The first Whitley Charters (3) - two more Beaumonts

These discoveries arise from looking rather superficially at what can been seen about associates of the people concerned in the Whitley charters, including the witnesses - men who knew each other personally.

Swillington, and Hugh de Bellomonte

"Lord" William of Swillington attested both the grant by Thomas de Dransfeld to earl John de Lacy and the latter's grant to John Muncebote (Charter no.3) in the date range 1232-1240. 

It seems there was some "history" involving John Muncebote, the Beaumonts, and people called Swillington. I would not be surprised if they were all related one to another, maybe by marriage. 

John Muncebote had been accused of wounding a man back in 1218-1219 (see later in this series of articles), and that man was called Hugh of Swillington (son of Henry). 

Another case from 1218-1219 has a William of Swillington (son of Henry) answering for the chattels of a certain Hugh [de] Beaumont.  Maud, wife of one Robert of Thorpe, brought a complaint against Hugh for the death of her husband. Hugh was outlawed. William son of Henry of Swillington had received Hugh's chattels, valued at five shillings (Doris M Stenton (Ed.), Rolls of Justices in Eyre for Yorkshire, Selden Society vol. 56 (1937) no. 632. From a note I made many years ago which I have not been able to check as can't find this book online).

Woodlesford, and Thomas de Bellomonte

John de Wridlesford (?the name is from Woodlesford between Leeds and Pontefract) witnesses both charter no. 3 and no.4, and I have other references to him.

Perhaps in his old age John seems to have given a charter giving his body to Kirkstall Abbey, and this was witnessed by a certain Thomas, described as the heir of William de Bellomonte (Kirkstall Coucher Book, Thoresby Society vol.8, 1904, pp. 281-2). 

John of Wridlesford had property at Fixby near Huddersfield which he granted to Michael of Briestwistle (the name of a place which is, or is near, Lower Whitley) in marriage with his sister (Dodsworth MS 155 fo.156). Impliedly that property was later owned by the Beaumonts. Michael was another witness to the Kirkstall charter just mentioned.

Unique references?

These mentions of Hugh and Thomas may be unique. Certainly I don't think they are mentioned in any of the other notes I have. 

Support for theory?

The name Thomas has been used in the family again and again, and I am tempted to think this little bit of information lends support to my theory that William, the man we think of as the first Yorkshire Beaumont, came from the family holding lands at Pyrton, Oxfordshire and Staining, Lancashire (as in my piece on 27 February 2021). 

But one new piece of evidence can change everything!

EMB 18 July 2021