Family History
The Knaresborough Family

Robert Knaresburgh, of Walkingham Hill, mentioned above as second son of Richard de Knaresburgh was admitted to lands surrendered to him by his father, 15 Henry VII, late belonging to Nich. Colyngworth and Agnes his wife. His widow Margaret made a will, of which the following is an abstract. It is dated October 24, 1540, and was proved at Richmond, May 9, 1541:- I, Mt. Knaresburgh, layt wyffe of Robert Knaresburgh of Walkyngham hyll, within the p'ishe of Knaresburgh, &c., my body to be buryed within our lady quere in the church off Knaresburgh, &c. I bequeath to my sone Richard Knaresburgh, to se this my wyll be performed and fulfillyd xiij s. iiij d.; to my sone Rawffe xiij s. iiij d.; to Gregory Man xiij s. iiij d.; to Thomas West xiij s. iiij d.; to Rauff Norman, xiij s. iiij d.; to Oswald Man xiij s. iiij d.; to my son Rauff child iij s. iiij d.; to Robert Wythes of West Wyct xij d. I wyll that theyr be bestowed at the day of my buryall xj s., and more yff neyd requiere, at the syght of my chyldren. I beqwith to Margareth Man iij s. iiij d. and to Ales West iij s. iiij d. The resydew of all my goods not beqwest nor gyven my wyll fulfilled and my dettes payd, with the costage mayd at the day of my buryall, I gyve it theyn unto John Knaresburgh and Myles Knaresburgh, my chyldren, whom I make executores for to dispose for the helth of my soull, and to pay my dettes wheir I haw and to receyve my dettes that is awyng unto me. Witnesses, Sir John Pogson, vic. of Farnham, Richard Praust, Robert Datri, Thomas Thompson.

Richard of Walkingham Hill, son and heir of Robert and Margaret, married Johan, only child of Edward Bickardike of Farnham (whose will has been already given) and Alice his wife, daughter of James Jackson. Richard became a Free Tennant 31 Henry VIII, in right of his wife. She predeceased him, dying in or before 3 Edward VI. He was dead 3 Elizabeth. John, one of the younger sons and executor of the will of his mother, was ordained priest in 1540, and was instituted to the vicarage of Knaresbro' in or before 2 Edward VI, which he resigned 11 Elizabeth.

Robert the son and heir of Richard and Alice, became a Free Tenant, as heir to his mother, 3 Edward VI, and succeeded to her lands. He predeceased his father, dying unmarried. Thomas the second son was admitted to his mother's lands 3, 4 Philip, 4, 5 Mary, and to those of his father 2, 3 Elizabeth. He died unmarried and was buried at Knaresbro', 1561. Edward the next son also died unmarried. His will was proved at Richmond, of which the following is an abstract: - I, Edward Knarysbrought of Walkyngam hill, yeoman, &c., my bodye to be buryed within the Chappell of Carleton (probably in parish of Snaith), and to the reparing whereof I give iii s. iiij d. I gyve unto Peter Knarysbrought all my goods &c. exceipt suche leases tremes as I have in Farynsbye, the which I gyve to Walter Knaresbrought; also I gyve to my syster Allse Gibson, xxs.; to Walter Knarysbrought within my farmehold of Walkynghame, during my turme, twoo gates yearely. To Jane and Yezabell, my sarvants, eather of thame a kuo of thare onne choissynge and that when theye thinke best; to Francys Knaresbrought, yf she kept hir till hir maryage leale and onnest, v li. [and] the occupacion of a farme and tennement belongin to Walkyngam (illegible) the decease of Peter Knaresbrought. I will that Expofer B--- (illegible) if he like to continue as a sarvant or ells during this (illegible) turme in Walkyngame, yearly, upon Martinmas day by the tenant - demand - v s. (this portion is illegible). I gyve the rest of my waged sarvants, Henry Colyar, Martin Lucocke, Thomas Darwinwater, John Shanne [each] vj s. viij d., Thomas Pynner xx d., and John Smithson --. I gyve to everye fyer house in Farinsbye a bushell of wheat; to William Robinson of Copgerave and dame Ledgard [each] xij d.; to Mason of Farnham halle a bushell of wheate ; I forgyve dettes deue to me by Francys Dearlufe. I give unto (? Marmaduke) Hudson, Rychard Ridmane, Thomas Ridmane and to Mystris Elizabeth Danbye [each] vj s. viij d. I gyve to my Mayster a yoke of stots and to my Mystris iij li. vj s. viij d. and for the better performance whereof I mak Mr. Brian Stapleton, my mayster, supervisour, and Peter Knarysbrought executor of this my last will, &c., 13 Elizabeth, 16 January.

Walter, the fourth son of Richard Knaresburgh, was his brother Edward's heir. He was twice married and had a large family. The administration of his estate occurs later (Note below). Peter the fifth son married and had issue, daughters Joan, Alice and Elizabeth, who died in childhood, a son Richard baptized 1577 and a daughter Katherine baptized 1578, of whom nothing is known. Alice, the only daughter of Richard and Alice, married (Henry?) Gibson.

Note The will of Walter Knaresborough is not enroled. Admin details only in Volume II of Knaresborough Wills

A search of the IGI using FamilySearch at the website of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (http://www.familysearch.org) revealed thatThomas de Knaresborough of Scriven married Agnes Slingsby in 1421.

From the above I have constructed a Family Tree:

A search of the IGI using FamilySearch at the Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (http://www.familysearch.org) yields 17th Century members of a family of the name of Knaresbrough/Knaresborough living in the village of Farnham, not far from the town. A tentative Family Tree has been created:

November 2000 Update

Thanks to a clue from Sheila Middleton, a descendent of William Helmsley and Margret Knaresbrough of Farnham, I have now a possible link between the two family trees above. Sheila pointed out that a search for Knasbrough in the IGI yielded families living in Farnham. Two of these tie-in to the de Knaresburgh family tree.

The first is through the family of Peter Knasbrough - Alice, Richard, Catherine and Christopher. The christening years of Richard and Catherine, and the co-incidence of the names, leads to the conclusion that this Peter is the same as Peter, son of Johan/Alice and Richard in the de Knaresburgh branch.

The second Knasbrough family discovered through the IGI is that of Walter Knasbrough. Seven children of Walter are given - Alice, Mary, Edward, Ann, Richard, Alice and John. The co-incidence of family names and comtemporary dates suggests strongly that this Walter is the same as Walter, son of Johan/Alice and Richard in the de Knaresburgh branch, and therefore brother of Peter.

Also in the IGI search for Knasbrough, John,a son of Edward Knasbrough, is revealed, with a christening date of 7/11/1611. It is possible that this Edward is Edward son of Walter Knasbrough.

We can suppose that the father of Richard, the head of the Knaresborough of Farnham branch, was an Edward - from the traditional naming of the first male child. The contemporary dates suggest that Richard and John were thus brothers.

I admit one or two rationalisations here - common to all genealogy - and I would welcome any evidence to support or refute the proposed relationships.

The proposed connecting tree is thus:

© Alyson Jackson