Some sixteenth (& early 17th) century Yorkshire Beaumont Wills

The following details come from notes made and copies obtained thirty or more years ago by my late uncle and father.

They should not be taken as definitive sources but may well be useful as there has been some interest recently in how far back the male line or lines go. As before, bracketed years are the number used for the individual in my system.

Two observations from me 

(1) these people made their Wills in many cases just a few days before they died

(2) that in some cases (at least in the c17) main family property was settled already so that it may not have actually belonged to the Testator at the time of his death. I know of at least one situation, concerning Darton and Chapelthorpe, where the principal property was settled on the eldest son when he got married, with the father reserving the right to live there for his life.* Thus when the father came to make his will it spoke only of the secondary property and the younger sons.

* This doesn't work today for Inheritance Tax purposes!!!

John Beaumont of Almondbury (1510)

• Will dated 5 April 1521
• John B of psh of Almondbury
• to be buried within the Parish Church of Almondbury
• best beast as a mortuary according to custom
• Ten shillings to the priest to pray for soul
• Four shillings to the shrine of Our Blessed Lady at Almondbury
• Pecuniary legacies to Laurence Topley or Copley and another whose name by father/uncle could not make out
• Residue to wife Alice and five children and makes them Executors.
• A Mary Beaumont among the witnesses. 
• Proved 2 Sep. 1521 
• Vol 9. p.209
• Noted in YAS RS Vol. 11 p. 15 as Proved 2 Sep. 1521 John Beaumount dated 5 April 1521

Two of the five children are thought to be John (1530) and Humphrey (1535) but that is not proved by these wills.

John Beaumont of Netherton, Almondbury (1530)

• Describes himself as yeoman 
• dated 23 Sept 1541
• to be buried within the Holy ground of All Hallows Almondbury
• Leaves money for the mending of the way between Armitage Brigge and the Castle Hill
• And money to Kathryn Beaumont
• Umfray Beaumont my brother to have the keeping of Umfray my son, until he is 26
• Residue to wife Margaret and daughters Anne and Jennet
• Another brother Thomas and brother-in-law William Sikes made Executors 
• Noted in YAS Record Series vol. 11 p. 15 as proved Oct. 18, 1541. Beamonde, John, Netherton, par. Almonburie, yoman, Sep.27, 1541 Vol. 11 Fol. 579.

The brother Umfray is thought to mean Humphrey (1535). I have some notes on the junior Humphrey (1560).

Humphrey Beaumont of Over Flockton (1535)

• Date 6 February 1567 [maybe 16 Febr. see below]]
• Will of Umfrey Beamounte of Over Flockton
• Spelling of the surname within the will is variable including Beamounte, Beamount, Beamont.
• Humphrey desires to be buried in Thornhill Church
• His wife Isabel and son Thomas may occupy chief house during her widowhood
• A cottage is left to another son, James. Also James has the right to take stones from certain land.
• Another house, currently occupied by his eldest son John, is left to Thomas
• The principal house is left to John, after Isabel's life
• Thomas and John are to share the kitchen which is no doubt used by both these houses
• Five pounds in money is left between three more children William, George, and Jennett, and another five pounds to James.
• John, Thomas, and James are to have in rotation the use of certain fields in Flockton to which Humfrey is entitled by local custom
• No mention is made of any landlord or lessor.
• Isabell is not stated to be, or not to be, the mother of any of the children
• Place-names appearing in the will – Thornhill, Over Flockton, Nether Flockton, Dawber lane, Cawgill or Cargill
• Robert Rockley Esq and John Honley (or Houley) are mentioned as neighbouring land-owners.
• Small numbers of sheep & lambs are left to Ffrancis and Jennett Issott daughters of John Issott, and to John Hill, and to granddaughters Margerie and Sara (John's daughters)
• Executors – Isabell, William, George, Jennett
• Supervisors – Humphrey's brothers-in-law Giles Key and James Dyson
• Witnesses - Giles Key James Digby John Issott John Forthe and Willm Ffendy [?read Fenay]
• Full transcript has been made from photocopy. Vol. 17 fol.785-785v
• Noted in YAS RS Vol. 14 p.13 as Proved 5 May 1568 and dated 16 February 1567

Humphrey's son Thomas has been treated as if he were the youngest son (1580), but query this. Thomas (1580) is the father of George, who established himself at Darton in the early c17.

Thomas Beamont of Over Flockton (1580)

• Will Dated 29 October 1614
• Thomas Beamount of Over Flockton [or Beamount]
• Burial at executor's discretion
• House in which I live, and lands in Flockton given to me my Humphrey my father, to eldest son John
• To John also my “best bound wayne”
• To my son James £100 and the lands I bought from Robert Nettleton (of which James is already in possession)
• To my son George £200
• To James and/or George a pair of narrow looms
• To William and Thomas, the sons of William Beamount 10 shillings each
• To each grandchild [amount not easy to make out]
• Forgives George Brooke what he owes me except five pounds which he borrowed in October 1613
• Small legacies to my maid, to someone called Allan, to two lads, and to Judith Beamont
• Supervisors Abraham Beamount and my son Thomas, who get ten shillings each
• Residue equally divided amongst my children
• Executor – my son John
• Witnesses Robert Smyth, William Dison, Thomas Beamount
• No mention of wife.

This one is especially useful as it confirms his father's name.

It comes from the Darton archive formerly at YAS, reference DD70/93. These papers were transferred to West Yorkshire Archives, and this is now likely to be WYW1849/7/93/1, where the draft catalogue states that it is the Probate, and dates it 20 October 1614, but gives no further information (as at c.2019 or 2020). In fact the date 29 October is quite clear, a long (but faint) tail on the “9,” and it is also clear that this is the date of the Will not the date of probate. This is a copy of the Will itself, and it must presumably have been retained by George at Darton, since that is the “provenance” of the DD70 papers.
Thomas B of Over Flockton was buried 3 November 1614 according to the Thornhill Parish Register.
The will was proved on 4 Jan 1614 according to the Index in Vol. 28 page 9 - Vol. 33 fol.369.
Remember that numbered years ran from 26 March to next 25 March at this time.

.....................

A couple of others who may be related somehow:- 

Humphrey Beaumont of Mirfield (1525)

Will of Umfray Beaumond of Mirfield

dated 1 Jan 1542. 

Appointed his wife (not named) and “my four childer” my Executors

my son Robert to have the land that I bought with my money

my wife to have house and land and goods for 8 years "to bring my childer up" and that my wife shall have the use of the goods till the childer come of lawful age

Proved 28 Nov. 1542

Vol. 11 p.646

Noted in YAS Record Series vol. 11 p. 15 as Proved Jan 1. 1542 Beamonde, Umfray, par. Mirfelde, Nov. 28, 1542 Vol.11 Fol.646

John Beaumont of Mirfield

• Will of John Beaumond of Mirfield 
• For date see below
• to be buried at Mirfield
• 3s 4d to the High Altar
• estate divided into parts
• Residue to his wife Alice
• Mention of four youngest sons named Nicholas Richard Edward & Henry, and of a daughter Isabell and another whose name looked like Alstex
• Thomas Wilby (a friend) gets four sheep
• Testator's sister Anne another four sheep
• Proved 1 Jan.1542.
• This will is noted in YAS Record Series vol. 11 p. 15 as Proved Jan 1, 1542 Beamonde, John, par. Mirfelde, Nov. 26, 1537 Vol 11 Fol.646
• Not clear who this is.