NOTES ON THE EARLY SAVILLE PEDIGREE AND THE BUTLERS OF SKELBROOK AND KIRK SANDAL.

[SECTION II, PAGES 404-411]

[Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, vol. 28, pp. 380-419 (1926)
Electronic text and additional notes kindly provided by David Hepworth
HTML version by Chris Phillips]

BY THE LATE W. PALEY BAILDON, F.S.A.

him to present a parson to the church of Smetheton, which is vacant, the gift belonging to the King by reason of the wardship (custodia) of the purparty of John de Camoys and Margaret his wife, one of the sisters and heirs of Richard Foliot, deceased (who held of King Edward, the King's father, in chief), in the lands and tenements of the said Richard. The King, by Adam de Fincham, said that Jordan Foliot was seised of the advowson, and presented one William de Smetheton in the time of Edward I, who was admitted and in­stituted, and by whose death the church is now vacant. From Jordan the right descended to Richard, as son and heir, and from Richard to Richard, as son and heir, and from him, who died without heir descended of himself, to Margery and Margaret, as sisters and heirs; Margaret is wife of John de Camoys and is within age and in ward to the King; the said advowson belongs to her share, by consent of Hugh de Hastynges, and Margery his wife, the other sister and coheir. John de Seyville has unjustly impeded the King in the presentation, to his damage of 1,000 marks. The defendant, by Robert de Clayton, admits the facts as stated. Judgment that the King do recover, and that John be in mercy for the unjust de­tention. Let there be a writ of non obstante to the Archbishop of York to admit a parson on the King's presentation (Coram Rege, East. 4 Edw. III, m. 16 Rex).

John was probably dead in 1336, when a John de Sayvill, no doubt his son, did homage (see below). His wife was Margery, daugh­ter and coheiress of Henry de Rishworth. Their children were:

• John; see below.
   
• Henry; see below.
   
• ? William, Rector of High Hoyland, 1348; see below.

 
It was originally my intention to stop at this point, having brought the pedigree down to John Saville, husband of Margery Rishworth, with whom Mr. Clay's account begins. I decided, however, to continue so as to include the five successive Johns who headed the family during the whole of the fourteenth century, in the hope of settling their various dates. This has proved a matter of great difficulty in the absence of any inquisitions post mortem, while the fact that the first two Johns each had a wife named Mar­gery, and the last three Johns each had a wife named Isabel, is a serious complication. There are no administrations, and only one will, which mentions neither wife nor children, and is therefore of very little assistance.
 

JOHN DE SAVILLE, 7.A., eldest son of John, 6.A., was probably

born soon after 1300. The Genealogia Savilorum, copied in Harley MS. 4630, "from an old MS.," states that he married Joan daughter of Matthew de Bosco, and had issue John, who married the daughter and heir of Thomas de Eland, and Margaret, Prioress of Kirklees. Foster's pedigree transposes the wives of this John and his father, and makes Sir John who married Isabel de Elland the son of Mar­gery de Rishworth; he further states that Sir John (who died in 1399) had a brother Henry, who married about 1300!

1336, Friday after Michaelmas. - Inquisition taken at the Court at Wakefield, 10 Edward III. John de Sayvell did homage, etc., for lands in Guldeker-Heton [sic] (Dodsworth MS. 117, fo. 146; Yorks. Arch. Journal, vol. 7, p. 262). See note on homage, ante, p. 392. The curious form, "Guldeker-Heton," is explained by the next note.

1336, Friday after St. Luke the Evangelist, 10 Edward III. - John de Seyville did fealty during the minority [of the heir] of John de Heton, and acknowledged that he holds of the said heir the manor of Guldekerres [Golcar] and 4 bovates of land there, by homage and fealty and the service of 3d. yearly at Martinmas (Wakefield Court Rolls; Dodsworth MS. 117, fo. 146).

1343. - Pontefract Rolls. John de Sayvill did fealty, and acknowledged that he held the moiety of a knight's fee in Smytheton [Kirk Smeaton] and Grymston, by homage, suit of court, etc., and a white farm (pro alba firma) of 3s. 7d. (Yorks. Arch. Journal, vol. 12, p. 75).

1344-5, Hilary. - Hugh de Coppelay claimed as his right 15s. rent in Barkesland against William de Langfeld, and 15s. rent there against John Sayvel and Margery his wife, and 15s. rent there against Alice de Rishworth (De Banco, Hil. 18-9 Edw. III, m. 163).

1346. - Aid of 40s. to marry the King's eldest daughter. From Agnes de Cronessele, John de Quernby, John Savill, .... de Richeworth, and John Withet, for 3½ carucates in Gretton [sc. Bretton], Querneby, Gouthlokeres [Golcar], and Cumberworth, where 12 carucates make a knight's fee, 11s. 8d. The previous owner is not mentioned (Exch. K.R., Misc. Book 3, fo. 72).

1346. - Aid of 40s. to marry the King's eldest daughter. From John Savill for one eighth of a knight's fee in Smehton [Kirk Smeaton], of the fee of Skerchebeuf, 5s. (Exch. K.R., Misc. Book 3, fo. 83).

There is no evidence when this John died; the later notes which might conceivably relate to him seem to fit better for his son John, but this is by no means certain as to all of them.

His wife was Margery (called Joan in the Genealogia Savilorum,

ante, p. 405), said to have been a daughter of Matthew Wood (de Bosco).

He had issue John, see below, and Margaret, Prioress of Kirklees.
 

HENRY DE SAVILLE, 7.B., son of John, 6.A., is mentioned as the remainderman to the Rishworth property in the fine of 1319 (see above). I assume that the later notes relate to the same person, but this is not certain.

1344, Dec. 8. - John, Abbat of Roche, granted the wardship and marriage of William, son and heir of William de Ryley, to Adam de Heley of Burton, Henry de Seyvyle, and William de Heley (Record Series, vol. 63, p. 65).

1358 and 1361. - See below, John, 8.A.
 

WILLIAM DE SAVILLE, 7.C., Rector of High Hoyland, was prob­ably a younger son of John, 6.A. The only notes I have of him are the following.

1334-5. - Dodsworth has a note, from the charters of Francis Burdet of Birthwaite, that William de Sayvill was rector of a mediety of High Hoyland, but gives no details (Dodsworth MS. 117, fo. 19).

1347-8. - William de Sayvill, parson of Heghholand, was surety for Richard de Cornewaill, chaplain, indicted for helping Guy Tyas, who killed John son of John de Rothersfeld at Skelmersthorpe on Monday after the Epiphany, 21 Edward III, 1347-8 (Controlment Roll 9, m. 47). Guy and Richard were pardoned (Coram Rege, Mich. 23 Edw. III, m. 2 Rex).
 

Sir JOHN DE SAVILLE, 8.A., eldest son of John, 7.A., was probably born about 1325. In September, 1386, he gave his age as 60 and upwards.

1353, Trinity, and 1354, Easter. - Fine between Hugh de Brerelay and Maude his wife, plaintiffs, and Robert de Neville of Hornby, chivaler, deforciant, of the manor of Brerelay [Brierley, near Barnsley]; to hold to Hugh and Maude and the heirs of Hugh, together with the homage and service of (inter alios) John de Seyville of Tankersley and Isabel his wife (Record Series, vol. 52, p. 45).

1355-6, March 23. - John Tours and John de Sayvyll acknow­ledged that they owed William de Mirfeld, clerk, £10; to be levied, in default of payment, on their lands and chattels in Yorkshire (Close Roll Cal., 1354-60, p. 305).

1357-8, Feb. 24. - Pardon, for good service to the King and Henry, Duke of Lancaster, done by Thomas del Wodeheved of Barkeslond, in Brittany in the Duke's company, to the said Thomas who was indicted for the death of Thomas son of John de Saurby;

John de Sayville has testified that it was done in a hot conflict and not of malice (Patent Roll Cal., 1358-61, p. 13).

1358. - John and Henry de Seyville witnessed two charters relating to Rastrick (Record Series, vol. 63, p. 93).

1361, July 6. - Partition of the estates of Henry, Duke of Lan­caster. To John, Earl of Richmond and Blanche his wife (inter alia) the manor of Marchesden, held for life by John Seyville (Patent Roll Cal., 1361-64, pp. 50, 86).

1361. - John son of Eve granted his manor of Toothill to Henry de Sayville and others; John de Sayville a witness (Record Series, vol. 63, p. 94).

1364, Nov. 15. - John Sayvill was one of a commission of oyer and terminer, touching all conspiracies, confederacies, collusions, and false alliances in Yorkshire (Patent Roll Cal., 1364-67, p. 73), and on Feb. 10, 1364-5, on another commission to inquire as to the complaint of Elizabeth widow of Sir Nicholas de Wortelay (ibid., p. 140).

1367-8, Jan. 13. - The Prior of Monk Bretton, going beyond seas by the King's license, appointed John de Sayvill, and others, his attorneys for one year (Patent Roll Cal., 1367-70, p. 44).

1371, June 2. - John Sayvill was appointed on the commission of the peace for the West Riding (Patent Roll Cal., 1370-74, p. 106). His reappointment occurs frequently, and also on commissions of array and of oyer and terminer.

1371. Tuesday after Trinity. - At Sprotborough, John Fitz-William, knt., found pledges, John Sayville, knt., Thomas de Reresby, knt. (and others), in £300, that he would not cause nor procure hurt or harm to John de Staynton (Close Roll Cal., 1369-74, p. 308).

1372. Trinity. - Fine between Geoffrey de Warburton, chivaler, and Aline his wife, plaintiffs, and John Sayville of Eland, chivaler, and Isabel his wife, deforciants, of the manors of Brighouse and Carlinghow; to hold to Geoffrey and Aline for the life of Aline, of John and Isabel and the heirs of Isabel, paying yearly a rose at the Nativity of St. John Baptist for all service to them, and doing all service to the chief lords; remainder to Thomas son of Sir John de Eland, and the heirs of his body; reversion to John and Isabel and the heirs of Isabel (Record Series, vol. 52, p. 162).

1372, Trinity. - Fine between Thomas son of John de Eland, plaintiff, and John Sayville of Eland, chivaler, and Isabel his wife, deforciants, of a moiety of the manor of Tankersley; to hold to Thomas and the heirs of his body, of John and Isabel and the heirs

of Isabel, paying yearly a rose at the Nativity of St. John Baptist, for all service to them, and doing all service to the chief lords; re­version to John and Isabel and the heirs of Isabel (Record Series, vol. 52, p. 162).

1372, Michaelmas. - Fine between John Sayville of Elland, chivaler, and Isabel his wife, plaintiffs, and John de Brampton, parson of the church of Badsworth, deforciant, of the manor of Elland and a moiety of the manor of Tankersley; to hold to John and Isabel for their lives; remainder to John the son of John, and the heirs of his body; remainder to Henry, brother of John the son, and the heirs of his body; remainder to the right heirs of Isabel (Record Series, vol. 52, p. 157).

This John was the first of the family to take a prominent part in public affairs. In 1374 he occupied the arduous post of escheator in Yorkshire, Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland, which he resigned in the latter part of 1375 (Close Rolls).

In 1375 he was one of the Knights of the Shire for Yorkshire, and in July, 1376, he and his fellow M.P., Sir Robert de Boynton, were paid £34 8s. for 86 days' attendance, at the rate of 4s. a day (Close Roll Cal., 1374-77, p. 428). He was again M.P. for Yorkshire in 1382, 1384, and 1390.

Sir John served as Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1380, 1382, and 1387.

1375, June 5. - Mandate to John Sayvill, Escheator in co. York, to deliver the temporalities of the Archbishopric of Canterbury within his bailiwick to Simon [de Sudbury], late Bishop of London, now translated to Canterbury by the Pope (Patent Roll Cal., 1374-77, p. 118).

1384, June 17. - Exemption, for life, of John Sayvill, knt., from being put on assizes, juries or recognisances, or from being made mayor, sheriff, escheator, coroner, etc., or other minister of the King, against his will (Patent Roll Cal., 1381-85, p. 415).

In 1385 and again in 1388 Sir John was appointed Commissioner of Array for the West Riding (Patent Roll Cal., 1381-85, p. 590; 1385-89, p. 475).

1386, Sept. 17. - Sir John Sayvyll, aged 60 years and upwards, gave evidence in favour of Sir Richard Scrope in the Scrope and Grosvenor dispute (vol. 1, p. 112; vol. 2, p. 303).

1390. - Sir Robert Neville of Hornby and Sir John Saville were paid £22 8s. for 56 days' service as Knights of the Shire for York­shire, at the rate of 4s. a day (Close Roll Cal., 1389-92, p. 178).

1391. - Sir John Sayville the elder was one of the feoffees of

James le Boteler, Earl of Ormonde, for the manor of Shipley (Close Roll Cal., 1389-92, p. 525).

1392, June 16. - Supersedeas, on the pledge of Thomas Fairfax and others, addressed to the Sheriff of Yorkshire, in favour of Guy de Roucliff, clerk, at the suit of John Sayville, knt., for detinue of £249 (Close Roll Cal., 1389-92, p. 564).

1395-6, Jan. 20. - John Sayvill, knt., John Sayvill, knt., his son, and Henry Sayvill, esq., witnessed a deed relating to property at Rastrick (Record Series, vol. 63, p. 94).

1396, Friday before Pentecost. - Inquisition taken at Pontefract. It is not to the damage of the King or anyone else if license be granted to John Herle, Parson of Tankereslay, John de Wath, Vicar of Hoderesfeld, John de Disshford, chaplain, and William de Heton, to found a chantry for one chaplain in the chapel of Eland, annexed to the parish church of Halifax, and to assign to the chaplain a messuage in Eland, a yearly rent of 8 marks out of the manor of Wyke near Okenschagh, and a messuage, 200 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow and 6 acres of wood in Hymmesworth, to sing divine service in the said chapel for the good estate of John, Duke of Aquitaine and Lancaster, and of John Sayville, knt., and Isabel his wife, and of their children, and for their souls when they die, and for the souls of Henry, late Eari of Lancaster, and of John Sayville and Margery his wife (parents of the said Sir John), and of Thomas de Eland and Joan his wife (parents of Isabel), and of John de Rylay, and of their friends and benefactors and of all faithful departed (Inq. ad quod damnum, file 426, no. 36).

Mr. Clay's footnote on page 5 of his article is rather misleading. He says, "In the same Chantry Surveys, p. 292, Sir John Savile is said to have founded a chantry at Thornhill with rents of lands in Brigehouse by will Xmo Decembris, Edward iiij XXmo. This is not in, nor agrees with, the above will." The founder of the chantry at Thornhill was Sir John Saville of Thornhill, whose will, dated November 23, 1481, and proved June 21, 1482, is printed in Test. Ebor. (vol. 3, p. 270), and also by Mr. Clay. The will makes no pro­vision for any chantry; the document mentioned in the chantry certificate as dated December 10, 20 Edward IV, i.e. 1480, may have been a deed and not a will.

1396, July 20. - Sir John Sayville, knt., paid £20 for the license in mortmain in respect of the chantry at Elland (Patent Roll Cal., 1396-99, p. 9).

1396, Trinity. - John Sayvell, knt., Constable of Pontefract Castle, sued Adam de Bekwyth of Clynt, Richard de Bekwyth of

Kylynghall, and John de Bekwyth of Clynt, for 20 marks each, probably due on a joint and several bond (De Banco, Trin. 19-20 Ric. II, m. 242d.).

? 1399. - Will of Sir John Sayvelle of Elland, undated. The only member of his family mentioned is John Sayvelle of Shelley, who was given 6 silver spoons, a silver covered cup, some corn, a bed and coverlet, and a brass pot formerly his father's. He leaves money for his poor tenants at Golcar, and for the poor at Elland and Tankersley. He leaves money to the chaplains of St. Clement's Chapel in Pontefract Castle, if he should happen to die there. Executors, John Kyng, Vicar of Halifax, John de Wath, Vicar of Huddersfield, John de Heton, John de Bollyng, William de Heton, and John Sayvelle of Shelley. Proved September 23, 1399, by the two last named, power reserved to the others (Halifax Wills, vol. 2, p. 216).

Sir John Saville, father of Henry, who married Elizabeth Thornhill, died on June 13, 1393, according to a memorandum of Dodsworth's quoted by Whitaker (Loidis, p. 322), "obiit dominus Jo­hannes Savile, miles, apud Castrum de Sandall, Junii 13, 1393, et in crastino die deductus apud Wakefield, et apud Thornhill insigniter tumulatus." This is clearly an error, since in a note to the will of Sir John Savile of Thornhill (Test. Ebor., vol. 3, p. 270), we are told that he died at Sandal Castle on the morrow of the feast of St. Basil (June 14), 1482; his corpse was carried through Wakefield, and was sumptuously interred at Thornhill (citing Hunter's Notices of Lupset, p. 17).

Sir John married Isabel, daughter and heir of Thomas de Elland, through whom Elland and Tankersley came to the Savilles.

Only two children are recorded, John and Henry, but Thomas, the Serjeant at Arms (see below), was probably another son.

1399, Nov 17 - Isabel, widow of Sir John Saville, knt., took the vow of chastity, in the chapel within the manor of Newstead, near Nostell Priory (Test. Ebor., vol. 3, p. 317; Clay, p. 5).

Undated; about 1400. - Isabel Sayville filed a bill of complaint in Chancery, alleging that she was seised in her demesne as of fee of the manor of Tankeresley at the time of the last passage of the King to his Duchy of Normandy, and since then until one Richard Wortley ousted her, with the strong hand and against the King's peace, and he still holds it, to her great damage and "final disheriteson," for which she has no remedy by assize. She prays for a writ of subpœna, directing Richard to come to be examined on the matter before the Chancellor in the Chancery, and also for restoration and damages. Pur dieu et en oeuvre de charitee. Her pledges for the prosecution

were Robert Eland and Simon Louthe, both of Lincolnshire, gen­tlemen (Early Chancery, bundle 69, no. 383).

1406, Michaelmas. - John Kyng, Vicar of Halifax, John de Wath, Vicar of Hudrisfeld, John de Heton, John de Bollyng and William de Heton, executors of the will of John Sayville, knt., the elder, sued John de Bollyng for a debt of £40 (De Banco, Mich. 8 Hen. IV, m. 234d.).

1406, Michaelmas Term. - Robert Eland v. Isabel widow of John Sayvile, chivaler, claims half the manor of Tankersley by a writ of formedon (De Banco, Mich. 8 Hen. IV, m. 363d.).

1408, Easter. - John Kyng, Vicar of Halifax, (and the others, as above), executors of the will of John Seyvell of Eland, knt., sued Robert son of Thomas de Eland for a debt of £20 (De Banco, East. 9 Hen. IV, m. 56).
 

SIR JOHN SAVILLE, 9.A., was the son and heir of Sir John, 8.A., and was probably born about 1355 or a little earlier.

1391. - See below, Thomas, 9.C.

Sir John was living on January 20, 1395-6, when he and his brother Henry and their father witnessed a deed relating to property at Rastrick (Record Series, vol. 63, p. 94).

1399, Nov. 13. - Grant for life to John Sayville, chivaler, of the Wapentake of Strafford, with the fees and emoluments belonging to it (Patent Roll Cal., 1399-1401, p. 95).

1399, Dec. 18. - John Sayville, chivaler, was on the Commission of Array for the West Riding (Patent Roll Cal., 1399-1401, p. 213).

In 1402 he was Sheriff of Yorkshire.

1403, June 20. - Grant for life to the King's knight, John Sayvylle, of the Wapentake of Strafford, not exceeding the value of 40 marks yearly, from Nov. 13, 1 Henry IV, in lieu of a former grant of that date (Patent Roll Cal., 1401-5, p. 236).

1405, May 2. - Inspeximus and confirmation of Edward of York, Earl of Rutland and Cork, dated at London, Nov. 20, 1 Hen. IV (1399), confirming for life to Sir John Seyville or Sayville letters patent of his father, Edmund, Duke of York, granting for life to John the office of Chief Forester of Sowerbyshire and Holmefirth, with the keeping of the park of Ayreingden, etc. (Patent Roll Cal., 1405-8, p. 15).

Sir John died in 1405, between May 2 and August 10 (see next note). There does not appear to be any will or administration. His wife is said to have been Isabel, daughter of Sir Robert Radcliff of Radcliff Tower, Lancashire. The Visitation of 1563-4 states that