JOHN OWSTON 1693-1762
John Owston was a successful farmer at Thorpe Bassett and his fortune did not seem
to suffer from having a long minority. His step-father must have looked after his property
well. Indeed his step-father [called father-in-law due to the convention of the time]
Thomas Melton is mentioned in his Will. It is possible that his mother was Elizabeth
Donkin of the West Heslerton family.
He married twice:
1. He married Ann Coulson in 1722 at Thorpe Bassett dying subsequent to childbirth
and had issue:
Peter Owston 1723-1723, died an infant at Thorpe Bassett.
2. He married his cousin, Jane Owston 1705-1732, daughter of his uncle William
Owston of Kirby Misperton and Seamer. This was not to be the last intermarriage between
the descendants of the two brothers, indeed a grandson was to marry into the family again.
They had issue:
John Owston 1732-1809 Gentleman farmer of the Thorpe Bassett.
Will:
In the name of God Amen I John Owston the Elder of
Thorpe Bassett in the County of York Yeoman being in Perfect health and of sound mind
memory and understanding but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life do make
Publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. I give
and devise unto Mary Owston widow my sister in law all that my house with the
appurtenances scituate in Scaglethorpe in the said County of York and now in the
possession of George Richmond for and during her widowhood only at the end and
determination of that estate either by death or second marriage I give and devise the same
to my son John Owston and to his heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath unto
Elizabeth Cowper of Wintringham my sister five pounds to be paid to her by my Executor
hereinafter named three months after my Decease. I also give and bequeath unto Thomas
Melton my Father in Law* the sum of four pounds to be paid by my Executor herein after
named six months after my decease. I give and devise unto my said son John all my
messuages cottages lands tenements and hreditaments whatsoever scituate standing lying and
being at Thorpe Bassett or elsewhere in the said County of York. To hold to him and to his
Heirs and Assigns forever and as for and concerning all the rest residue and remainder of
my Estates both Real and Personal I give Devise and bequeath the same unto my said son
John Owston his heirs executors administrators and assigns forever and I do hereby
nominate Constitute and apoint my said son John Owston his heirs Executors Adminstrators
and Assigns forever and I do hereby nominate Constitute and apoint my said son John Owston
sole Executor of this my Will hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills
by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this to be my last Will and testament
Witness whereof I have hereunto put and set my hand and seal the twenty first Day of
October in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty two.
Signed by John Owston
Wit: Tho: Conyers, Martin Pennock, James Pennock.
* 'Father-in-law' was a term with another meaning
before the modern period. See the above for information.
JOHN OWSTON 1733-1809 GENTLEMAN FARMER OF THORPE BASSETT
He married Firstly, Mary Leadley at St Michael's Malton in 1762 who died at
Thorpe Bassett in 1782.
ISSUE:
1. John Owston, 1763-1790, Gentleman of Thorpe Bassett William Owston,
1765-1830 Merchant of Glamford Brigg in Lincolnshire. He founded the Lincolnshire Branch
of the Owston family which is still extant in the male line.
2. George Owston, 1767-1767
3. Mary Owston 1766-1810, Spinster at Malton
4. Jane Owston 1768-1774
5. Hannah Owston 1770-1770
6. Thomas Owston 1771-1854, a not very successful merchant in Bridge Street,
York. He was bankrupt at one stage. He married his second and third Cousin Elizabeth
Jefferson in 1806 at St Crux, York the daughter of Robert Jefferson of York. Her mother
Elizabeth Owston was the daughter of Thomas Owston of Seamer, his grandmother's brother.
They had issue who's descendants, I believe, have died out. Their son Thomas Owston
1807-1894 was educated at Cambridge and was later Vicar of Sutterby in Lincolnshire.
I have no idea what happened to Robert, William and John their sons, they might
turn up somewere.
Issue list:
6.1 Thomas Owston (1807-1894)
6.2 Robert Owston (1808)
6.3 William Owston (1809)
6.4 John Owston (1809)
6.5 Elizabeth Owston (1813-1853)
7. Ann Owston 1773-
8. Robert Owston 1774-1827, a Butter Factor of Malton, he married in 1818
Hannah Donkin who died in 1833 but left no issue.
9. Charlotte Owston 1779-1847 married a prosperous merchant gentleman from
Norton called Robert Wise and had issue. their issue may have died out. Their only
son Robert Wise 1821-1902 was a merchant gentleman of Norton who died without issue, his
estate was dispersed to distant relatives, including Mrs Ardley below.
10. Christopher Owston 1781-1828 a gentleman farmer of Thorpe Bassett. More
details below.
He married secondly: Mary Anderson at Scampston in 1784 who was born about
1741 and died in 1810.
ISSUE:
11. Margaret Owston 1785-1878 She married John Bielby of North Grimston and
through her daughter Helen Bielby Sykes there are descendants alive today in the area.
John and Margaret farmed at North Grimston and Sledmere in East Yorkshire. Their son John
Bielby farmed at Espersykes near Old Malton in North Yorkshire. He may have descendants
alive today, but as yet they are untraced.
Will:
In the name of God Amen I John Owston of
Thorpbassett in the East Riding of the County of York Gentleman being mindful of my
mortality, do hereby make publish and declare this my last Will and testament in manner
following, that is to say, First I give and Devise unto my son William Owston and his
Heirs All my Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Real Estate situate at Thorpbassett
aforesaid together with the appurtenances. To hold the same Hereditaments and Premises
unto and to the use of the said William Owston his heirs and assigns forever. Charged and
chargeable with the due payments of all my just debts legacies and ffuneral expences. Also
I give and bequeath unto each of my sons Thomas Owston, Robert Owston and Christopher
Owston and also to each of my daughters Mary and Charlotte the several sums of three
hundred pounds apiece respectively to be paid at the end of twelve months next after my
decease and in case any of my said children shall happen to die before his her or their
said legacies or legacy shall become due or payable as aforesaid. Then I give and bequeash
such legacy or legacies unto and amongst the survivors of them share and share alike. Also
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret the sum of four hundred pounds payable at
her age of twenty one years and do hereby nominate and appoint my said son William Owston
to be Tutor and Guardian off this person and portion of my said Daughter Margaret during
her minority. Also I give and bequeath to my said son William the silver Tankard which
belonged to his deceased mother. And lastly I give and bequeath all my household goods,
beds and furniture and all the rest of my silver plate, Books linnen china and effects
unto all my said children William Owston, Thomas Owston, Robert Owston, Christopher
Owston, Mary, Charlotte and Margaret Owston respectively to be equally divided amongst
them by my executor herein after named at his own discretion. And I do hereby ordain
constitute and appoiunt him my said son William Owston to be sole executor of this my last
Will and Testament (hereby revoking all former wills by me made) In witness whereof I the
said John Owston have hereunto set my hand and seal this ffourteenth day of May in the
year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and one. Signed by John Owston
Wit: M Atkinson, Lawe Dale, Tho Lambert,
CHRISTOPHER OWSTON OF THORPE BASSETT 1781-1828
Christopher Owston a Gentleman farmer of Thorpe Bassett left an incredible
memorial to his tragic family life. It still can be seen in the area of the Churchyard in
front of Thorpe Bassett Church entrance. He married Dorothy Donkin of Thorpe Bassett and
had issue:
1. John Owston 1812-1829
2. Mary Ann Owston 1813-1830
3. Robert Owston 1815-1833
4. Eliza Owston 1816-1871 a Spinster of Thorpe Bassett, probably the last of
this family to actually live there.
WILL: This is the last Will and Testament of me
Eliza Owston of Thorpebasset in the County of York Spinster. I appoint my sister Jane the
wife of the Reverend John William Rolls sole Executrix of this my will I give all my
silver, plate and my four family portraits to my brother William Owston. I give my gold
watch and chain to my niece Eliza Jane daughter of the said William Owston. I give all my
books to my nieces Eliza Owston Wise Rolls and Alice Mary Rolls. I give all my household
goods and furniture monies and securities for money and all other my personal estate
whatsoever not before bequeathed to my said sister Jane Rolls. I give and devise my house
garden and land at Thorpe Basset aforesaid to my brother Henry Owston for his life and
after his death I devise the same to my said niece Eliza Owston Wise Rolls and her heirs
for her separate use and if my said niece shall die without leaving issue her surviving
then I devise the same to my said niece Alice Mary Rolls and her heirs for her separate
use. I devise all my land at Port Darwin or elsewhere in Australia given to me by my
brother William Owston to my said brother William Owston and his heirs. In witness whereof
I have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand this twenty seventh day of October
One Thousand Eight hundred and seventy one, Eliza Owston. Proved at London 16 Jan 1872 by
the oath of Jane Rolls, wife of the Reverend John William Rolls,
5. Henry Owston 1817-1890 A farmer of Thorpe Bassett, Cayton, Bracken near
Kilnwick, He married and had a family who included several spinsters who died in Bath in
the 1920's. He had one traceable grandson who lived well into the Twentieth Century, John
Fawcett Richardson, and all his details have not been traced, he lived at Norton.
6. William Owston 1818- lived at Scagglethorpe and possibly Australia and
had two children by his wife Elizabeth. A daughter Eliza Jane is mentioned in Eliza, his
sister's Will. He bought land in Darwin Australia which he gave o his sister, Eliza
Owston.
7. Emma Owston 1819-1835
8. Jane Owston 1821- made a marriage which is unexplained. She married
a Nonconformist Minister sometime of Roxton Bedfordshire called John William Rolls at
Malton Independent Chapel 23 May 1860. They had issue, two daughters mentioned in their
Aunt Eliza Owston's Will and a son who I have not yet traced. John had been married
before.
Issue:
Eliza Owston Wise Rolls, born about 1862 a
music teacher in Gravesend and later Beckenham, married in 1889 Osborne Lester Ardley and
had one child, living with her in 1901, Margaret Owston Ardley who was born about 1895 in
the Marylebone area.
Arthur Robert Rolls, born about 1864 in Roxton but nothing
can be found about him later.
Alice Mary Rolls born about 1866 in Roxton. She
married George W Booth in 1886 in the Croydon area and lived with him in 1901 in Penge,
London. They had three daughters Ethel M Booth, born about 1889, Dorothy Booth, born
about 1890 and Marjory Booth, born about 1895.
9. Charlotte Owston 1823-1825
Will
Will of Christopher Owston of Thorpe Bassett