fo. 354. Land of William de Perci. Lincolnshire. Manor. In Lagesbi (Legsby) Alsi had one carucate of land; there is land for two ploughs. Evrard, a man of William's, has there two ploughs, and six villans and one bordar have one plough; a mill worth sixpence, etc. T. R. E. worth thirty shillings, now forty shillings. Soke. In Houten (Houghton) the soke of ten bovates of land is in Legsby. Land for two ploughs. Evrard, a man of William's, has there six socmen and ten villans and two bordars with two ploughs and thirty acres of meadow. It will be noticed that these were all held of William de Percy, except Castley, which, at the time of the Survey, was held directly of the Crown. Evrard's descendants made Leathley their principal seat, and from that circumstance called themselves "de Lelay," that being the early way of spelling the name. Nothing further is known of Evrard himself, save that he had a son Hugh. He was no doubt a Norman, like his lord, William de Percy; he was probably a young man at the time of the Survey, and was very likely the son of one of Percy's original followers. HUGH SON OF EVRARD gave lands in Stainton in Craven' to Selby Abbey. This grant is mentioned in the confirmation charters of Stephen (1154), Henry II, Richard I, John, and Henry III. Hugh also gave lands in Thorp, which grant is mentioned in the charters of Henry II and Henry III only, and is therefore in all probability subsequent to Stephen's confirmation charter of 1154.2 The later Lelays were great benefactors to many of the religious houses of Yorkshire, especially to Fountains. I think the most convenient plan will be to give short notes of their various charters under the headings of the respective houses, and to reserve comment until we resume the chronological story of the family. FOUNTAINS ABBEY. I. Adam son of Hugh de Lelay quit-claimed from himself and his heirs all his claim to half the mill of Rigton to Hugh, his eldest brother, and his heirs, in consideration of ten marks of silver. If Adam or his heirs shall at any time do anything contrary to this charter, they shall forfeit thirty marks to the fabric of St. Peter's at York by way of penalty." 1 A hamlet in the township of Bank Newton and parish of Gargrave. 2 Selby Abbey Coucher, Yorkshire Record Series, i, 7, 13, 15, 18, 21. 3 Chartulary of Fountains Abbey, Add. MS. 18276, fo. 202. II. Hugh son of Hugh de Lethlay granted to Fountains Abbey half the mill of Rigton, with the suit thereof and all other appurtenances, and free right of way throughout the territory of Rigton (except meadow and covert) to the said mill. His men of Rigton shall keep up the dam and the house and shall carry the mill stones. The monks shall have in my wood of Rigton such rights as belong to the said half mill.' III. Hugh son of Hugh de Lethlay grants to Fountains Abbey a carucate of land, that is, half of all my land in Rigton.2 IV. Hugh son of Hugh de Lethlay grants to Fountains Abbey half of the ville of Rigton, with the homage and services of all the free tenants and their heirs, and all the natives with their chattels and sequela, and half the mill with the suit thereof.3 V. Hugh son of Hugh de Lethlay grants another charter in almost identical terms.* VI. Hugh son of Hugh de Lethlay acknowledges the receipt of one hundred marks by the hands of Roger and Godard, monks of Fountains, according to the agreement made between the Abbat and Convent of Fountains and the said Hugh concerning the land of Rigton in 1244, in the time of John III, Abbat." VII. Hugh son of Hugh de Lethlay appeared at York in full county court on Tuesday after the Epiphany, 32 Henry III, 1248, before Sir William de Midelton, then Sheriff, and others, and fully admitted that he and his heirs were bound to indemnify the Abbat and Convent of Fountains from all suits due to Margaret de Rivers," her heirs or assigns, at her court of Herwode or elsewhere, in respect of all the land which they hold in Rigton of my gift.7 6 VIII. I, Hugh de Lelay, with the consent of Christiana my wife, have granted to Roger Pictavensis and Isouda my daughter, in frankmarriage, all the ville of Staynburn, with demesnes and services, and all appurtenances, To hold to him and his heirs begotten of Isouda in frank-marriage. Witnesses, William de Lelay, Bertram de Stiveton, Robert de Muhaut, Serlo de Pouel, William de Stiveton, and many others." 1 Chartulary of Fountains Abbey, Add. MS. 18276, fo. 202. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Ibid. fo. 202d. 5 Ibid. 6 Margaret, daughter of Thomas, Count of Savoy, and wife of Baldwin de Redvers, 8th Earl of Devon. He died in 1262; so that Charter No. 25 must be after that date. 7 Chartulary of Fountains Abbey, Add. MS. 18276, fo. 202d. "Ibid. fo. 216d. Original penes F. H. Fawkes, Esq., of Farnley. IX. William the Clerk, son of William de Staynburn, sold to Roger Pictavensis two bovates of land in Staynburn, and three and a half acres in Croked-ridding and Stubbe-ridding, and half an acre near Eva's house.1 X. William son of William sold to Roger Pictavensis all the tenement that Richard son of Thor held of him (William) in Staynburn, and all the services and rent of the same; namely, one bovate of land.2 XI. Isouda, formerly wife of Roger Pictavensis, in her widowhood and lawful power, granted to Fountains Abbey the whole ville of Staynburn, i.e. all the lands, rents and possessions that she had there, as well in demesnes as in services. The monks are to do foreign service for five carucates of land where fourteen make a knight's fee.3 XII. Fine levied at York, 36 Hen. III, 1251-2, between Roger Peytevin, demandant, and Stephen, Abbat of Fountains, tenant, of the manor of Staynburn, which Roger admits to be the right of the Abbat and church of Fountains; and he quit-claims the same from him and his heirs.* XIII. Roger Pictavensis junior quit-claims to Fountains Abbey all his right in the manor of Staynburn, according to the charter of Isouda, his grandmother.5 XIV. Hugh son of William de Lelay confirmed to Fountains Abbey all the ville of Staynburn, by these bounds: as the river which is the boundary between Staynburn and Lindelay runs into Elnehirstsike, and so to the spring near the road from Staynburn to Farnley, and from the spring to Turse-fen (?), and so by the river to Staynburnbeck, and thence to the bridge of Lincroft, and thence to the river which runs between Kirk-how and Norman-rode, and thence by the river to Newby, and thence to the ditch above Huby, which is called Mere-dike, and so by the ditch to the river which divides Huby and Rigton, and so along that river to the spring at its head, and so from the spring towards the east to Haukeraitheker, and thence towards the north to the cross called Mere-cross, and thence by a straight line to Alumseclyve (?)," and so to the west to Grai-stane, and thence to Wynd-byrkes, and thence to Hol-sike as it falls into Cremple, and 1 Chartulary of Fountains Abbey, Add. MS. 18276, fo. 216d. F. H. Fawkes, Esq., of Farnley. 2 Ibid. The text of this charter appears below. Ibid. This is given more fully hereafter. 3 Ibid. Original penes 4 Ibid. 6 Almes Cliff. thence to the Standand-stane on the moor, and thence to Reufhahestanes near Cravene-gate, and thence towards the west to Sandwath, and thence to Eskillstahe by the river, running down the middle, and thence to the boundary of Lindelay, and so along to the first named river. To hold to the monks according to the charter of Isouda my daughter.' XV. Another charter from Hugh son of William de Lelay confirming the same.2 XVI. W ..... de Plumpton grants and quit-claims to Fountains all his right in the wood and moor of Staynburn, so that the monks may hold and enjoy the whole of the wood and moor which they have by a charter of Hugh de Lelay. Saving to me and my heirs and my men of Brakenthwait herbage in the wood where we have been wont to take it.3 XVII. Henry son of Holdewin de Rigton quit-claims all his right and claim within the bounds of Staynburn as contained in the charter of Sir Hugh de Lelay." XVIII. Robert son of Nigel de Castelay quit-claims all his right in the common of Staynburn by those bounds which they have of the gift of Hugh de Lelay." XIX. Roger son of Alexander de Hughby quit-claims all his right within the same bounds." XX. J...., Abbat of Fountains, grants to Hugh son of William de Lelay, that he may have pasture in the ville and territory of Staynburn all his life for his own animals belonging to his house at Lelay. His heirs are not to have this right." XXI. Thomas Hurtescy quit-claims all his right in the common of Staynburn by the bounds which they have of the gift of Hugh de Lelay, so that neither I nor my heirs shall have any right within those bounds by reason of holding land in Lelay, except wood-pasture for ten cattle and thirty sheep (bidentes). XXII. Robert de Lelay granted to Fountains Abbey thirty acres of land and pasture for two hundred sheep in Staynburn, viz.: that which I bought from William the clerk of Marton." 1 Chartulary of Fountains Abbey, Add. MS. 18276, fos. 2026, 225. XXIII. Robert de Leleia granted to Fountains Abbey land in Stainburn, and covenanted that if he could not warrant it he would grant land of the same value in Haggendebi. Witnesses, Alan de Catherton and others. Seal of brown wax, pointed oval; an eagle reguardant, with outspread wings. Legend: + SIGILL: ROBERTI: DE: LELAIA :1 XXIV. Richard de Lutrineton grants and confirms those bounds between Staynburn and Rigton which Hugh de Lelay granted them.2 XXV. Margaret de Redvers, Countess of Devon, in her widowhood, released all suits of court belonging to her court of Harewood for the lands and tenements held by Fountains Abbey in Staynburn and Rigton, until the ville of Lelay shall come into the hands of the right heir of the late Hugh de Lelay. If the heir shall alienate the ville, then the Countess may distrain.3 XXVI. William the Clerk, son of William de Staynbourn, gave to Eva, daughter of William de Swillington, two bovates of land in Staynburn and a messuage with a croft; also an acre of land in the Hanging Croft (in pendenti crofto), and the toft and croft which belonged to Reginald son of Archill, and three-quarters of an acre in the essart which was Eviet's (?). To hold of me and my heirs in fee, by homage and a rent of fourpence yearly for all services, except forinsec service.* XXVII. William son of William de Staynburn granted to Eva daughter of William de Swillington, and her heirs, a bovate of land in Staynburn, and the land called Odegate-land up to the Standing Stone, and extending from the road near the church up to Hangang Croft; also a rood and a half of land lying on both sides of the croft belonging to Eva. To hold of me and my heirs, paying twopence yearly, and doing forinsec service." XXVIII. Eva daughter of William le Palmer of Swillington granted to Fountains all the toft and croft that she had in Staynburn, and six acres of land there." XXIX. Eva de Lelay, in her lawful power (ie. in her widowhood), grants to Fountains three bovates of land in Staynburn, with tofts and crofts, viz. that which William the Clerk sold to me. To hold of 1 See engraving on the Pedigree. 2 Chartulary of Fountains Abbey, 3 Ibid. See note to No. VII. Original penes F. H. Fawkes, Esq. 6 Ibid. |