East Cottingwith Manor
In the Domesday Book, the Count of Mortain held East Cottingwith, farmed by Nigel Fossard, and consisted of 1 ploughland and inhabited by 8 villagers.
Nigel Fossard donated the Manor of East Cottingwith to the monks of St. Mary’s Abbey, York, and the gift was confirmed by Henry II1, and later by Edward II.2
St. Mary’s Abbey held the manor of East Cottingwith until the Dissolution, when it was surrendered on the 29th November 1539.
In 1545 lands in East Cottingwith Lordship were granted by the Crown to Roger Lupton.3
In the early 17th century, and perhaps earlier, the manor of East Cottingwith had an unusual ownership in that the manor was invested in a group of trustees for the benefit of all the landowners in the manor, a sort of mutual lordship of the manor. An indenture dated September 1659 recited this unusual arrangement, and previous indentures involving earlier trustees.4 In brief, the Indenture read as follows:
Indenture Tripartite, 15 Sep 1659
Edward Lutton of Wheldrake in the County of Yorke husbandman - first part
Hugh Fawcett of Latham, gent, John Rotherforth, Robert Pearson, Thomas Swann, and John Younge of East Cottingwith, yeomen - second part
Richard Webster the younger, John Webster, Robert Williamson, Edward Horsley, John Cliffe, Richard Webster the elder, William Webster, John Savage, John Swann, Marke Fligg, and John Fligg of East Cottingwith, yeomen, Margaret Webster, Margaret Blanshard, and Jane Blanshard of East Cottingwith, widows - third part
Recited earlier Indenture Tripartite, 28 Dec 1638
Robert Strake of Murton and John Ryder of Storthwaite, yeomen - first part
Hugh Rudderforth, Edward Lutton, Hugh Pearson, Thomas Swann, and John Fligg all of East Cottingwith, yeomen - second part
Hugh Webster the elder, Nicolas Williamson, George Blanshard, Richard Blanshard, Richard Sowle, Hugh Webster the younger, John Webster, Richard Barwicke, Thomas Crosby, William Hudson, Robert Lutton, Richard Webster, William Webster, John Savage, George Bradley, John Lee, Hugh Hodgson, and John Swann all of East Cottingwith, yeomen, and Margarett Webster of the same, widow - third part
First party – old trustees
Second party – paid a sum of money to the first party
First party sold to second party (new trustees), with consent of third party, the following property:
- Manor of East Cottingwith
- Rents of assize of the free tenements amounting to 34s 8d per annum
- Rent of 20d per annum from a cottage belonging to John Holme, then in occupation of Roger Todd, clerk
- Five half acres of meadow in the Ings called Five Man’s Part
- Four half acres meadow near Cottingwith Ferry called The Half Acres
- Parcell of meadow called the Demings
- Acre and a half of meadow on the North Hills, called Chapel Dykes
- Perquisites of Court of the Manor of East Cottingwith
Recited earlier Indenture 12 May 1612
To hold as in the same ample manner as William Allen of the City of London esq, and Henry Jay citizen & draper of London granted when they sold the same property to the said Thomas Swann & John Fligg and also to Robert Lutton & John Rudderforth since deceased
Recited earlier Indenture 26 Dec 1638
And in the same ample manner as when the survivors of the previous Indenture, i.e. Thomas Swann and John Fligg, sold the property to the said Robert Straker & John Ryder
To have and to hold the said property for the use of the second party and the third party, whose holdings are in a separate schedule annexed to this Indenture. Second party responsible for the running of the manor, holding courts, gathering rents, fines etc, and produce annual accounts, with their expenses allowed, and with the right to sell any of the parcells of land to best value and benefit to the other parties.
And whereas since the Indenture of 1638 four of the feooffees are now dead, i.e. Hugh Rudderforth Hugh Pearson Thomas Swann & John Fligg, and only Edward Lutton survives, the beneficial owners of the uses, i.e the third party, now wish Edward Lutton, the first party, to convey the property to new trustees, i.e. the second party
Second party have paid a sum of money to the first party and first party has now sold the property to them, for the use of themselves and the third party, with same responsibilities as in the Indenture of 1638. Whenever three or more of the trustees die, then the third party can request new trustees.
Schedule
The schedule referred to in the above indenture, and annexed to it, read as follows:
A schedule or particular note of the annual rents of the severall messuages or tenements and farmes held in East Cottingwith belonging to the severall parishioners hereafter named who are one party to the Indenture.
| Name | Property | s | d | ob |
| Robert Pearson | tenement and farmes | 32 | 10 | |
| Richard Webster | tenement and farmes | 10 | 8 | |
| Richard Bowes | tenement and farmes | 33 | 1 | |
| Margaret Webster | Tenement or cottage | 4 | 2 | |
| John Webster and --- Webster | tenement and farmes | 22 | 6 | |
| Robert Williamson | tenement and farmes | 17 | 2 | |
| Margaret Blanshard | tenement and farmes | 23 | 10 | ob |
| Hugh Fawcett | tenement and farmes | 39 | 6 | |
| Edward Hoesleys | tenement and farmes | 20 | 6 | ob |
| John Cliff | tenement and farmes | 17 | 13 | ob |
| John Young | tenement and farmes | 17 | 10 | ob |
| Robert Lutton | tenement and farmes | 20 | 0 | |
| John Rudderforth | tenement and farmes | 33 | 11 | |
| Richard and --- Webster | tenement and farmes | 5 | 0 | |
| John Savage | tenement and farmes | 5 | 0 | |
| George Bradley | tenement and farmes | 20 | 6 | |
| Jane Blanshard | tenement and farmes | 22 | 1 | ob |
| John Lee | tenement and farmes | 9 | 1 | ob |
| John Swann | tenement and farmes | 22 | 8 | ob |
| Hugh Hodgson | tenement and farmes | 23 | 4 | ob |
| John Swann and Robt Pearson | tenement and farmes | 30 | 4 | ob |
| --- Fligg and John Fligg | tenement and farmes | 29 | 4 |
It is not stated explicitly in the indenture, but the assumption is that all the profits from the manor went to the landowners in the same proportions as the values of their holding in the above table.
Livery of Seisin
The reverse of the indenture was endorse with the livery of seisin:
Be it remembered that full and peaceable possession, livery and seisin, of and in all and singular the lands and tenements within mentioned was had and taken the 16th day of September in the year within written by Edward Lutton, within named, and delivered to Hugh Fawcett and the rest of the feoffees, likewise within named, to hold to him, the said Hugh Fawcett and the rest of the said feoffees, their heirs and assigns, to the uses within mentioned, in the presence of --- Smith, George Webster, John Rotherforth, Thomas Rotherforth, and others.
You may notice how the rents of assize of free tenants amounted to 34s 8d in the indenture of 1638, and in the rental below dated 1539 was precisely the same. That does not mean that there was no inflation in 100 years, as rents of assize were defined as fixed rents.
Each time one of the landowners sold their holding, or died and the holding to someone else, the new owner became one the mutual lords of the manor, with the Bethell family owning a part in 16835, and the Dunnington-Jefferson family of Thickhead Priory and Thorganby having an interest when Emanuel Jefferson of Howden acquired a quarter of the manor from John Swann in 1769, forfeited through non-payment of a mortgage on the land, but with John Swann remaining as tenant, the rent then being 4s. per week.6
The last mention of this manor was in 1812, when John Smith of Escrick was appointed gamekeeper for the manors of West and East Cottingwith.7
Manorial Documents
There are no entries on the Manorial Documents Register for this manor and it appears that it never held a manorial court. However, in 1539/40, following the Dissolution of St. Mary's Abbey, York, a survey was conducted into its posessions and a rental was taken of East Cottingwith Manor, including its members, which comprised parts of West Cottingwith and Foggerthorpe.
In 1637, some fines and amercements were levied by the Crown due to the manor being in the hands of Crown following an inquisition post mortem on Philip Lutton8 and the minority of his son and heir, Edward Lutton, who then became a ward of the Crown.9
| Rental | 1539/40 | The National Archives | SC 6/HENVIII/4595 |
| Fines and amercements | 1637-1643 | The National Archives |
SC 2/211/162 |
Lordship of East Cottingham with members in Yorkshire:
Account of William Maunsell, esq., Collector of Rents and Lessee there for the aforesaid period
Arrears: Nil, because the first account. Total: Nil.
Rents of Assize of Free tenants:
But the accountant answers for:- 22s. for the rents of free tenants in Westcottingwith p.a., viz from the late Priory of Ellerton, 5s.; George Cicell, 2s.; the heir of Conysby for a tenement with a bovate of land in the tenure of John Horde, 12d.; John Darrell, for 6 acres of land and 1 rood of meadow, 9d.; William Wyllowes for a tenement with certain lands, 12d.; John Bovell for a tenement with appurtenances in the tenure of Richard Stevyn, 12d.; William Mell for a tenement with certain lands, 12d.; Robert Gibson for a tenement and certain lands, 12d.; .. .tenement and certain lands, 12d.; the Warden of the church of St Denis, York, for a tenement with appurtenances in the tenure of Richard Smythson, 8s. 6d.; and Robert Sawyer for certain lands and meadow in ?Crossome late late Lancasters in the tenure of Robert Willowes, 9d.; in total as appears by the Rental thereof examined on this account. And for 12s. 8d. from the free rents of tenants in Fulkerthorp p.a., viz, from William Mooke, clerk, for lands late of the heir of Yngleby \6s./, the heir of Fayrfaye \20d./, William B/Grymeston \10d./, and George Aske \10d./, 9s. 4d., and the heir of Ankercode for certain lands in the tenure of Marmaduke Constable of Everyngham, knight, of Yorkshire, 3s. 4d.
as appears in the aforesaid Rental.
Total: 34s. 8d.
Rents and leases in Estcottingwith
And for 32s. 10 1/2d. for the rent of a Tenement with a Cottage and a bovate of land and certain meadow called \10d/ Abbot Sylver and 2a. of land \6s./ in Northill p.a. in the tenure of John Sheperde this year, payable at Martinmas and Easter by equal portions.
And for 10s. 8d. for the rent of a Tenement and half a Bovate of land and meadow with certain meadows called Abbot Sylver p.a. in the tenure of William Webster this year payable etc.
And for 24s. for the rent of a certain ferry there called 'le Fery' p.a. in the tenure of the said William Webster this year payable etc. And for 33s. 1d. for the rent of a Tenement and a Bovate of land and meadow with certain meadows called Abbot Sylver \12d./ p.a. in the tenure of William Emerson this year payable etc.
And for 4s. 6d. for the rent of a Cottage with appurtenances there p.a. in the tenure of the wife of ... Nicholson this year payable etc. And for 23s. 6d. for the rent of a tenement and a Bovate of land and meadow with ?certain of Abbot Sylver \10d./ p.a. in the tenure of Thomas Bradely this year payable etc.
And for 17s. 2d. for the rent of a tenement and half a Bovate of land and meadow with appurtenances and parcel of Abbot Sylver \8d./ p.a. in the tenure of Robert Willinson this year payable etc. And for 27s. 10 1/2 d. for the rent of a tenement and a bovate of land with appurtenances and ?certain of Abbot Sylver \8d./ and an acre of meadow and 3 parts of an acre in Northill \4d./ there p.a. in the tenure of Thomas Willinson this year, payable etc.
And for 39s. 6d. for the rent of a Tenement and a Bovate of land with appurtenances and ?certain of Abbot Sylver \12d./ and an acre and 3 parts of an acre of meadow in Northill \4s./ there p.a. in the tenure of Roger Lupton this year payable etc.
And for 20s. 6 3/4 d. for the rent of a Tenement and a bovate of land with certain ?of Abbot Sylver \8d./ there p.a. in the tenure of Thomas Barwyk this year payable etc. this year payable etc.
And for 17s. 8 1/2 d. for the rent of a tenement and a bovate of land there with ?certain of Abbot Sylver \8d./ p.a. in the tenure of widow Cooke this year payable etc.
And for 17s. 10 1/2 d. for the rent of a tenement and a bovate of land ?certain of Abbot Sylver \8d./ there p.a. in the tenure of John Cliff this year payable etc.
And for 20s. 1/2 d. for the rent of a tenement and a bovate of land with appurtenances and parcel of Abbot Sylver \8d./ there p.a. in the tenure of Richard Robynson this year payable etc.
And for 38s. 11d. for the rent of a Tenement with 2 Cottages and a Bovate of land with appurtenances and parcel of Abbot Sylver \12d./ and an acre and 3 parts \4s./ of an acre of meadow in Northill there p.a. in the tenure of Peter Loudesdale this year payable etc.
And for 20s. for the rent of a Cottage with a garden there p.a. in the tenure of John Holme this year payable etc.
And for 5s. for the rent of a Cottage with appurtenances there p.a. in the tenure of Thomas Rome this year, payable etc. And for 5s. for the rent of a Cottage with appurtenances there p.a. in the tenure of William Horne this year, payable etc.
And [start recto of next rot. - less legible than the above] for 13s. 6d. for the rent of a Tenement and a Bovate of land with appurtenances there p.a. ... ...this year, payable etc.
And for 15s. 16d. for the rent of a tenement and half a Bovate of land with appurtenances and ?certain of abbot sylver \5d./ there p.a. in the tenure of Rowland ?Trave this year, payable etc. And for 22s. 1 1/2d. for the rent of a Tenement and a Bovate of land with appurtenances and a certain parcel of abbot sylver \8d./ there p.a. in the tenure of William Jackson this year, payable etc.
And for ?9s. 1 1/2d. for the rent of a tenement and half a bovate of land with appurtenances and ?certain of abbot sylver \4d./ there p.a. in the tenure of Richard Morne this year, payable etc.
And for 22s. 8 1/2d. for the rent of a tenement and a bovate of land with appurtenances and ?certain of abbot sylver \10d./ there p.a. in the tenure of Richard ?Snarry this year, payable etc.
And for 24s. 1/2 d. for the rent of a tenement and a bovate of land with appurtenances and ?certain of abbot sylver \8d./ there p.a. in the tenure of William ?Rawlinson this year, payable etc.
And for 30s. 4 1/2 d. * for the lease of ... messuage with appurtenances and certain abbot sylver \10d./ there p.a. late in the tenure of Robert Cliff for the term of his life and now leased to John Cayle by copy of the court as dr. Repairs in everything at the lessee's cost, payable etc.
And for 29s. 4d. for the rent of a tenement and a Bovate of land with appurtenances and a parcel of abbot sylver \12d./ there p.a. in the tenure of John Willinson this year, payable etc.*
And for 10s. for the lease of a ?... ... [a mill?] there p.a. thus leased to Thomas Pynkehouse by Indenture ?of the Master of the manor as ?granted for a term of 9 years, Repairs in all things at the cost of the lessee, great timbers** and ... excepted, payable etc. ?T. 13s. 4d. for the rent --- of a parcel of meadow called Alley syluer this he does not answer for because charged above in divers parcels as there appears.
Total £25 16s. 8d.
* [marginal note in English] 'This ?Mids is not past'
** [marginal note, mostly illegible] 6s. for rent of 2a. meadow from John ?Forbt -- --- ?7 lying in Westcottingwith --- thus charged on this account
Sales of wood:
Nor does he answer for sales from the wood there called Estcottingwith Wood, containing by estimation 26 acres, this year, he does not answer because no sales were made during the aforesaid period, by the oath of the aforesaid accountant --- --- Total: nil.
Perquisites of court:
Nor does he answer for any profits issuing from the perquisites there this year because none [=no court] was held within the aforesaid period, by the oath of the aforementioned. Total: nil.
Grand total of the rental: £27 11s. 4 1/4 d.
The accountant's salary --- --- ----
[he deducts his salary of 13s. 4d., and then some other expenses, but the paragraph is only partly visible and not very legible]
East Cottingwith Fines
SC 2/211/162
1637-1643
Note: In all the following the abbreviation 'p conli' stands for pro consimilis which mean 'for the like', or 'ditto', and in each case the original entry was for non-attendance at court. The original images can be viewed via the Dropbox hyperlinks.
De Willimo West p conli vid.
1st October 1642
De Hugone Webster de East Cottingwith quia non reparavit parte sua de Les Hulldike secundud panam inde positam videcilet pro qualiber lata terra sua Denarios et p qualibet strata terra
– In toto Querent
[For not repairing his part of Les Halldike, according to the norm: Enquire further]
De John Grey de East Cottingwith quia comemdem parand fregit [For breaking the pound] iiis. iiiid.
8 April 1643
East Cottingwith
De John Smith p conli vid.
De John Cliffe p conli vid.
De John Webster p conli vid.
Foggathorpe
De Rogero Walters p conli
East Cottingwith
De Georgio Butler Arino p conli vid.
De Petre Berryman p conli
Foggathorpe
De Rogero Walters p conli vid.
Nil
1. EYC, Vol I, pages 269-277.
2. EYC Vol II, page 425, quoting Cal. Char. Rolls, iii, page 115.
3. Augm. Book 216, f. 92b formerly held by St. Mary’s Abbey York, note of grant in L&P Hen VIII, Vol 20, part 1, page 679
4. Hull History Centre: DDJ/4/30
5. Bethell v. Fligg et al, Manor of East Cottingwith (Exchequer) E134/35Chas2/Mich6
6. Hull History Centre: Papers of the Dunnington-Jefferson family of Thickhead Priory and Thorganby, DDJ/4/29
7. Hull History Centre: Papers of the Dunnington-Jefferson family of Thickhead Priory and Thorganby, DDJ/14/394
8. Philip Lutton’s IPM was in 1627, and is in TNA at WARD 7/77/90, and C142/443/11
9. TNA: SC 2/211/162, Extracts of Fines and Amercements for York, The King's Palace, with: Shipton with Overton; Poppleton, Upper (Over); Poppleton, Nether; Heworth; Hessay; Dunsforth; Fulford ? (Fowleforth); Deighton; Barton; Myton; Catterick; Brough (Bargh) with Catterick Bridge; Cowbourne; Hornby (Hornsby) with Arrathorne (Allathorne); Easby; Cottingworth, West; and Cottingworth, East.