were sworn at under 200 pounds on the 17 June 1862, but later his goods were sworn at under 4000 pounds in May 1866.