Documents relating to Sir John Pilkington

Named as sixth in the entail of the Verdon estates in the fine levied September 1460 [Being grandson of Sir John Pilkington and Margaret de Verdon]

[Feet of Fines, Divers Counties, 39 Henry VI, 401-405, No. 454]

 

1453, 6th June, Westminster. Pardon to John Pylkyngton of Sawerby, co. York, gentleman, of his outlawry in the said county for not appearing before the king in answer James Stansfeld touching a maiming and breach of peace; he having surrendered as above [last entry]. [the last entry states: to the Marshalsea prison, as John Fortescu knight, chief justice, has certified]

[CPR 31 Henry VI, Pt.II m.28,p.77]

 

1461 Appointed parker of Berkhampstead. Appointed an esquire of the body. He was granted a hospice and four ships in Aldrichgate. The Sheriffs of London and Middlesex were ordered to pay him 50 marks a year for life.

[C.P.R., C.C.R]

 

1462, Feb.6, Westminster. Grant to John Pylkyngton, one of the esquires of the body and the heirs male of his body of the reversion of the third part of the manor of Thorneton in Craven, co. York, and the manor of Lynton on Owse, co. York, on the death of Marjory late the wife of John Roos, knight, lord of Roos, belonging to the king by reason of his forfeiture and by authority of Parliament ... etc.

[C.P.R. 1 Edward IV, Pt. IV m.17, p.113]

 

1464 Appointed Constable of Wicklow Castle. Granted the manors of Turvey and Rushw, co. Dublin, forfeited by James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire.

[C.P.R.]

Appointed to a Commission of the peace for the West Riding (as he was in 1465, 1466, 1467, 1468, 1472, 1473, 1475, 1476, 1477, 1478)  [C.P.R.]

 

1464, Nov. 29, Westminster. Grant to John Pilkington, one of the esquires of the body, and the heirs male of his body, of the manor of Turnehamhall, co. York, two parts of the manor of Thorneton in Craven, co. York, and six messuages, 200 acres of land, 10 acres of meadow and 50 acres of pasture in Yolton, co. York, late of Thomas, lord Roos, .... Thomas was convicted of high treason...... etc.

[C.P.R. 4 Edward IV, Pt II, m. 25, p361]

 

1465, Feb. 22, Westminster. Grant for life to John Pylkyngton, one of the esquires of the body, of the office of chief forester or master forester of the king's chace of Soureby, co. York, and the office of parker of the king's park of Ayringden, co. York, and also of the herbage and pasture of the park in full satisfaction of all the fees for the said offices. By p.s.

[C.P.R. 4 Edward IV, Pt.I m. 2, p344]

1465 Appointed to a Commission de walliis et fossatis, co. York [C.P.R.]

 

1467 Granted further lands including the manor of Turnhamhall, two parts of the manor of Thornton in Craven, land in Yolton, co. York, etc.

[C.P.R.]

 

1470 Appointed to Commission of oyer & terminer for North and South Wales

[C.P.R]

 

1471, July 5, Westminster. Inspeximus [examined] and confirmation to John Pilkyngton, knight, of a writing of Thomas, cardinal archbishop of Canterbury and legate of the apostolic see, John Melton, knight, Thomas Buxhall, clerk, and Henry Sotehill, learned in the law, dated 25 June 11 Edward IV, granting to him for life the reversion of the offices of constable of the castle of Sandall, master forester of Wakefelde and steward of the lordship of Wakefelde, on the death of John Sayvell, knight,with the accustomed fees from the issues of the lordship of Wakefelde, Richard, late duke of York, having enfeoffed them and Richard, late early of Warwick, William Wolflete, clerk, and Thomas Colte, now deceased of all his castles, manors, lordships, lands, rents and services in the county of York to pay his debts and fulfil his will.

[C.P.R 2 Edward IV, PtI, m.22, p.261]

 

1473 On Commission enquiring into money owed to the crown in the North Riding and West Riding, co. Yorkshire, which had not been fully paid

[C.P.R.]

 

1475 Licensed to found a chantry chapel in Wakefield Church

[C.P.R.]

 

1477, May 28. Westminster. Licence for John Pylkyngton, knight, and his heirs to build walls and towers around and crenellate his plot or manor within the parish of Wakefield, co. York, called 'Pylkyngton Hall' newly built by him, and his other plots or manors of Bradeley, Elfletburgh and Turneham Hall, co. York. By p.s.

[C.P.R. 17 Edward IV, pt 2, m. 12, p.71]

1477, June 18, Westminster. Commission to the king's brother Richard, duke of Gloucester, John Pylkyngton, knight, William Plumpton, knight, Thomas Middelton, William Sayvyle, John Bradford and the sheriff of York to enquire into the report that divers Scots, women as well as men, wander about various parts of the county of York and especially the West Riding and have burnt divers houses and buildings, and to arrest and imprison the offenders and their instigators.

[C.P.R. 17 Edward IV, Pt.I, m. 6d, p.50]

 

1478, March 5, Westminster. Grant for life to John Pylkyngton, knight, and Edward Pylkyngton his son of the office of chief forester or master forester of the king's chace of Soureby, co. York, and the office of parker of the king's park of Ayringden, co. York, and also of the herbage and pasture of the park, in full satisfaction of all fees for the said offices; in lieu of a like grant to the said John by letters patent dated [2]2 February, 4 Edward IV. surrendered. By p.s.

[C.P.R 18 Edward IV Pt.1., m. 22, p.89]

1478 28 April, His last appointment to a Commissions of the peace in the West Riding. As with the two previous Commissions, 18 May 1477, and 5 March 1478, William Sayvyle was also appointed.

[C.P.R. 1476-85 appendix. p.580]

 

Will [here abbreviated] of Sir John Pilkington, Knight, of Wakefield, dated 28th June 1478, proved at York by Richard Duke of Gloucester [Later Richard III] 30th June 1479.

I John Pilkington, knt, of whole mind although I be grieved with sickness, at Skipton ... my body to be buried at the pleasure of God and our Lady in my Chantry of the Kirk of Wakefield.

Item. I will to my said Chantry one Mass Book, one chalice gilt, ... etc.

Item. I will to the high altar in the same Kirk, one Mass Book

Item. I will to every monk in Fountains Abbey 6/8 so that [each] one of them severally say Mass of Requiem for my soul ... etc.

Item. I will to the making of the Abbey Kirk of Fountains 10 pounds.

Item. I will 20 marks to the marriage of the poorest maidens that shall be married within the parish of Halifax and Heptonstall within two years next after my death, and that to be done by oversight of mine executors.

Item. I will to the Executors of Robt. Shaughe to the behoof of the children of Thos. Shaughe 8 marks.

Item. I will to Richard Halliwell and his son 20 pounds so that they make release to mine assigns of a platt of land I bought of his father in Midgeley or else they none to have.

Item. I will that never none of mine heirs interrupt nor trouble the heirs of Wolstenholme for the land at Mythom-Royde ne never it to occupy without that they may purchase it.

Item. I will to Nicholas Tempest and his wife 20 pounds.

Item. I will to Edmund Greenhaigh to the marriage of his children 20 marks.

Item. I will to those of my servants at this day that is to say ... [list of servants and amounts]

Item. I will that my son Edward forthwith after my death be had to my Lord of Gloucester and my Lord Chamberlain [Lord Hastings] heartily beseeching them that they will in my name see such is the King's good grace, that mine Executors may have the wardship and marriage of my said son and my land, paying to the King [Edward IV] 500 marks, which shall be delivered to them in money and then I will beseech my Lord of Gloucester that my said son Edward may be in the house of my Lord Chamberlain to [until] he be of the age of 16 years, and then to be put at the King's pleasure and that Giles Lingard and Henry Dineley may wait upon him in the mean season.

Item. It is my will that all my revenues growing of my land over the finding of my son, Edward, shall be kept with my Lord Chamberlain to buy for my said son a marriage with land.

Item. I will that my brother Charles have Bradley to [until] my said son Edward be age of 24 years.

Item. I will that Robert, my bastard son, occupy my place at Elfletelburgh and all other my lands I have in Derbyshire, to [until] my said son Edward be of age of 24 years and from then the said Robert to have Greenehirste, to him and his heirs male, according to a State to him thereof aforemade.

Item. I will my said Bastard son have all my lands in Westowe to him and to his heirs male according to that Estate made of Greenehirste.

Item. It is my will that all my purchased lands shall be [en-] ailed to mine heirs male and for default of issue male of me to Robert Pilkington my son Bastard and his issue male and so each one of my brethren and their issue male each one after other as shall be set in the deed thereof made.

It is my will ... revenue of Kelford until John Fitz-Henry [son of Henry Pilkington] come of age ...

Item. I will John Pilkington ... his learning at Oxenfurthe [Oxford] ...

Item. I will that my wife Dame Johan have her dower of my lands except Bradleye.

Item. I will that she have Pilkington Hall nigh Wakefield, with Snapethorpe, for term of her life so she dwell on that for the most part.

Item. I will that she give yearly to John Gargrave and William Gargrave ... 5 marks ...

Item. I will that my son Robert have the keeping of Aringden Park until my son Edward come of the age 24 years, and if the said Robert die then my brother Charles to have the said keeping during the said term.

Item. I will ... guardianship and marriage of John Staneton ...

And for the accomplishment of this my will I lowly and heartily beseech my Lord of Gloucester and my Lord Chamberlain that they will at the reverence of God be mind Executors with them William Calverley and Robert Chaloner to which my Lords both, William Calverley and Robert Chaloner, I ordain and make my executors ... William and Robert to occupy and administer ...

Item. I will that my Lord of Gloucester shall have an Emerald set in gold ...

Item. I will that my Lord Chamberlain shall have a bed of arras with angels of gold

I will that William Calverley and Robert Chaloner shall have either of them 100s and their costs ...

[Wills at York, Vol. v, fol. 144]

[Lansdown MS.1219, fol.115 British Museum]

 

His Inquisition Post Mortem, 19 Edward IV (1479) lists, among others, the following properties in Yorkshire : Turnham Hall, Thornton in Craven (2 parts), Lynton-super-Ouse, Rothernell, Brayton, Malteby, Hoton, Stanley, Wakefield Lordship, Snaypthorpe, Lupsett Hall and Manor, Effleteburg, Stansfield, Bradley, Crynley Grange, Heley in Stanley, lands in Yolton, Barley near Selby, Newsom in Craven, Rawmersh, Almondbury, Kirkheton, Liversege, Dalton Rents, Hadelston, Robertthorpe, Flapsane, Thorneys, Wadsworth (called Le Hirst), Langfield, Westow and Ovenden. [also lands in Lancashire,Derbyshire and Lincoln]