Introduction

 

This work catalogues the descent of the children of George Vasey Owston from Peter Owston who died in 1568, a Husbandman of Sherburn in Hartford Lythe in East Yorkshire.

The wills and legal document have been transcribed in the original language so they should be read phonetically. The descent is unusually well documented so can be proved to a high academic standard. The ancestry of Mary Vasey is also quite well documented some of which is included as it is relevant to this work.

 

Appendices

1.      Mary Vasey.

2A.   Owston's of Thorpe Bassett and Rillington

2B.   Thorpe Bassett Gentry and Farming Owston Family.

3.      Yeoman Owston family of Sherburn and Ganton.

4.      Peter Owston of Scarborough and the Leicester Solicitor Branch.

5.      Seamer Owston branch and the Jefferson's of York.

 

THE DESCENDANTS OF

PETER AND PETRONEL OWSTON

PETER OWSTON, DIED 1568, (probably in Sherburn in Harford Lythe).

Peter the Husbandman of Sherburn in Hartford Lythe died leaving quite a young family made up of three sons, all minors (under twenty one years), John, William and Francis. His widow Petronel remarried Anthony Berryman of East Heslerton [who died in October 1581, and was buried at West Heslerton 8 Oct 1581. WILL 1582, Vol 22 f310] and had other issue and died sometime between 1582 and 1602 (see below). Peter made his Will on the 5th July 1567 and it was proved at York on the 4 June 1568 (Vol. 17 f813). He is mentioned in a Will in April 1568 and was still alive.  Peter 'lived through interesting times'.  He would have probably been born during the reign of King Henry VIII, seen the abolition of the Monasteries, the rise of Protestantism, possibly heard of the Pilgrimage of Grace and known about the other risings in the North.  Petronel survived at East Heslerton with her second husband and was probably the Widow Borman who was buried on the 7th April 1594 at West Heslerton.

WILL...
In the name of God Amen the v Day of July in the year of our Lord God 1567. I Peter Owston of Sherburn within the deanorye of Buckros and in the diocesse of York Husbandman sickness of good and pfite memorie maketh this my last will and Testament in manner and form following ffyrst I bequeath my soull to almyghtie god and my bodye to be buried with the Parish church earth of Sherburne. Also I give to everye poore house holder in sherburn iid. Item I gyve unto Petronill Owston my wife the lease of my house during the years........ Also I give and bequeath to Willm Owston my sonne my sworde and to John Owston my son a paire of Spitterarke(?) Also I gyve and bequithe to rbbt Wood one whoe [ewe] of three years old Als I give and bequithe to Peter Williamson To Peter Wood and to Richard Childe every one of them a sheringe Also I gyve and bequithe to Peter Wooddill to Peter Morris and to Willm Fewler every one of them a gymber lambe. Also I gyve to Stephen Morris to Robert Carr[?] to Thomas Rngros and to Thomas Weste evrye one of them xiid. Also I gyve to Rauf Tomson and to Jennet Fewler every of them xiid. Also I will that Willm John and ffrancis Owston my sonnes withe the porsions and legacies and at the tution and order of Petronill my wyfe during there mynorities and I order and make petronill my wyfe Willm John and ffrancis Owston my sonnes my executors of this my last will and testament wittnesses heref Stephen Morris, Thomas Ryngros Roberte Carr[?] and Thomas Weste // eodem.... Latin administration of will follows by Petronell.

The key to the connection with the later Owstons actually comes in the Will of his son John Owston who died in 1615. The original Will survives, made 12th November 1615 and proved 6th December 1615, Vol.33 f712. John left money to the issue of this brothers William (deceased) and Francis. He particularly favoured Christopher Owston who it turned out was the son of his brother William. Christopher was it seems the ancestor of the main family of Owstons at Scarborough, which supplied the town with two lifeboat coxswains. Great mention is made in the Will of his relatives through his mothers fruitful second marriage to Anthony Berryman.

WILL OF JOHN OWSTON In the name of God amen the twelve day of November, And in the year of our Lord God 1615. I John Owston of East Heslerton, within the County of Yorke West Heslerton, makes this my last will & Testament in manner and forme following ffirst I give my soule to allmighty god and to my Savioure Jesus Christ and my body to be buried within the Church yarde of West Heslerton. Item I give to Elizabeth Owston six pounds thirteen shillings four pence and one cober, Item I give Peter Owston tenn pounds, Item I give to Barbara Owston and to Elinor Owston ether of them six pounds thirteen shillings four pence the children of my brother Will Owston deseased. Item I give to Elizabeth Owston my brother ffrancys Owston daughter six pounds thirteene shillings foure pence, Item I give to Miles Harker thirty shillings, Item I give John Harker six shillings eight pence, item to Peternell Harker and Elizabeth Harker either of them six shillings eight pence, children of Rafe Harker. Item I give to John Blenkon, Sara Blenkon, and Peternell Blenkon, everie of them six shillings eyght pence, and I give to Will Blenkon, ffrancys Blenkon, Robt Blenkon, everie one of them six shillings eyght pence. Item I give to Elizabeth Blenkon, Blanch Blenkon, & Bottoris Blenkon, every one of them six shillings eyght pence these nyne be John Blenkon, children. Item I give to Emat Blenkon, wife of John Blenkon one silver spoone. Item I give to John Stevenson, Elizabeth Stevenson, and Richard Stevenson, everye one of them three shillings four pence children of Peter Stevenson. Item I give to Elizabeth Beryman my sister one silver spoone, and five nobles in money. Item I give to Robt Beryman, my brother one peace of white goold a five shilling peese. I tem I give to my brother ffrancys Owston, one blacke Brownish tot, Item I bequeath to the poore of the parish of Winteringham, Knapton, West Heslerton and East Heslerton, everi of these townes three shillings four pence a peese. Item I give to the parish of Sherburne, poore, iii s foure peace. Item I give to the parish of Ganton iii s foure pence, to the poore and to the poor of Binnington, towe shillins, Item I forgive Robert Owston of Potter Bromton five shillings Indebted to me. Item I forgive Raphe Harker xxs indepted to me and all the charges past in suite. Item I give to Peter Stevenson my best cloke and to Grace his wife the garden web in the chist, Item I give ffrancys Owston my browne hose. All the rest of my goods unbequeathed, and my funeral expences dyscharged I give to ffrancys Owston and to Xpopher Owston, whom I doe make my full executors, of this my last will and Testament, In the presence of these wittnesses. Anthony Rouse, Anthony Foggim, Peter Stevensone (mark), signed by John Owston.

WILLIAM OWSTON, who died in 1602

William the Yeoman of East Heslerton is listed as Oxstone in the Will/Administration index. He left a Will which names his widow Grace and children, Christopher, Peter, Elizabeth and Barbara. But this is definitely William Owston. His Will was made on the 28th July 1602 and proved on the 20th December 1602 and is registered in volume 28, folio 824. He married Grace who remarried Peter Stevenson (Administration Buckrose 18th June 1627)and had further issue before dying in 1623. Grace as an Owston widow is mentioned in the Will of Robert Lambe of West Heslerton [Vol 29, f22 1604] where she receives a ewe sheep as do her children Christopher, Barbara, Elizabeth, Ellin and Peter. The extra daughter Ellin must have been born after William`s death, and Mary must have died early.

The Will of William Owston
Vicesimo Octavo die mensis july ao reg dne inre Eliza Anglia francie et hiberniae Regime XLIII a dom 1602 [28 July 1602, 43rd yr of reign of Queen Elizabeth I Queen of England, France and Ireland] In the name of God amen I Willm Owstone of East Heslerton in the county of Yorke husbandman beinge sick in body but of good and perfect remembrance praise be to god make and ordain this my laste will and testament in manner and forme following ffirst I give and bequeath my soul to almighty god my maker and creator and to Jesus Christ my saviour and redeemer and to his holie ghoste my xferner[?] and key and my body to be buried in the Church yard of West Heslerton at the appointment of my friends and for my temporal goods as followeth first I give and bequeath to Xxofer Owston my sonne my sworde and dagger ffirste I give to Peter Owston my sonne a candlestick which was my fathers. Item I give to Elizabeth Owston and Barbarie Owston my daughters either of them a yewe to go forwarde, Item I give to Francis Owston four yews to be good to my childrens. I give the tuition of all my children to Grace Owston my wife. Item I give to Robert Berryman and Elizabeth Berryman each of them a yew the rest of bequeathed my legacy and debts paid funeral expences my mortuarie discharged I give and bequeath to Grace Owston my wife Xxofer Owston Peter Owston my sons and to Elizabeth Owston and Barbarie Owston my daughters all which I make and ordaine executors this my last will and testament witness whereas to this my will and testament therein set my hande the dae and year the above written These being Witnesses Matthew Lamb Thomas Ruddock, John Stevenson, Nicholas Bradshaw.

The Will was proved by Grace Owston widow on the 20th December 1602.

THE ISSUE OF WILLIAM OWSTON and GRACE, in no particular order.

1. CHRISTOPHER OWSTON. Born before 1597/8 and probably one of the eldest of the children.   He inherited land from his uncle John at Scarborough.   He founded the Scarborough family that included in the 19th Century a pair of Lifeboat Coxswains.  He probably died after 1649 when he appears in a Scarborough archive.  He married Ann who lived until 1694 and was claimed to be 104 years old.

2. PETER OWSTON 1597/8-1669 Yeoman of West Heslerton and Sherburn.  See below.

3. BARBARA OWSTON   Born 1599

4. ELIZABETH OWSTON.  She died after 1669 and was mentioned in the Will of Peter Owston as Elizabeth Mawe.

5. MARY OWSTON, She was baptised in 1601.

6. ELLIN OWSTON, probably born in 1602

PETER OWSTON 1597/1669 Who died at Sherburn.

Peter the Yeoman of West Heslerton and Sherburn married Martha Fiddis (1604-1665) of West Heslerton the daughter of George Fiddis (1576-1652) and Alice (?) at St Leonard`s Malton in 1625.

George Fiddis was the son of Robert Fiddis and Elizabeth Watson (married at Wintringham in 1576 and both buried at West Heslerton in 1602) but I know very little else about the Fiddis family, there is a distinct paucity of Wills.

There were numerous descendants of the eldest son Thomas 1627-1681 who married and had a large family at Thorpe Bassett. One son founded a branch of the family at Kirby Misperton and an other son the Seamer and Cayton families. Descendants of the eldest son eventually lived in Lincolnshire and flourished there, though presently there is only one traceable male line descendant living.  There are several cases of intermarriage in the descendants of Thomas and a Cambridge educated Vicar!. These details will be expanded on in a further Appendix about the Owstons of Thorpe Bassett and Rillington.

During the Commonwealth Period in the 1650`s I believe that Peter received the income from the Sherburn Church tithes. This could point to Peter being a Parliamentary supporter, and possibly a Puritan.  This might be the reason that his son was so attracted to Quakerism in the 1670's.

He left a full Will, made on the 22 August 1669 and this was proved on the 16 December 1669, Volume 50, fol 441. The original survives.

WILL
In the name of God Amen I Peter Owston of Sherburn in the County of York yeoman weak of body but perfect of minde and a good remembrance thanks unto Allmighty God, doe make and ordaine this my last Will and testament in mannor and forme following. First I give my soule to allmighty God my maker and to Jesus Christ his onely sonne and my redeemer and my body to be buried in the Channcell of Sherburn aforesaid for my temporal estate I bequeath them after this manner as followeth.

Item I give unto Peter Owston my grandchild tenn pounds to be paid within six months after my decease to be paid to him his guardian or tutor, I also give William Owston my grandchild five pounds and to Jane Owston and Elizabeth Owston my grandchildren each of them fifty shillings to them or their guardians within six months after my decease. Item I give unto George Owston my son five oxgang of arrable land withall the apurtinances belonging the same situating and lyeing in Sherburn field to him and his heares for ever. Item I give unto Francis Owston my grandchild five pounds within six months after my decease. Item I give unto my daughter Ann Hodgson forty shillings and to two of her children James Hodgson and Peter Hodgson sons to Ralph Hodgson my grandchildren each of them forty shillings to paid within six months after my decease. Item I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Ringrose wife to Will Ringrose ten shillings and to their two younger daughters Elizabeth and Jane Ringrose my grandchildren to each of them twenty shillings and my warming pan to be paid within twelfe month after my decease. Item I give unto Elizabeth Wallis daughter to Francis Wallis twenty shillings to paid within twelfe months after my decease. Item I give unto John Fillis and Christopher Fillis sons to Thomas Fillis of New Malton each of them twenty shillings to be paid within twelve month after my decease. Item I give unto Thomas Newsham of Sherburn ten shillings to be paid within six month after my decease. Item I give to Elizabeth Maw my sister ten shillings to be paid within six months after my decease. Item I give unto Anne Hodgson one beehive if it be there. Item I give unto Anne Richardson, Dorothy Brotherwick and Mary Wallis daughter to Francis Wallis of Sherburn, each of them one sheep. Item I give unto John Stevenson five daughters Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Dorothy and Deborah each of them one sheep. I give to Thomas Perkin two children of Rullington each of them one sheep. I give unto Grace Owston my standing bed with all the clothes belonging the same.

I also give unto John Owston my chift. Item I give unto the poore of Sherburn six shillings eight pence and to the poore of West Heslerton three shillings four pence. All the rest of my goods moveable and unmoveable the debts and funeral expences discharges, I give unto my two sonnes Thomas Owston and George Owston whome I make sole executors of this my last will and testament all other former wills denounced. In witness whereof I have sett my hand and seale the twenty second day of August in the one and twenty year of his majesties Reigne, and in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred sixtie nine. Peter Owston his mark, Francis Wallis his mark, Richard Robinson.

ISSUE:

1. THOMAS OWSTON (1627-1681) Farmer of Thorpe Bassett m. and had issue: Founder of Rillington. Thorpe Bassett, Lincolnshire and Carlisle branches. Ancestor also of the OUSTONS. (See Appendices 2a and 2b)

2. ANN OWSTON (1630-1680) m. RALPH HODGSON of Sherburn who died in 1708 and had issue [See Appendix 1].

3. ELIZABETH OWSTON (1632-)

m1. WILLIAM RINGROSE of Ganton and had issue. Descendants are the Ringrose family at Wold Newton and Kirby Grindalyth.
m2. THOMAS SIMPSON of Wold Newton at Ganton. This is proved by a later document in NYCRO when he chases up a debt. He is also mentioned in the Will of Henry Leadson of Sherburn.

4. GEORGE OWSTON (1635/6-1675) Yeoman of Sherburn, m. and had issue:

5. DOROTHY OWSTON (1640 - Died 1724 at East Ayton, Buried 05 Feb 1724/25 in Seamer)

m1. 25 Nov 1662 at Sherburn, HENRY LEADSON a Yeoman of Sherburn, who died in 1684 and left a considerable Will and had issue, a surviving daughter FRANCES LEADSON.

m2. 25 Nov 1684 at Sherburn, WILLIAM HODGSON of Calthorpe in Ruston died 1699 but had no issue.

Their Wills are quite extensive and includes many members of the Owston family. Dorothy's daughter (Frances Leadson) died in 1748 at East Ayton.  She married William Davison, a Yeoman of East Ayton who died in 1707.   She is mentioned in the Will of William Hodgson.  She had four children who were living in 1706, two of them left descendants. 

6. GRACE OWSTON m. THOMAS RINGROSE and had issue at Carnaby in East Yorkshire.  He was probably the Thomas Ringrose who was in trouble with the Church Courts in the 1670's at Sherburn.

GEORGE OWSTON 1635/6-1675

George Owston Yeoman of Sherburn left a full Will which gives quite a lot of information about the distribution of his lands. His Will is registered in Vol 57A, folio 81v, 1675. George married in a Commonwealth marriage ceremony Mary Moore or a name which is similar, of whom I know little, but she died in 1676, leaving an administration. Interestingly he requested to be buried under the floor of the Church (now rebuilt) at Sherburn. At that time it was a reflection of social status to be buried under the Church floor, so George must have been pretty respectable and the family had preserved some sort of status after the Restoration, or until September 2005 it seemed that this was the case.  It was found that in 1670 and 1673 he was in trouble with the Church Courts.   He was presented in 1670 for 'shutting the church court door upon the parishioners taking away the key and tying upp the bell ropes'. (Borthwick ER V/CB3) The same source tells us that he did'nt go to Church for a while and attended Quaker Meetings.  All his children seem to have been baptised in the Sherburn Parish church.

WILL: (Enroled copy of a possibly damaged original)
In the name of God Amen I George Owston of Sherburn in the County of York yeoman sicke in body but perfect in mind praised be to God doe here make my last Will & Testament in manner and forme as followeth. First I bequeath soule unto the hands of almighty God and to his son Jesus Christ in whoem & by noe other means I whope for salvation and my body to be buryed in the Chancell of Sherburn as for the rest of my goods I bequeath as followeth Imp. I give unto John Owston my eldest son five tenth pounds to be paid within twelfe month after my decease Imp. I give John Owston my son six oxgang of arrable land in the teritories of Sherburn when he cometh at age and the house within I live to him and his assigns for ever provided the estate the house by my wife to my Itm. I give unto Mary Owston my wife my house within the premise belonging the same which is up in the house to her during her natural life Item I give unto my wife the house wherein I live with the premises one oxgang of land the huse in the Ings to her during her widdowhood. Marry and like wise the huke in the Ings. I give to my son Peter Owston to enter when he is at age to him and his heirs for ever and like wise the oxgang of land with the premises I give to my son Thomas Owston to enter when he commeths at age to him his heirs for ever Itm. I give unto George[sic] Owston my eldest daughter twenty five pounds when she cometh at age or happen to marry for her full and felial portion... I give unto Mary Owston my second daughter twenty five pounds when she cometh of age or happen to marry for her full fillial portion if it please God that either of them shall dy before they attain age of marry the other shall receive her portion, Item It is my Will that if in case my wife be with child at my decease that my son Johmn Owston shall pay to it when cometh at age twenty pounds the tuition of my children Grace, Mary, John, Francis, Petter and Thomas. Item I give unto Mary my wife Itm. I give unto George son of Thomas Owston one ewe and one lamb Item I give unto Jane Ringrose daughter of Will Ringrose one ewe and one lamb. All the rest of my goods and chattels moveable and unmoveable my debts and funerall expenses dyscharged I give unto my wife Mary Owston and my three youngest sons Francis Owston, Peter Owston and Thomas Owston whom I make executors of this my last Will and testament all former Wills revooking. In witness wherof I have set my hand and seale George Owston his mark. Son Francis my second son and to his heirs for ever for by a good and affeasable estate inheritance Witnessed by us Thomas Owston, Henry Leadson.

ISSUE:

1. GRACE OWSTON 1656-17 m ANTHONY OWSTON of Ganton and Sherburn and had issue.  Her descendants, the Fox family, returned to Sherburn in the 19th Century.

2. MARTHA OWSTON 1657-1666/7

3. MARY OWSTON 1662 - ALIVE 1712/3 (Unmarried, Will of brother Peter 1712/3)

4. JOHN OWSTON 1664/5-1739 of Sherburn Yeoman, m. and had issue. (See Appendix 3).

5. FRANCIS OWSTON 1667-1732/3

6. PETER OWSTON 1670-1714 of Cayton, House Carpenter.

Peter Owston of Cayton, a house carpenter a younger son of George left a full Will made on the 6th February 1712/3. Peter married Dorothy Owston 1680-, the daughter of John Owston the elder, a descendent of the Ganton branch of the family. After his death Dorothy, a childless widow, remarried at Cayton.  He left land to his nephew Peter Owston who became the Weaver, see below.

WILL... John Owston my eldest brother one shilling, Francis Owston my brother one shilling, Thomas Owston my brother one shilling, unto Grace Owston my sister one shilling, I give unto Mary Owston my sister one shilling, Matthew Owston my nephew the son of Francis Owston the sum of five shillings, Jane Owston my god daughter daughter of Thomas Owston sum of five shillings, John Smith son of Francis Smith five shillings ... Dorothy Owston wife all my estate both real and personal estate ... Peter Owston nephew son of Francis Owston the land which is now in my disposing lying in and within the Parish of Sherburn.

7. THOMAS 1672-1747 of Bridlington married and had issue. He is not the ancestor of the Owston family branch there. I can only trace daughter's for him and the later Bridlington Owston's roots are not in Thomas it seems, but a man who lived at the same time at Carnaby.

FRANCIS OWSTON 1667-1732/3

Francis married Dorothy Hodgson at Sherburn in 1692. In 1707 as the Blacksmith of the village he bought a house and orchard from his brother John Owston the younger who were (in the sales deed details) both sons of George Owston of Sherburn.

Dorothy died in 1741, and I have no further information about her family background, but she was probably very young when she married - her last child was baptised about 26 years later. Women at the time could marry at 12 years, but these marriages are very rare. People actually married in their twenties usually. George Owston the father of Francis married at 19, I suspect that this was because his bride was pregnant and it was the Commonwealth period.  At this time the age that people married could be effected by social status, the better off married younger.

ISSUE:

1. THOMAS OWSTON 1693-dd. young.

2. FRANCIS OWSTON 1694/5-1734 m. and had issue.

3. MATHEW OWSTON 1697-1737 m. in 1737, Mary Leadson and had no issue, she died in 1737.

4. MARY OWSTON Born in 1700 at Sherburn, and baptised there 9th June 1700, and died in 1781, and was buried there on 1st March 1781.  She married at Sherburn 4th June 1723, THOMAS SANDERSON, born in 1684 at Weaverthorpe and baptised there 2 July 1684, the son of Thomas Sanderson and Elizabeth Marshall (distantly aunt of Fanny Dunn below) and and died at Sherburn 1733, being buried there 16th October 1733.had issue.

In 2006 I identified Elizabeth Sanderson 1723/4 - 1804 as the Elizabeth Sanderson who married William Clifford, a younger brother of Hannah Clifford.  (I was able to prove that the other Elizabeth Sanderson of Sherburn, her cousin, had married someone else by following through the land documents at Northallerton County Record Office).  She is an ancestor of Agnes Stockill below.

5. GEORGE OWSTON 1701

6. DOROTHY OWSTON 1707-1753 m. JOHN WELBURN of Sherburn and had issue. Her daughter married into the Ringrose family and has many descendants.

7. PETER OWSTON 1708-1765: See below.

8. CHRISTOPHER OWSTON 1712-1713

9. WILLIAM OWSTON 1714-1793 m. and had issue.

He married Elizabeth Settrington and was buried in Sherburn Churchyard where his Monumental Inscription can still be seen. At his feet is buried his daughter Jane and her husband Theophilus Rivis. He left a Will:

WILL

In the name of God Amen, I William Owston of Sherburn in the County of York Miller, being sick and weak in Body but of a sound and disposing mind memory and understanding (thank God for it) do make this my last Will and Testament in maner and form following, revoking all former Wills, Codicils and testamentory shadules, by me made ...

I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Jane Owston my silver cup.

Lastly I give and bequeath unto her and all the rest of my children, namely, my said daughter Jane Owston, together with my daughters, Elizabeth and Dority Owston, to share and share equaly that is to be equally divided amongst them. All the rest resedue, remainder and remainders, of all other my goods, chattle, cattle personnal estate and effects whatsoever nature or kind the same be, or wheresoever the same maybe.

But my Will is that I be decently buried, and thall all my, Debts, Funeral Expences and the charges and Expencis of proving of this my last Will be first duly paid out of my effects, and then what remains as above saide to be equally divided amongst my children as avove said, only my daughter Jane to have my silver cup clear;-

And I also do make constitute nominate and appoint my said daughter Jane Owston sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament in Witness I have here unto set my Hand and Seal this Fourteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Ninety three.

A true and perfect Inventory of all the Goods Chattle Cattle Wares & C as well moveable as not Moveable and other personal Estate & Effects of William Owstons late of Sherburn in the County of York Miller by us whose names and hereunto subscribed this Day of November 1793. - Value of effects, one hundred and seventy four pounds, two shillings and a halfpenny.

10. ANN OWSTON 1716-1717

11. GRACE OWSTON 1719-1758  Probably born when her mother was in her mid to late forties.

A Legal Document - Indenture of 1707

This indenture made the thirteenth day of September in the sixth year of the reigne of Our Soveraign Lady Ann by the grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland Queen Defender of the ffaith in Anno Dom 1707. Between John Owston the Younger of Sherburn in the County of York Yeom of the one part and ffrancis Owston of Sherburn aforesaid in the said County of York Blacksmith of the other part. Witnesseth that the said John Owston for and in consideration of the sume of Tenn of pounds of good and lawfull money of England to him in hand paid by the said ffrancis Owston at or before the usealing and delivery of these presents therbefore whereof he dothe here by aknowldege doethe here by aquit exonerate and discharge him the said ffrancis Owston his heires and assisns and in persuance to a proviso or consideration mentioned or contained in the will and testment of George Owston late of Sherburn aforsd Yeom ffather of the said John Owston and ffrancis Owston and according to true intent and meaning of the said Will. And for diverse other good courses & considerations hee the said John Owston thereunto moving hath granted bargained sold aliened infeoffed released and confirmed and by those pdents doth grant bargain sell release infeoff and confirme unto him the said Francis Owston his heirs and assigns and for ever all that cottage house or tenmt sytuate and being in the Townshipp of Sheerburn aforesaid now in the possession of him the said ffrancis Owston adjoining upon the house of John Sedman on the South the house of Dorothy Hotchson and ffrancis Davison on the North together with all houses Outhouses edifices buildings barnes, stables orchards yards and crofts pastures beastgates sheepgates & comons comon of pasture two woods underwoods wayes casements hereditamts and appurtences whatsover to the said cottage hous or tenemt with the Appurtences belonging or in any wise apptaining or to or with the same now or att any time heretofore usually occupyed and enjoyed and all the Estate right with interst propty they end demand whatsoever of him the said John Owston his heires or assigns of in or to the same and the reversion and reversions remaind, and remaind' rents and issues and proffits thereof and all evidences and writeings whatsoever which covereth the same premises or any part thereof.To have and to hold the said cottage house or tenement and premisses with the appurtences before mentioned or intended to be hereby granted bargained and sold and every part thereof unto the said ffrancis Owston his heires and assignes for ever. To the only proper use and behoof of him the said ffrancis Owston his heires and assignes for ever. And the said John Owston doth for himself and his heirs and the said cottage house or tenement and premises with the appurtenances and every part and parcel, thereby granted or intended to be granted unto him the said ffrancis Owston his heires and assignes against him the said John Owston his heires ans asigns and all persons clayming the said premises of any part thereof by from or under him them or any of them shall and will loan out and forever defend by those presents. And the said John Owston doth for himself his heirs and executors Administrators and assignes covenant promise grant and agree to and with the said ffrancis Owston his heires and assignes and ever of them by those presents. That it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said ffrancis Owston his heirs & executors Administrators and assignes from time to time for ever hereafter quietly and peaceably to have hold use occupy possess and enjoy the said cottage house or tenement and premises beforementioned and every part there of with all appurtences without the lawfull lett suite trouble molestation or hinderance of him the said John Owston his heires & executors administrators assignes & or of any other person or persons whomsoever lawfully clayming the same premises or any part thereof by from or undr him them or any of them and likewise that the same premisses and every part thereof now and att all times hereafter shall remain continue and be to the said ffrancis Owston his heirs and assignes clearly and absolutely acquitted exonerated and discharged or other wise will and suffiencetly saved and kept harmless by him the said John Owston his heires and Executors and administrators and from all other titles charged and incumberances and of and from all other bargains sales and gifts grants leases jointures & dowers wills intails unto arrearges of rents statutes and recognizances and of and from all other incumberances whatsoever heretofore had made comitted done or suffered or hereafter to be had made comitted done or suffered by any of them or any other pson or persons whomsoever lawfull remayning in by from or under them or any of them. In witness whereof the partyes to these presents interchangeably have sett their hands and seals the day and year first above written.

PETER OWSTON 1708-1765

A weaver and a Church Warden at Sherburn. He left a Will, noticeable for its very finite instructions to his son for the care and welfare of his widow. He married Hannah Clifford 1709-1798, the daughter of John Clifford of a family with Rillington and Brompton ancestors and his wife Mary Tindale, of North Grimston. Mary Tindale was probably connected to the branch of that family who settled at Scarborough and became prosperous ship owners. I have so far not found her parentage or other information about her, but this will be found in time.

ISSUE:

1. PETER OWSTON 1740/1-1823 of Sherburn Carpenter and Yeoman.

Will of Peter Owston
In the name of God Amen I Peter Owston of Sherburn in the county of York Weaver do make this my last will and testament as follows I give unto my loving wife Hannah for & during her natural life the North Roomstead of my Dwelling house with the use of the Passage & stairs & direct that my Son & Executor shall make a proper Chimney & Rainge in the Low Room thereof lay the floor of the Chamber over it and till the same be done my wife is also to have the necessary use of the rest of my house and my wife is also to have for her life a Suitable part of the garth Belonging my house in which she may by fire elding and I give to my said wife the Sum of three pound and ten shillings a year to be paid to her during her life by half yearly payments at May Day and Martinmas the first payment to be made on such of the Said days as shall first happen next after my Deceased & I charge all the rest of my Estates with the payments thereof and I give and Bequeath unto my Said wife my Dresser, half of my Pewter my new Bedstead my Feather Bedd with the curtains Quilt and Coverlet five Blankets one pair of Lin Sheets, two pairs of Coarss ones with bolsters Pillows and Pillow Cases One panel chest and one plain Chest two little Tables two of the smallest yelling(?) an armed chair two other chairs a Brass Kettle and a Warming pan and a tea Kettle and I give unto my son Peter Owston and his heirs and assines for ever all the rest of my Real Estate Chargeable with the Said three pound and ten Shillings a year to my said wife for her life, and what I have given to my wife is to be in lieu of her Thirds and its is my Intent that if my son dye unmarried in the life time of my wife that my wife shall hold all my Real Estate for her Life and I give unto the Said Peter Owston my son all the rest of my personal Estate whatsoever and so make him sole executor of this my last Will and Testament, In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Eight Day of April in the year of Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Sixty five.

Signed Sealed published and Declared by the said Testator as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names hereto in his presence, Thomas Vickerman, John Bointon, Francis Owston.

PETER OWSTON 1740/1-1823

Due to the arrangements that his father made at his death Peter must have spent quite a lot of his married life with his mother upstairs in her section of the house. When he married at Langtoft in 1765 to Sarah Taylor 1737/8-1813 of Langtoft and Wold Newton he was working as a Carpenter. Sarah was the youngest daughter of John Taylor of Wold Newton, Langtoft and Thwing and his wife Margaret a daughter of Samuel Hellard of Langtoft. Her father must have been living with them when he died, he seemed to have made no Will or left an Administration.  I found this rather odd as John and Margaret both came from land owning families and the Hellard's were Armigerous, they had a coat of Arms. 

Peter Owston and Sarah Taylor married by licence, and the Bond and Allegation has survived at the Borthwick Institute in York.

LICENCE (Completed form)

The twenty first day of July in the year of our LORD One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty five --- On which day appeared personally Peter Owston of Langtoft in ye Diocese of York Carpenter and, being Sworn on the Holy Evangelists, alledged and made Oath as follows, that he is of the Age of Twenty five years and upwards and a Batchelor and intends to marry Sarah Taylor of ye. same place aged Twenty five Years, and upwards, and a Spinster not knowing or believing any lawful Let or Impediment by Reason of Consanguinity, Affinity, or any other Cause whatsoever, to hinder the said intended Marriage: And he prayed a Licence to Solemnize the Said Marriage in the Parish Church of Langtoft aforesaid, in which said Parish --- the Said Peter Owston further made Oath, That the said Sarah Taylor -- hath had her usual Abode for the Space of Four Weeks last past.

WILL OF PETER OWSTON
This the last Will and Testament of me Peter Owston of Sherburn in the County of York Yeoman who am of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding. I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Hellard Owston the sum of two hundred pounds, unto my son Francis Owston the sum of two hundred pounds and unto my daughter Sarah Hill wife of Thomas Hill of Langtoft Cordwainer the sum of sixty pounds and I direct that all the said legacies shall be paid by my executor hereinafter named at the end of twelve Calendar Months next after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret Owston and her assigns for her life one annuity or clear yearly sum of fifteen pounds of lawful English money clear of all deductions whatsoever to be paid to the said Margaret Owston and her assigns during her life by my executor hereinafter named by two equal half yearly payments the first payment of the said annuity to begin and be made at the end of six Calendar Months next after my decease And I will order and direct that when and as often as the same annuity or any part thereof shall be behind and unpaid for the space of twenty days next after the times and days for payment of the same, being first lawfully demanded that then and so often and at any time or times then after it shall and may be lawful to and for my said daughter Margaret Owston or her assigns or for any person or persons by her deputed unto and upon any part or parts of any real estate hereinafter devised to enter and distrain and such distress and distresses to detain keep or dispose of as she or they shall think fit until she or they shall be fully satisfied and paid all such arrearages with the costs and charges incurred in and about the making keeping or disposing of the same. And I do further Will and direct that if my said daughter Margaret Owston or her assigns shall die between any of the days or times of payment of the said annuity then so much and such parts thereof as shall accrue from the last days or time for payment of the same up to the death of my said daughter Margaret shall be paid into the hand of her Executors Administrators or Assigns. I give and devise unto my said daughter Margaret Owston and her assigns so long as she shall continue single and unmarried All that Parlour at the North-end of my dwellinghouse which I now occupy situate at Sherburn, aforesaid and also the Chamber over the same together with the use of the passage through the remainder of the said Dwellinghouse and the Stairs leading to the said chamber as it is now used, in, common with my son Peter Owston his heirs and assigns to who I do hereafter devise the same. I give and bequeath unto Samuel Owston and Mary Owston son and daughter of my said daughter Margaret Owston the sum of one hundred pounds in equal shares and proportions to be paid to them respectively at the decease of their mother the said Margaret Owston without interest in the meantime and it shall happen that either of the said children of the said Margaret Owston shall depart this life in the life time of their said mother than I do hereby will and direct that the share or portion of him or her so dying shall do and accrue to the survivor of them and be paid at the time his or her original share is made payable as aforesaid. And as to all the residue and remainder of all and singular any personal estate and effects whatsoever as to all my real estates of what nature tenure or kind soever and wherever situate. I give bequeath and devise the same unto my son Peter Owston his heirs executors administrators and assigns to and for his and their own absolute use and benefit for ever. And I do hereby charge and make chargeable all my real estates hereinbefore devised unto my said son Peter Owston with the payment of all the legacies and bequest hereinbefore by me made. And lastly I do hereby make ordain constitute and appoint my said son Peter Owston sole executor of this my Will and do hereby revoke all my former Wills at any time by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I the said Peter Owston the Testator have to this my Will contained in two sheets of paper set my hand at the bottom of the first sheet and my hand and seal to this second and last sheet this twenty sixth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. Wit: George Knaggs, John Marshall, John Knaggs. Testator died 9th April 1823, Will proved 17th September 1823.

ISSUE;

1. PETER OWSTON (1768-1854) Died unmarried at Thornton le Dale, to which he had removed in 1851-3 and was probably living with his remarried sister-in-law Mary Vasey.  He was buried in Sherburn.

2. MARGARET OWSTON (1770-1851) had issue by an un-named father/s mentioned in her fathers Will.

Margaret lived at Seamer later in life with her daughter Mary Owston Taylor (born Staxton in about 1798/1800).  Mary had many children by her husband John Taylor and settled in Scarborough later in life.  Mary, John and another daughter were living with a married daughter in 1881. Samuel Owston (Ganton 1802-Scarborough 1872) the son of Margaret married Mary Oxendale of Norton and had a family who survives into the present century and has several traceable descendants.

3. HANNAH OWSTON (1772-1772)

4. SAMUEL HELLARD OWSTON (1776-1846) See Below.

5. SARAH OWSTON (1778-1851) m. at Skipsea in East Yorkshire, THOMAS HILL 1784-1847, Shoemaker at Langtoft and had issue.

They had four children. The youngest son Peter Owston Hill died as an infant and was buried in his mother's home Parish at Sherburn in 1816. The eldest son Thomas Hill 1811-1890, worked as a Shoemaker at Langtoft and Driffield. He married Frances Harland 1813-1841 and Mary Gardener 1823-1902 and left issue. Youngest daughter Sarah Hill 1810- married Peter Johnson of Langtoft and had issue. Eldest daughter Mary Hill 1809-after 1881 married George Bannister 1809-1879 of Great Driffield and Langtoft and had issue. They founded a family with numerous members based in Foxholes, Rudston, Muston and Butterwick amongst other places. George Bannister was the son of Ann Bannister. This is curious as she had married just over a year after his birth to Welburn Ringrose a descendant of Dorothy Owston Welburn. George and Mary Bannister had children called Sarah Ringrose Bannister, Welburn Ringrose Bannister, Ann Ringrose Bannister and Francis Ringrose Bannister amongst others. I think that it is likely that George Bannister was Welburn Ringrose's son and a descendant of the Owston family like his wife.

6. FRANCIS OWSTON (1780-1851) was a Miller at Sherburn like his brothers. He married Mary Jefferson 1792-1862 and had issue.

Of the issue that did not die as infants they had two sons called Peter Owston 1821-1821 and 1830-1869. This Peter Owston is very interesting as he worked as a farm labourer in Sherburn. He died of an epileptic fit and was pronounced dead and buried at Sherburn. He was exhumed subsequently as it was rumoured that he was not dead. He had been dead right from the original pronouncement. The younger daughter Matilda Owston 1836-1910 kept a grocers' shop at Sherburn which she left to her niece Matilda Atkinson (later Mrs Arthur Ireland).

Elder daughter Sarah Owston 1816-1897 had started the shop with her husband Thomas Coarser Park, a Methodist Preacher. They left issue.

Unusually, and illegally Margaret Owston 1823-1853 and Hannah Owston 1828-1887 both married Henry Woodmansey from Langtoft. This was contrary to the 'Deceased wives sister's Bill'. He had issue by both his wives.

Daughter, Mary Owston 1826-1909, married local man Joseph Atkinson 1821-1906, a tailor and sometime letter carrier. Of their twelve children, Jonathan Atkinson 1853-1927 lived outside the village for a while at Hutton Cranswick. He married twice and still has descendants in Sherburn. Sadly son Frederick Arthur Atkinson 1893-1918 died in France during the First World War. Another son of Joseph and Mary Atkinson, Joseph Atkinson 1862-1940 founded a branch at Brompton By Sawdon where he worked as a tailor.

The most tragic son was involved in one of the sadist events in Sherburn's history. Thomas Atkinson 1855-1904 was a gamekeeper at Sherburn. He was also a blacksmith. In November 1904 he was killed by a poacher on the Legard estate at Ganton.

Despite the tragic deaths mentioned here there are still numerous descendants of the family, some living at Sherburn.

SAMUEL HELLARD OWSTON 1776-1846

Samuel Hellard Owston was probably named after his maternal great-grandfather. It is curious that this man did not marry until 1831 and I know little of his career before that time. He married Mary Vasey of Sherburn 1810-1867 by licence in that year. I know he was at the wedding of his sister Sarah at Skipsea in 1807. Samuel Hellard Owston was living in Sherburn in 1834 in the Poll Book (renting farm worth £50 per year) and at the time of the 1841 Census. Mary remarried in 1847 William Thompson of Hovingham, Ganton, Sherburn and Thornton Dale. After being married to a man who was thirty four years older than her she married a man thirteen years (approximately) younger than her. Samuel Hellard is variously described as a farmer and a Miller, and the researcher has to be careful in identifying which Samuel and Mary the Parish Registers are referring too as the nephew of the same name was married to a wife of the same name and having issue also at Sherburn. The Vicar of Sherburn realised that he needed to supply some further information in the Register and corrected some entries with a later note. His motivation and thoroughness has been of great benefit to the present researcher. The Family Bible now in the USA has also been of great benefit in confirming the research.

Mary Vasey was a descendant through her mother of Ann Owston 1630-1680 and her husband Ralph Hodgson who died in 1708 (see Appendix 1). After remarriage, in the 1851 Census Mary Vasey Owston Thompson was living with her brother-in-law Peter Owston, her new husband and children, with the wife and some of the children of Samuel Owston her nephew by marriage. If the family were still living in the house mentioned in the Will of Peter Owston (died 1765) then the house would be adapted for multi-family use.  There is evidence for this.  When comparing the map of Sherburn in the mid nineteenth century to a modern map this looks like a property behind 'The East Riding' pub in St Hilda Street.

ISSUE:

1. ANN OWSTON 1832 m. JOHN COATES and had issue.

2. PETER OWSTON 1835-1884 A labourer who lived at Ellerburn and Thornton Dale. He married Ann Davison from Bridlington 1835-1891 and had at least ten children. The sons were George 1859-1869, Samuel 1864-1865, Francis 1866-1875, John 1869-1870, and Thomas 1870-1871 who all died as children. Of the girls, Jane 1862-1875 only died as a child. The other daughters were:

2.1 MARY ELIZABETH OWSTON, born in 1861, at Thornton Dale and seems to have lived at Settrington. I have not found her marriage at this stage or death. She had one son Frank Owston 1883-1962 who was baptised at Thornton Dale. Frank married Ruth Stephenson and had a large family and they have many descendants in North Yorkshire and overseas. She may have had another son George Owston who was living with an Owston great aunt in 1901.

2.2 ELLEN OWSTON, born in 1868, who died in 1917 in Goathland. She married James Rymer in 1895 in Goathland who lived from 1868- 1931 and was a farmer. I have traced two children for them. Arthur Rymer 1897-1917 their son joined the list of Owston descendants who went to War and did not return home. He died at Passchendaele in Belgium. Their daughter Sarah Jean Rymer 1899-1930 lived and died at Goathland and never married.

2.3 ANNE OWSTON 1872-1923, never married but went to live with her sister Ellen Owston Rymer at Goathland.

2.4 HARRIET OWSTON 1874-1932 never married but died in the West Derby Registration District in Lancashire.

3. SARAH OWSTON 1837-1909 m. RICHARD COATES and had issue.

4. JANE OWSTON 1840-1914 m. JOHNSON HART of Kingthorpe nr Pickering and had issue.

5. MARY OWSTON 1841-1920 m. SAMUEL PIERCY and had issue. Died in USA.

6. GEORGE VASEY OWSTON (1845-1925)

GEORGE VASEY OWSTON 1845-1925

A farm labourer of Sherburn, Thornton Dale and the Kirby Underdale area. He smoked a pipe and was a moderate man in his habits according to his youngest daughter. He had a tragic married life and like his own father became a father for the last time in his late sixties.

His first wife (23rd October 1869 Ellerburn) was Harriet Johnson of Easingwold who died in 1877 and was the daughter of Ralph Johnson and his wife Jane Horner. She had an illegitimate son called George before she married.

ISSUE:

1. ELIZABETH JANE OWSTON 1869- m. HARRY BARKER and had issue.

2. MARY OWSTON 1871- m. GEORGE WINDEBANK and had issue.

3. SARAH OWSTON 1873-1875

4. RALPH OWSTON 1876-1877

His second wife (1878 Pocklington Registry Office) was Harriet Ann Suggett 1859-1896 of Millington the daughter of Henry Suggett and his wife Jane Dales. She had an illegitimate daughter before she married him.

ISSUE:
  5. FRED OWSTON born 27th December 1878 Painsthorpe East Yorkshire and died 31st May 1950 (See right with wife Fanny Dunn* 1883-1949 [see below]) , grandfather of Timothy J. Owston. Fanny was the daughter of Charles Dunn 1855-1939 and Jane Frances ('Ginny') Dunn 1857-1943, the village 'layerouter' and midwife.  Before his marriage Fred was a Woodman/Forrester, but subsequent to the marriage he moved to Scagglethorpe and Rillington and worked as a labourer.  Quite sensibly Fanny refused to move away from her mother as she was to give birth to nine children, who all lived to be adults.

CHARLES OWSTON, born 11th January 1917 at Rillington, the area now The Fleece Yard, Malton Road, baptised on 22 Feb 1917 in Rillington Parish Church and died 21st December 1992 in Malton Hospital and was interned in Rillington Cemetery 23rd December 1992 after a service in Westgate Chapel, Rillington,  was their second son.  He worked as a farm labourer and a mill hand and lived at Thorpe Bassett, Rillington, Church Farm, Scampston, and Hugden Farm Norton.  He met and married a maid from the farm where he worked in the 1940's, after the War, 17 Jan 1946 at Rillington Church,  Agnes Stockill, born 25th May 1925 at Troutsdale Mill, nr Brompton by Sawdon and baptised at Brompton by Sawdon, 06 Jul 1925 and died 7th February 1997, in Scarborough Hospital, being buried after a service at Rillington Low Moor Chapel in Rillington Cemetary 13 Feb 1997. They had a daughter and three sons.  She was the eldest daughter of Harry Stockill 1897-1975 and Doris Jackson 1905-1958. 

TIMOTHY JOHN OWSTON, Second son, born 1957, East Yorkshire, Lived in Rillington, Scampston, Norton,  Heslington, the City of York, Penwortham, Preston and various other parts of York.  Academically has a Lower Second Honours Degree from The Open University, 1983 in Arts and Social Sciences, MSc(TECH)IT from Lancashire Polytechnic at Preston and a PGCE(FE) from Huddersfield University.  He works for a large employer in York.

6. SARAH OWSTON 1881-1951 m. GEORGE CRISELL and had issue.

7. HENRY OWSTON 1883-1964 m. and had issue.

8. PETER OWSTON 1886-1975 m. and had issue.

9. HELLARD OWSTON 1888-1972 m. ARTHUR LAWSON and had issue.

10. GEORGE RICHARD OWSTON 1891-1979

11. SAMUEL VASEY OWSTON 1892-1976 m. and had issue.

12. FRANCIS OWSTON 1894-1979 m. no issue.

His third wife (1910 Kirby Underdale Church) was Evelyn Hardington who survived him. She had an illegitimate son before she married him. After her husbands death Evelyn remarried a man called Richard Webster and no one has any information about him.

ISSUE:

13. EDITH OWSTON 1912- of Leicester m. Frank Lovell and had issue.

George Vasey Owston, Evelyn Owston, Edith Owston and Jack Hardington, Evelyn's son, at Scarborough 1920.

Fanny Dunn*
Something should be said about her ancestry and connections. Her mother as I stated above was Jane Frances Hudson 1857-1943 and she has some interesting relatives. Her mother was a member of the Colby family, Hannah Colby 1827-1892 was the second daughter of a Leavening farmer, Paul Colby 1803-1853 and his wife Fanny Jennings 1802-1850. The Colby's can be traced in a line back to Thomas Colby of Settrington who was in Settrington in the 1550s. At the time that Hannah was alive one branch of the family had risen to the point where they were generations of Malton doctors. The Dunn family were descendants of Thomas Dunn (abt) 1762-1845 who turned up at North Grimston and married Jane Oxendale 1771-1856 who disprove any theory about the poor all dieing young at that period.

Fanny Jennings grandmother Frances Manners 1732-1788 was baptised on the same day as her cousin Nicholas Manners who's biographical writings about his pioneering Methodist Misionary work might be deemed at the politest, entertaining. Their common ancestor, Nicholas Manners, married in 1688 the teenage Elizabeth Simpson from Scagglethorpe, from an old Scagglethorpe family. But we have not identified where he came from, though he moved the family base to Sledmere.

Hannah Colby was a distant cousin to John Robert Mortimer the Victorian archaeologist in the East Riding of Yorkshire. She had married Robert Hudson 1799-1880 who was third cousin to George Hudson 1800-1871 the 'Railway King' and one of the most scandalous and famous men of the Victorian era.

Tim Owston

Sources

1. Civil Registration Birth, Marriage and Death Records from the Civil Registration records from various addresses over the last 30 years.
2. Baptism, Marriage and Burial information from Registers at the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research in York, or the North Humberside Record Office at Beverley.
3. Wills before 1858 from the Borthwick Institiute, York,
4. Legal document from the East Yorkshire Record Office, Beverley.
5. Legal document from the North Yorkshire Record Office, Northallerton.
6. Oral information from various living relatives. (always the best place to start).

For more information about sources I suggest a visit to my homepage would be of use. The Table of Contents would also help the researcher with links to other sources. Any comments would be appreciated, and questions will be answered, though it might be by reference to a printed work, or suggestion for further study.

 

This page is compiled by Timothy J. Owston of York, England.
Please contact me with any comments or information.
You can Email me at: owston.tj@virgin.net	My home page is at: Home Page