This set of records catalogues the Marston family entries in the Knaresborough Court Rolls.
The purpose of the records is to act as a start point for people researching the Marstons of Yorkshire, rather than a definitive collection. That having been said, it is our intention to extend these records in the event that interest is shown and new records become available from external researchers. If anyone wishes to make a contribution or correct an error please contact the web site via pmarston2000@yahoo.co.uk .
Membrane 4. Jan 21, xxxvj Henry viij. – Alice Marston, relict of William Marston of Harogaite, is admitted as executrix of his will.
No date. I William Marstone &c., to be buried in Knaresburgh Churche yearde. I bequiethe to Alice, my wyff, all my goodes and she to bringe me for the hooll landes. And it ys my laste wull that Andrewe, Richard, and Elizabeth Marston shall have xxli oute of my landes aftere my decease and Alice my wyff, equallye to be devyded amongst theym, yt is to say iijli in a yere durying the space of seven yeres next after the decease of William Marston and Alice my wyffe, until suche tyme as yo some of xxli be fulle satisfied &c. Of the which payements Richard Bensone for to resayve the fyrste iijli unto hym or hys asignes, and two yeres after following for to be paid unto Richard Marston or hys assignes vj li., yt is to paye iijli in one yere and iij li. In one other, and the nexte iij li. to be paide to Richarde Bensone, the laste of the nexte yere; and furthermore joyntlye amongst theyn three. Thes payements to be received att thandes of John Marstone, hys executors or assignes, in payne of forfeiting to the said Androo Marstone, Richard Marstone and Richard Bensone x li a pece, fullie to be paied unto theym with in seven yeres after the decease of William MArstone and Alice his wyff. Surties for theym John Bensone, the sonne of William Bensone and Rauffe Bayoke off Harogaite, theym and their heyres. I bequeithe to John my sonne one allmerye, one littil awmerrye, one arke with ironebordes, one stondyng bedde withoute clothes, one greate wooded troughe and one stone mortar, one muddynge borde, one pair of kylnehaires, as they fall after the decease of me and my wyff; one stepfatte, one jake, one steillbonette, one arlille axe, one pekke, one coup with one pair of wheilles, one pair of couppraithes, one great wombill, one brode ??? yt was one hairlome, one wood axe, one pleughte, one fotte yoke, one teme, one yron wegge, one shakill, one thwarte sawe and one cessell, and it is agreed that the said John Marston hath promised to hys father to be contented with whatsoever yt he will rewarde hym withal to hys owne wull, and he for to be contented theirwith according to the promysse affore Henry Clynte, Thomas Smythe and Robert Smythe &c. Wyttnesses, John son ofWill Bensone, John son of John Bensone, Rob. And Tho. Smythe of Kelynghall.
Membrane w. Feb 7, vij Elizabeth – Robert, Thomas and William Marston, by Andrew Marston their uncle and attorney, are admitted as executors of the will of Robert Marston.
Sep 27, 1564. I, Robert Marston &c., to be buried in the church yard of Knareburgh, &c. I will that my eldest son shall paie to his brother xxs. And for that he to have all my maide geare that belongeth to husbandrye, with one brasse pott that was my wyeff heirlome, with one awmorie, a great bord, a great arke, a bede of clothes, a jacke, a sallett, a bill, a stepefatt, a stonetrough, and a laver, theis to be for his heirelomes; that Alice my daughter shall have a newe copbord her mother bolt (bought), the geare that belonged to her beddes, with all her napere ware and a bedd of clothes of the beste; that Sir Thomas and Andrew my brothers shal have the orderyn and governance of all my children with their porcions, desring them as my trust is, to helpe to bring them uppe in the nurture and feare of the Lord, and also to helpe to get them such occupacions as they maye honestlie live by in tyme comjnge &c.; that Andrew my brother shall have ye occupacion of all my landes and fermeholdes, unto my children use, until the tyme that they come to be a full aige, accordinge as I have sett the farme, that is to saie, to paie yerelie xxvjs viijd. For thatthat I have delivered by surrender to my yonge children, and also xxv s. viij d. for all the reist, with all other duties belonging yrto &c. I give the the iijrd part of my goodes to Alice my daughter, the reist unto my sons Robert and Thomas Marston and William &c. and make theme executors &c. I make supervisors &c. John Marston, John and Rich. Benson, John Mathew, yonger, and John Battie. Witnesses, Will. Hodgson, curate, Rich. Marston, John Battie.
Membrane 7. May 28, 9 Elizabeth.- ….. Marston, relict of Andr. Marston is admitted as executrix of his will.
March 6, 1566. I, Andrew Marston of Bilton, par. Knaresborough, &c. I will that my wife shall occupie &c. suche landes as I do possesse at the daie of the makeinge of this testamente &c., by vertew and effect of my brother Robert Marston, lait of Bilton, his testamente and laste [wil], duringe the tyme appointed bie the said will &c., for the terme of vj yeres next insuyinge after the date of the said will, whereupon two yeris be alredie expired and iiij yeris are to come. I will that my goodes be equallie devided into three partes, one to myself, one to my wife and the thirde to my children, that is to saie William Xpofer, Agnes, Dorothie, Jane and Alice. I will that my daughter Alice shall have one heffer. I will that my part of gudes &c. be divided betwixt my wife and iiij youngest children, which said iiij children I make my executors &c. I will that my brother Percevall Brodbelt, clerk, and my brother John Marston be supervisors &c. Witnesses Percivall Brodbelt, clerk, John Marston, John Barrowes.
Membrane 4. March 14, xij Elizabeth.
Margaret Marston, widow, is admitted as admistratrix of the effects of her late husband, Richard Marston.
Membrane 7. June 6, xviij Elizabeth. – Johanna Marston, widow of John Marston, is admitted as executrix of his will.
May 2 1576. I john Marston of Harlogait, &c. I give to Christofer Mashe iiij d.; to Anne Fawcet my made xij d.; to my daughter Agnes, tho wife of John Pannell, my best branded whie; to Thomas Marston my sonne all my working tolles and all my tymbre that belongth to my occupacion; to Dorothie Marston, daughter of Andrewe Marston, iij s., to be paid unto hir at hir lawfull aige or at the discretion of my wife. I will my goodes &c. to be divides into thre partes, one I give to Johanne my wife, a second to my sonne John Marston, and the third to myself &c., and what remaine thereof, the half I give to John my sonne, and the other half to my wife, and make her my executrix &c. Witnesses, Pet. Benson, Rob. Benson, Tho Knowles, John Atkinson, John Battie, John Benson.
Membrane 12. May 17 xxix Elizabeth.
Ellen Marston, relict of Ralph Marston, is admitted as admistratrix of his effects.
Membrane 12. July 21, xliij Elizabeth.
Johanna Marston, relict of James Marston, of Beckwith and Roschand(?) deceased, is admitted as admistratrix of his effects.
Membrane 8. Feb 2, xlv Elizabeth.
William, son of Ralph Marston, chooses William Stead to be his tutor.
Membrane 9. July 23, iv Edward vj – Johna Morehous, relict of Robert Morehous, late of Menwith, and Agnes, Robert, Margaret, Elizabeth, Thomas and Ellen Morehous, his children, are admitted as executors of his will.
July 14, 1548. I, Roberte Morehous &c, to be buried in Hampsthwaite Churche or Churche yerde &c. I wull my goodes be devyded amonges my wyff and children according to the kinges lawe. That is to saye the wyff to have the thirde parte. Wyttnesses, Jo Farnell, Jo Morehous, Jo Byllton.
Membrane 5. Johan Marston, relict of Christopher Marston, is admitted as executrix of his will.
Jan 23 1553. I Christopher Marston of Pannall parishe &c., ro be buried in Pannall churche or churche yerde. I gyf aller my decease unto Richered Marston, my son Thomas eldyst sone, one whye of three yeres old or els xvs., in the nayme of hys father childe porcon. And as for my three sones William, John and Rauff, they have knowledged theymselffes afore the accordes of this my laste will to be clerly discharged of there childes percons and voyd of thys my laste wull. The residewe of all my goodes shall be devyded in three partes. One parte unto my self, the seconde unto my wyff and the third unto my daoughters, Alice and Agnes, and what remaynes of my parte &c. shall be devyded betwixte my wyf and my doughter Alice. I make Johan, my wyf my hooll executrix &c. Wytnesses, Syr Will. Lamberte, vykar, John Bollton, Tho. Lethorne.
Membrane 18. July 16, 15 James 1 (1617). Peter, the son of Thomas Marston, renounces the executorship of his father’s will.
Membrane 21. Sept 16, 15 James 1 (1617). Thomas Cooke and Peter Settle are admitted as administrators of the effects of Thomas Marston of Harrogate.
Membrane 9. Jan 8, 20 James 1 (1622)
George Sharpe, who married the sister of William Marston, who holds lands &c. within the Forest of Knaresborough, is chosen to act as guardian of the said William during his minority, conditionally that he provides the said William with sufficient food, drink and the necessaries, as he, the said William, is non compos mentis.
Membrane 21. 9 and 10 Charles 1 (1633-4).
Anne Marston, relict of William Marston of Bilton, is admitted as admistratix of his effects.
Membrane 16. 11 and 12 Charles 1 (1635-6).
Sept 29, 1635. – I, John Moorhouse of Whitewall, to be buried at Hampsethwait. I give to Thomas Moorhouse, my brother, my best leather dublett, a gray jerkin, a paire of gray breches and a paire of stockings; to my brother, Robert Moorhouse, my coat, a doublet, a paire of lether breches and a paire of shooes; to John Moorhouse xij d.; to William and Bartholomew Moorehouse, to either of them xij d.; to James Atkinson my best stockings; to Thomas Baitson my best shirt. I make my wife, Jane Moorhouse, my sole executrix, and I give her the rest of my goodes &c. [Witnesses not named.] Executrix named admitted.